98 SIR PETER PARKER 



the harbour admiral, "Little Billy Hargood," as the 

 sailors called him. Now, this excellent officer had studied 

 the rules of Hamilton More to greater advantage than he 

 had those of Lindley Murray ; consequently his vocabu- 

 lary consisted chiefly of stereotyped phrases, the one most 

 in use being, " I'll tell you what it is," with which he 

 invariably addressed his subordinates. I unwittingly 

 overheard the conversation between the Admiral and Sir 

 Peter Parker,^ at that time in command of one of H.M. 

 frigates, on the means he took to maintain disci|)line 

 among his men, Avhich he had heard through various 

 channels. 



Having listened with the greatest apparent attention 

 to the Admiral's friendly admonition, which was replete 

 with double negatives and other discordances, Sir Peter 

 said, in turning away, and with the most perfect good 

 understanding : — 



" I tell you what it is. Admiral, I don't care nothing 

 for none on 'em." 



It was about five-and-twenty years after this, while 

 pursuing my ordinary avocation, I was passing, at a 

 moderate pace, by a large posting-house, about eleven 

 miles from town, when I was hailed by the ostler to pull 

 up. I immediately did so, and looking down on the off- 

 side, saw a gentleman apparently in the vale of years, 

 whose weather-beaten countenance I thought I had seen 

 before. He asked me if I could take him to a certain 



1 This gallant officer was killed in the last American war, when 

 on shore with his men on some particular service. His handsome 

 and manly features may be recognized in the hall of Greenwich 

 Hospital. 



