"Neglected, all the voyage of their life And, lest their children should die, like poor Peters the caterer, midshipmen at the age of thirty. And you, my naval friends, who have honestly and faithfully served your country,though distanced in the race for professional distinction,-let not envy touch your hearts, nor deign to enlist yourselves under the banners of faction. Keep fast hold of the honour you have gained by serving from principle, and let the poet's meed of praise apply to you, along with . "The noble few! who here unbending stand VOL. 1. CHAPTER XVII. There's a bower of roses by Bendemeer's stream, That bower and its roses I never forget; But oft, when alone in the bloom of the year, I think is the nightingale singing there yet? Are the roses still bright by the calm Bendemeer? MOORE. YOUTH, like an evergreen, flourishes on the grateful soil of memory to the last; and the recollections of our younger days, like those of the first and fairest season of the year, cheer the wintry time of old age when the summer and autumnal tints are forgotten. There are few who live so entirely for the present, or are so indifferent to the past, as to obliterate com pletely the recollections of their boyhood, when the freshness of the heart extracted delight from every thing around. A favourite dog or bird, a graceful shrub, or a sequestered tree, a myrtle, or the stump of an old oak-objects animate or inanimate, often haunt the imagination through life; and the notes of a nursery song sometimes extract a tear from eyes that never wept amidst the bloody and distressing scenes of war. Morland had the happiness to meet his brother George in London, and they spent many pleasing days together in the revival of the scenes of their youth, occasionally intermixed with melancholy reflections on the incidents. which had occurred in their family. George was still the same gay fellow, looking forward to be united in a few months to his Julia, who, far from breaking off the engagement on account of his debts, had liberally offered to pay them out of her fortune, which was ample. This generosity had worked a great change for the better in the disposition of her lover, and he tary, &c. That these distinguished persons have their friends, is certain; that they wish to serve them, is natural; and that they do serve them, is probable; but that they always do so, at the expense of justice and their own integrity, it is utterly impossible to believe of any set of men whatever, much less of those of experience, rank, education, character, and talent. Let us not, however, be understood to say, that in the British navy "There is no tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." But while the young naval officer is exerting himself to the utmost to establish fair claims to promotion, let not his friends forget to look at the state-politic of society, nor dream that their civic influence is unavailing in naval matters; rather let them use every honourable means to procure proper applications in favour of the professional views of their progeny, lest, perchance, the full tide being "Neglected, all the voyage of their life And, lest their children should die, like poor Peters the caterer, midshipmen at the age of thirty. And you, my naval friends, who have honestly and faithfully served your country,though distanced in the race for professional distinction,-let not envy touch your hearts, nor deign to enlist yourselves under the banners of faction. Keep fast hold of the honour you have gained by serving from principle, and let the poet's meed of praise apply to you, along with "The noble few! who here unbending stand Beneath life's pressure, yet bear up awhile, |