CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. XXi 
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 at- 
tended it. There was a large horsepond, separated 
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 excurion 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." 
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. " Terri- 
bili squalore Charon.*' My good old master looked 
grave, and I read my destiny in his countenance : 
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 
