30 MIDSHIPMEN 



disappointment, upon a closer inspection she turned out 

 to be one of our own convoy, that had got out of the 

 order of sailing, and had straggled away from the rest of 

 the fleet; and not understanding our night signals or 

 not answering them, she had caused us to mistake her for 

 an enemy. 



About a week after we had left Rio, thinking there 

 was no chance of the Dutch squadron molesting us, the 

 Albion and Sceptre made signal to part company, 

 and, crowding all sail, were hull down at sunset, and 

 next morning were nowhere to be seen. 



I must here relate a circumstance of not very frequent 

 occurrence in those days in a man-of-war, when long 

 voyages were unavoidable, and the captain's power un- 

 limited, but is now, I believe, out of the scale of pro- 

 bability ; it was one, too, that materially altered my 

 position. Two of our midshipmen were not on very good 

 terms with the captain. One had refused his invitation 

 to breakfast, which being reported to the captain, and, as 

 I understood, his refusal or excuse being highly coloured 

 by the valet or steward (who to the best of my recollec- 

 tion was either Swiss or French), his commander said 

 that he never knew a midshipman in his life but what 

 would eat tu-o breakfasts ; consequently he fell into dis- 

 favour : the other had been so for some time. It was the 

 custom of the service then, and I believe it is so still, for 

 one of the midshijDmen to breakfast and another to dine 

 with the captain every day ; they were selected in turn, 

 the first from the morning, the other from the forenoon 

 Avatch. 



In consequence of the expected long run to Calcutta, 



