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OF FICTION, POETRY, HISTORY, AND GENERAL LITERATURE.
No. 110.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1836.

Price Two-Pence.

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THE REAR-ADMIRAL.

A TALE OF THE OCEAN.

(For the Parterre.)

THE sun was setting, when the Rover schooner distanced the shores of England. Edward Speedwell was captain of the watch. The wind, which had blown a stiff breeze during the day, had lulled itself into a comparative calm. All was still, save the pacing of the man on the lookout, and the occasional voice of the master calling "About there," preparatory to each tack Speedwell looked over the vessel's stern, to take a parting glance at the land which contained all he held dear -her whom alone he loved, her whom perhaps he might never meet more.

The moon was now rising, and its silvery beams danced on the glassy

waves.

Lieutenant Hawser, a bluff, dashing sailor, who was on the most friendly terms with Speedwell, had only joined the vessel a few days previously, he having been detained on special matters. He came on deck and saluted Speedwell with "A bright evening, messmate!"

P. 66.

"Yes," replied Speedwell, finishing the sentence with a heavy sigh.

"Not so bright with you, seemingly," rejoined Hawser.

"That reply of Yes, sounded more like the response of a funeral sermon. Tut, tut; rouse man, rouse. What ails you? you were gay enough on shore; but now

"Cease your raillery, good friend Hawser," replied Speedwell. "I can't help this melancholy at present; but a few days at sea, and all will blow over."

"Ah," drily observed Hawser, "it, may blow over, but it may also blow back again. I see how it is, some blackeyed damsel has come alongside, with Cupid for her pilot; her bright eyes have poured a broadside into your heart, and brought you too; and although you hav'nt struck your flag, it seems likely you will eventually surrender on honourable terms."

"A truce to your raillery," cried Speedwell. "What freak is this? What put love into your head!"

"The same that put love into your heart," responded Hawser;-"a pretty 110

girl, with a warm heart; aye, and a warm purse too. Come, come, friend Speedwell, don't think to get the weather-gage of me so easily. I have seen enough of your sailing tactics on shore: there you were, day after day, squeezing Miss Harriet's hand, and turning up the whites of your eyes like a dying magpie! and when you received your sailing orders, didn't the tears run down her pretty cheeks at the rate of ten knots an hour!-dy'e think that means nothing? and then just before you got into the boat didn't she hang that little golden-cross about your neck, and then faint away; and didn't you fall too, and kiss her hand till she recovered-aye, d'ye think that means nothing! No, no, confess-confess; I am right, or I'm no sailor. And then to crown all, didn't you give me a letter to deliver to her when I was ordered on shore; and when I gave it to her, didn't she press it to her bosom, and say, 'Oh, my dear, dear Speedwell;' and then didn't she write an answer, and give it to me with a strict charge to deliver it to you as soon as I had an opportunity, and havn't I got the letter here safe and sound-d'ye think that means nothing!

As he finished his speech, he held forth the letter, which Speedwell hastily broke open, and perused its contents.

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Hawser gave a side look towards him as he archly muttered, Aye, aye, it's all over with him; he's moored hard and fast with a chain cable."

The letter was indeed from Harriet, but its contents were not of the most gratifying description. It informed him that soon after his departure, her father had introduced a young stranger to her, one Sir Everard Longford, whom he desired her to look upon as her future husband: entreaties had been vain; and in two months the union was to take place. Speedwell turned pale at the intelligence his hand grasped his cutlass "The villains," exclaimed he, "but they shall rue their duplicity. Now, by the honour of our flag, I swear never to resign her without exacting ample satisfaction from these base robbers.'

"Hey day! friend Speedwell! What sudden squall is this, that seems to have blown you out of your course," exclaimed Hawser, as he caught the last sentence.

"Read, read," stammered Speedwell. and thrust the letter into his hand. Hawser glanced over it and exclaimed, "Mutiny! mutiny! by the laws of the navy. Here's a precious pair of pirates sailing under false colours, and trying to cut our fair craft out of har

bour! No, no, that must never be." He paused-his eye met Speedwell's.— "Well! what do you propose?" inquired Speedwell.

"Shoot the scoundrel!" exclaimed Hawser -" call him out-six o'clock i' the morning-twelve paces distant, eh!" "You forget" interrupted Speedwell, "we are not on shore now, every succeeding hour bears me farther from the object of my vengeance. Oh that I could but get a day-24 hours-I ask no more, to get alongside this renegade rival."

"Aye," exclaimed Hawser, "I wish it were possible; be sure I wouldn't lay far astern of you. But stop-I have it.— Some of these coxcomb squires are but mere cowards, and may easily be brought too with a blank shot. So you shall send him a letter; a regular thunderer; and when he receives it I'll be bound he'll not venture to follow up his claim. But I am reckoning without my compass-how the deuce shall 1 send it! There's no post-office, nor mail coaches at sea-no matter-the letter shall be written, and if you don't do it, I will: and the first vessel we hail that is going to England shall convey it."

The next watch was called on deck. "You are a merry fellow," ejaculated Speedwell, "and as you have taken this matter in tow, and made it your own affair, I suppose I must not interfere."

"Certainly not,” replied Hawser; "it is all under my command now-you will have nothing more to do with the matter, than to stand up and be shot at if occasion requires; so away to your berth, my boy, a glass of grog and a sound snooze, will start you quite fresh for the morning duty."

The two friends grasped each other's hands, Good night responded, and both went to their berths for the night. The mid watch came on duty, the master'smate relieved the master at the wheel: a steady breeze sprang up aft, and the good ship Rover soon left the shores of old England, far, far astern.

Harriet was the only daughter of Sir Thomas Blunt, an old seaman, who had gradually risen from before the mast, until he became a Rear-admiral. He was a brave man, and possessed a good heart, but he was most perversely obstinate. If he once made up his mind to a certain line of conduct, nothing could persuade him to alter it. Argument was out of the question, he would put an end to it in a moment by a constant observation of his, which was, "You may call this obstinacy if you think proper-Well, sup

pose it to be so I should never have been an admiral had it not been for my obstinacy." Another failing he possessed, was, he was rather purse proud; nor was it to be wondered at: a man without education, who had never mingled with his fellow-men on shore, till time had put a gray tinge on the dark locks that o'ershadowed his wrinkled forehead. His wife had been dead some years; and he, after 40 years' hard service, with the loss of an eye and a leg, was pensioned off, to pass the remainder of his days in peace on shore. He was rough in his manner, and at first might be termed abrupt to strangers; but custom soon obliterated it. When once he gave his hand in friendship, the bond was imperishable. To this father, Harriet made her objections to his choice of a husband for her.

"I do not like Sir Everard," said she. "Well, then you must learn to do so," replied he.

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I cannot," replied Harriet. "Nonsense, nonsense, replied her father, "the man's well enough for any woman; and if he does not quite suit, why you must alter him to your own taste. I'm sure he walks as stately as a seventy-four."

"I hate such tall fellows," observed Harriet.

"Well, cut him down to a frigate then," rejoined the admiral.

"He wears mustachios," continued Harriet.

"Well! tell him to get shaved," returned the admiral.

"Father, father, why are you so obstinately bent," Harriet would have proceeded, but the admiral called out,"Hold there, girl-Hold on.- - Don't talk to me of obstinacy: obstinacy has been the making of me. Had it not been for obstinacy, I should still have been before the mast. What caused me to be put into commission on board the Fire-fly? Why obstinacy,-When but a youth, I told my officer that in ten minutes I could be aboard the enemy's frigate that had grappled us, and haul down their colours; I was told I was an obstinate fool, and had better go below : but I was obstinate-I got on board the frigate-fought my way to the mid-deck -mounted to the main - seized the enemy's colours, tore them from the staff, and by the time our brave crew had rushed on board, presented them to my captain: that was obstinacy!--And when I had obstinately fought my way to the rank of captain, and was appointed to a

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brig of war, I was obstinately bent on meriting further promotion. I was chased by two French brigs of heavier metal, but scorning to fly from an enemy, I cleared for action,-squared all my yards, double shotted my guns-got Long Tom the swivel filled with pepper. -Why my own brave crew said I was obstinate. So I was-I was obstinately determined to do my duty. At it we went, ding dong.-A shot struck my larboard leg, and I fell on the deck.My enemy called out to me to surrender on honourable terms, and save the lives of myself, and my brave crew; but I was obstinate and would not be saved.— I persevered-I clung to one of the gun, carriages, told my men I was not much hurt-gave my orders steadily, and in half an hour more, I sunk one vessel and disabled the other. My brave crew took possession of her, and we towed her into an English port in safety. This was obstinacy with a vengeance! my crew thought me obstinate, and the enemy called me d-d obstinate; but it was lucky to me, for I was rated a Rear Admiral soon after."-Harriet perceived it was needless to reason with him in this humour, and therefore remained passive. But the admiral continued: "Now this was all the effect of obstinacy-You flop your affections on a youngster, without a penny in his pocket, and turn up your nose at a baronet, whose vast riches would victual a fleet."

"But Speedwell is brave, father," said Harriet. "He is a seaman, and you know father, I can't help loving a sailor."

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Belay, belay, you coaxing jade," retorted the admiral. "What do you

know about the sea-service? How do you know that this Speedwell is brave? The world has come to a pretty pass indeed, if the actions of our glorious navy are to be judged by petticoats. But to make short of it, I tell you in three weeks hence, you shall give your hand to Sir Everard."

"But poor Speedwell," ejaculated Harriet.

"Speedwell, indeed!" growled the admiral, "His name is always the first in your log book. However to quiet you, and to shew you that although I am obstinate, I am not perverse; I will give you a chance-Speedwell is now rated lieutenant :-if within the time stated in the margin, he should convince me of his bravery by achieving some act which may eventually raise him to the rank of captain-Why then

"You will consent," quickly rejoined Harriet.

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Gently, gently, Madam Skipjack, I did n't say that," said the admiral, as he half recalled his expression.

"But you meant to say so-at least you thought so," archly rejoined Harriet. "How do you know what are my thoughts," vociferated the admiral; "get away hussey, go to your tambours and needles and thread, and spin your cotton, but don't come to spin any of your long yarns to me, because I'm not to be bamboozled that way: so off with you, clear the decks I say.

"

Harriet left the room, and the old admiral sunk back in his chair, snatched up his pipe, and grumbled out, "The saucy jade, she wants to get the weathergage of me, but I wont have it so."

The bell of the hall gate rung, and a servant announced Sir Everard. He entered.

"Sit down, sir, sit down Sir Everard," said the admiral.

Sir Everard drew a chair, "How fares your daughter?" inquired Sir Everard.

"O, obstinate as ever, Sir," replied Admiral Blunt, "still on the look-out for Speedwell; but however, he is snug enough on the broad Atlantic now; and as they are on a three month's cruize, we shall be able to get the marriage concluded without interruption."

"The sooner the better, Sir," replied Sir Everard.

The servant re-entered the room and delivered several letters. "One of these is for Sir Everard," said the servant. Sir Everard took it, and read the superscription. "To SIR EVERARD LONGFORD. To be delivered to him before he goes to church."-He broke the seal and read as follows::

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distant-and the living man shall have the lady,

"Yours, for my friend Speedwell,
"BOB HAWSER."

Sir Everard, who was not the bravest man in the world, turned pale when he read the letter. He passed it to the admiral-observing "it was a most blood-thirsty epistle."

"Let me see, let me see," said the admiral, as he took the letter in his hand and read-" At Sea...Our Harriet...On shore in two months...defer the marriage ... exchange shots... broadside... twelve paces distant...living man to have the lady-Ha! ha! Why who the devil supposed the lady was going to marry a dead man," ejaculated the admiral "Here's raking fore and aft.-Here's fire-ships and tornados.-Why these mad young rascals want to scare us out of our seven senses. Ha, ha, ha, never mind Sir Everard; I am determined you shall have fair play. The marriage will be over before they return, and if they challenge you after that, I will be your second; and if these chaps are so fiery and impatient, it will be ten to one if you get wounded ever so slightly."

Sir Everard did not relish this kind of conversation, therefore turned it off, by reverting to his intended marriage with Harriet. "I will give her," said he, "ten thousand pounds on the day of our marriage, besides a new carriage and horses, and a brilliant equipage.'

"Then," said the admiral, "she must be a mad woman if she refuses you, and particularly since you stand a chance of having a bullet fired into your hull on her account. She ought to recollect, that if your rival should send you to the other world, she will have enough to enable her to live in ease and comfort during the remainder of her life; and if it should be otherwise, why so much the better for you."

Sir Everard heard his words with trepidation, and after staring at the admiral in mute astonishment, ejaculated,

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"Let them only remain at sea till after the wedding," said Sir Everard," and I am perfectly satisfied-for immediately after that, myself and my bride will depart for my mansion. I will have the place well guarded, and if they dare to molest me, I will have them taken up and bound over to keep the peace." "Oh, then you don't mean to stand fire?" asked the admiral.

"Why look you," replied Sir Everard, 'fighting, or standing fire as you call it, may be all very well for those poor devils who have nothing to lose but their lives; but with me the case is different, If I am prematurely taken off, my tenants will lose a landlord, and my wife will lose a rich and valuable husband, and I shall die in the midst of luxury, leaving all the good things of this world behind me. No, admiral, I don't mind using fire-arms to pop at a partridge or a hare; but standing to be shot at like a target is quite another thing I would rather leave that sort of exercise to my inferiors."

The admiral bit his lip―he liked a rich man, but detested a coward; and a gleam of shame mantled on his cheek when he drew a comparison between the pusillanimous Sir Edward and the enterprising Speedwell. "You won't fight, then?" said the admiral, with a smile bordering on a sneer, "but you'll cut and run, and trust to your own swift sailing! Well, this may be all very well among you great nobles on shore, but curse me if it would have done on board the Fire-fly. However, we have all different notions of honour and superiority; and you gentlemen on land suppose it to depend on the strongest purse, while we sailors have always considered it to be with the strongest heart. However, if you don't like the smell of powder, you must e'en keep out of it: though I can't see why you should fear! -a dozen bullets may whiz round you, but they may be perfectly innocent, and pass off without touching you; besides, if a half-spent ball struck you, and did not touch a vital part, it wouldn't kill you. But I'll belay my lingo, and wish you good speed to the end of the chapter, so follow me, and I'll lead the way to my daughter. Twelve paces distance -living man to have the lady-ha! ha! ha!"

So saying, the old admiral bowsed up, and taking his crutched stick, hobbled out of the room singing 66 Rule Britannia," followed by Sir Everard, whose pallid features indicated the fear which possessed him.

Speedwell and Hawser having dispatched their letter to England, chuckled at the effect which they anticipated it would have on Sir Everard. They had now sailed for two months on the broad face of the Atlantic without meeting any incident of consequence, until towards daylight one morning, they descried two strange sail right ahead. Every signal was made, but none answered. They pursued under a press of sail, and after four hours chase, came within gun-shot of her. They soon discovered that she was one of those daring pirates who had infested the seas for some months, seizing upon vessels, robbing them of their cargoes, and destroying their crews.

The British captain, on finding the customers he had to deal with, ordered all the ports to be closed, and every appearance of their being a ship of war to be as much disguised as possible. The pirates observing it was only a brig, supposed it to be a merchant vessel, all her port holes being closed and every appearance of warfare being disguised. They boldly brought up under her bows; the pirates were both lugger-built, and Latina rigged, and carried a great number of men. The crew of the British ship remained quite still, but every man was ready at his gun, although crouched behind it to conceal himself. The marines were ready with their muskets concealed under tarpaulins, while others lay covered with old jackets or sail cloths, to hide their red coats. The pirate chief mounted the ship's side, with his drawn cutlass, followed by some of his gang, but he had barely set his foot on deck than the cannon caught his eye-the marines and part of the crew started up with their muskets and pistols pointed; the pirates paused not, but instantly turning round dashed overboard into the sea. The alarm was given the pirates' luggers made sail, but it was too late. "A pint of rum for every head," shouted the master-powder and shot flew the marines aimed well-the guns were pointed sure a broadside rattled round the lug. ger-the brig wore and gave her another; it fairly blew her out of the water, hardly a shot missed, and the pirates and their vessel soon disappeared beneath the glassy wave. The other vessel went right before the wind, and the brig stretched every inch of canvas to come up with her, but they gained but little on her at last they got within gun shot, and shortly afterwards her mast was struck and went overboard. At this juncture Speedwell and Hawser offered to man the launch,

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