80 AN AECTIC CHRISTMAS. Chap. V. 



ral additional articles, such as hams, plum-pud- 

 dings, preserved gooseberries and apples, nuts, 

 sweetmeats, and Burton ale. After Divine Ser- 

 vice they decorated the lower deck with flags, 

 and made an immense display of food. The 

 officers came down with me to see their pre- 

 parations. We were really astonished ! Their 

 mess-tables were laid out like the counters in a 

 confectioner's shop, with apple and gooseberry 

 tarts, plum and sponge-cakes in pyramids, be- 

 sides various other unknown puffs, cakes, and 

 loaves of all sizes and shapes. We bake all our 

 "own bread, and excellent it is. In the back- 

 ground were nicely-browned hams, meat-pies, 

 cheeses, and other substantial articles. Bum 

 and water in wine-glasses and plum-cake was 

 handed to us : we wished them a happy Christ- 

 mas, and complimented them on their taste and 

 spirit in getting up such a display. Our silken 

 sledge-banners had been borrowed for the occa- 

 sion, and were regarded with deference and 

 peculiar pride. 



In the evening the officers were enticed down 

 amongst the men again, and at a late hour I was 

 requested, as a great favour, to come down and 

 see how much they were enjoying themselves. 

 I found them in the highest good humour with 

 themselves and all the world. They were per- 



