CHAPTER XIII 



" He was connected with th' adventurous crew. 

 Those whom he judged were sober men and true ; 

 He found that some, who should the trade prevent, 

 Gave it by purchase their encouragement ; 

 He found that contracts could be made with those 

 W}\o had their pay these dealers to oppose ; 

 And the good ladies whom at church he saw 

 With looks devout, of reverence and awe, 

 Could change their feelings as they change their place. 

 And, whispering, deal for spicery and lace." — Cbabbe. 



Hooper at one time gained his living by wild-fowl and an 

 occasional tub, as well as by the command in summer of gentle- 

 men's yachts. He commanded, and paid, and found Sir Richard 

 Sykes's yacht for some time, little less than a thousand pounds a 

 month passing through his hands ; and also a yacht which I 

 hired ; and a more zealous, a better captain, or faithful servant 

 could not be. He was a great favourite of Lord Stuart de 

 Rothesay's as well as of mine, and we interceded for him when 

 as honest and good a jack-tar as ever smoked a pipe, named 

 Williams, stationed at the Haven House, caught him coming 

 into the harbour with a tub he had found bi/ accident, and for 

 decency sake had covered up with the sail of his boat, and took 

 him, as he was in duty bound to do. Williams, now chief boat- 

 man at the Lizard, in Cornwall, heaved a sigh as he pushed off 

 to meet him, for he knew the tub was there, and was friendly 

 with Hooper, and was sorry that it was not a much worse man. 

 The way he knew it was this : — The preventive men suspected 



