bonds, the yards squared, the ropes taut and their ends coiled up like snakes, a fife playing "Oh, the Roast Beef of Old England," accompanied by a drum, indicated the ward-room dinner, to which the commissioned officers descended: and shortly afterwards the steward of the mess arrived with "the officers' compliments to Morland, and would be glad of his company to dinner;" which invitation he of course accepted.

It may be necessary to state, that the wardroom of a seventy-four is a long, narrow apartment on the main-deck, terminated by windows looking on to the sea, and separated from the guns on each side of it by canvass bulkheads, which form the officers' sleeping-cabins, in each of which is a cannon. To this place Morland followed the steward, and took a seat prepared for him on the left of the president, who was at the head of a long table, at which about a dozen officers in different uniforms were seated. The clergyman had just finished grace, and the

masticatory amusements commenced and ended with much good-humour and hilarity.

The

cloth being removed, the King's health was drank, while the band played the national anthem, and continued at intervals to amuse the company with other airs. It was not till the sunset gun was fired, the ensign wafted past the windows as it descended from the staff, and the rattle of drums and fifes resounded from the forecastle, that the party broke up; when the first-lieutenant sent for Mr. Peters, the caterer of the starboard birth, and desired him to order a hammock to be slung, and introduce the youngster to the mess.

Peters made his appearance in a somewhat threadbare blue coat, edged with a binding that had once been white, but its hue was now become variegated from the service it had seen in the holds. He was a soured fellow, whose friends had no interest; but, notwithstanding, he had a slight notion of the "sal sapit omnia" system; and had heard, that when people in

"Don

office "spoke foreign," or in parables, nez-moi le sel, et je vous passerai le poivre," was almost reduced to a proverb among them: yet he still hoped promotion might come in battle, though he had been thirteen years a midshipman, and had passed his qualifying examination for lieutenant more than half that time.

CHAPTER VI.

MISERIES OF OLD MIDSHIPMEN.

See what it is to be a hero!

MORLAND followed this hero of the orlop and dread of the afterguard and mizentop-men, to the dark but merry regions of the cockpit.

As they descended from deck to deck, he was not less astonished at the immense size of the ship and the long tiers of cannon levelled along each side, than at the multitude of sailors and marines scattered among these tremendous batteries.

On entering the cockpit, their ears were assailed by a confusion of noises; but, descending from the day, they could see but little by the dull gleam of the sentinel's lamp.

Before they reached the door of the mess place, Peters tumbled over a trunk, which had evidently been placed in his way for the purpose, as a loud laugh accompanied his fall. He swore at considerable length at certain personages with short and long names, some of whom, though decked with honourable titles in the Court Calendar, received appellations of the most questionable purport; as he vowed vengeance on the clews of their hammocks, if not up by seven bells in the morning.

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This was succeeded by another laugh, and Bravo, Peter!" (for they sent the s to prison) accompanied by a hat thrown with malice prépense, which struck him on the head as he opened the birth-door over which he presided.

Two lights burned dimly in the heated atmosphere of a close cabin, showing as motley a scene as could well be imagined in so small a space.

At the sides of the cabin were dirks and swords, on the handles of which hung a few