CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. XXI 



lieu of effacing my ruling passion, did but tend to 

 render it more distinct and clear. Thus are bright 

 colours in crockery-ware made permanent by the 

 action of fire; thus is dough turned into crust by 

 submitting it to the oven's heat. 



My first adventure on the water made a lasting 

 impression, on account of the catastrophe which 

 attended it. There was a large horsepond, sepa- 

 rated by a hedge from the field which was allotted 

 to the scholars for recreation-ground. An oblong 

 tub, used for holding dough before it Is baked, had 

 just been placed by the side of the pond. I thought 

 that I could like to have an excursion on the deep ; 

 so taking a couple of stakes out of the hedge, to 

 serve as oars, I got into the tub, and pushed off; 



Ripae ulterioris amore." j 



I had got above half way over, when, behold, the 

 master and the late Sir John Lawson of Brough 

 Hall, suddenly rounded a corner and hove in sight. 

 Terrified at their appearance, I first lost a stake, 

 and then my balance : this caused the tub to roll 

 like a man-of-war in a calm. Down I went to the 

 bottom, and rose again covered with mud and dirt. 

 " Terribili squalore Charon." My good old master 

 looked grave, and I read my destiny in his coun- 

 tenance ; but Sir John said that it was a brave 

 adventure, and he saved me from being brought 

 to a court-martial for disobedience of orders, and 

 for having lost my vessel. 



On my return home from this school, I was once 

 within an ace of closing all accounts here below for 

 a 3 



