CHAPTER V 



EARLY LIFE 



Convalescence — Thoughts for the Future — The Sixth Mate — Amuse- 

 ments — A Eash Adventure — A Literary Society — Junius — Lord 

 Macaulay — A Character — A Fire — Gunpowder Companionship — 

 Lord Gambier — Sir Ehab Harvey — Sir Eoger Curtis — Lord 

 Cochrane — A Curious Rencontre — The Prince of Wales — A 

 Dreadful Explosion — Wonderful Escape — A Eash Attempt. 



Emerging from this long course of sickness and despon- 

 dency, I did not, as many would suppose, immediately 

 mix in the affairs of the world — its pleasures, its business, 

 its allurements, or its follies. It took some time to 

 renovate my strength. My constitution, which must have 

 been sadly torn and weakened by such repeated violent 

 attacks, required care and attention to restore me to 

 anything like convalescence, and to enable me, both in 

 body and mind, to become a member of society at all. 

 Consequently, a year passed away before I sought any 

 companions or followed any business. 



During this time many were the projects thought of, 

 and plans laid out, for my future. The first question 

 mooted was, would I go back to the profession I was so 

 fond of, and in the scientific part of which I had made so 

 much progress ? Alas ! that had all vanished, as well as 

 other acquirements, owing partly to the want of practice, 

 and partly — indeed chiefly — to the malady, that had so 



