shore, or floating about in dozing noiseless clusters on the unruffled bosom of the little bay where I had landed. Although my solitude would probably be of short duration, I felt a degree of loneliness while sitting on the projecting cliff on which I had taken my station to attract the attention of the wherry

men.

As the last and scarcely audible sound of the smugglers' oars died away on my ears, I pictured to myself Agamemnon's feelings when cast alone upon a desert shore to perish, which he subsequently described in these words to his friend:

"And yet believe me, Arcas,

(So rooted is the love we bear to man,)

All ruffians as they were,

I never heard a sound so dismal as their parting oars."

I was left to my reflections, "chewing the cud of sweet and bitter fancies" for upwards of half an hour before my reveries were broken by the appearance of two of the crew of the Lees wherry, who discovered me from afar perched on my luggage, and instantly came to remove it: they led the way to the heights above, and in a few minutes I found myself on the smooth green sward of the summit of this romantic island. Not a tree nor shrub was to be seen, but nature's verdant carpet, studded with various flowerets of the humbler race, presented a rich treat to the view and touch of him who could enjoy the silent scene. On casting my eyes around, I caught a parting glance of the brave brig, now spreading her wide wings to the new-born breeze, ploughing her wavy way, until, reduced to a speck in the horizon, she became gradually lost to view.

The state of the tide, which at the ebb sets with a powerful current from west to east, obliged the crew of the wherry to lay to under the lee of the island for an hour, until the flood made. This delay afforded us time to visit the solitary house of the only inhabitant of the island, (the farmer and warrener of the Talbot family,) who hospitably spread a repast for his visiters. I could not, without offence, decline a cup of his black bohea tea, and his hard biscuit and briny butter: as for my attendants, they were regaled with eggs in abundance, fish, lob-scouse, and a drop of neat brandy, which was not the less acceptable to their loyal palates, from not having paid the legal duty.

On taking leave of the solitary sovereign of Lambay, I tried to introduce into his hard hand a couple of half crowns, by which I had nearly destroyed the happiness he appeared to enjoy in our visit. The gift of money is assuredly not the way to gain an Irishman's favour; however sensible he may be to

its value, the very poorest (save the itinerant beggar) rejects it when offered as an eleemosynary gift.*

The tide having turned, we embarked on board our wherry, and after a few tacks to clear the southernmost point of the island, we had a very pleasant sail (nearly lying our course) to Dublin Harbour.

I soon found myself once more seated at the domestic board; and in the course of the evening entertained our circle with my adventures. The scenes I had to describe, the anecdotes to relate, and encomiums I felt it just to pay my late commander, were all allowed their full value, and the awful hour of twelve was told by our solemn neighbour Alma Mater, ere I was allowed to court my pillow; but here

"Reflection came with all her busy train!"

The tall and graceful figure of Fanny Bateman of Douglas floated before my mind's eye, as she stood on the last inch of the pier, on which her small foot could find a place, waving her veil in kind adieu! Then again the sprightly little Sally Stanley, the dempster's fair daughter, to whom I also paid my homage, appeared to dance before my vision in all her mirthful charms, displaying such a brace of beautiful feet and ankles, as might well have been substituted for the stupid and unnatural trio of legs which represent the arms of Man! Even fat Polly Twentyman of the Sun, (who would have been a beauty had vaccination been in vogue in her days,) in whose unsophisticated kindness I had often for the time drowned the recollection of gentler loves,-even poor Polly was remembered with feelings of warm gratitude. I had sipped of the Circean cup!!-was a man while yet a boy, and probably a boy in many actions of my manhood!

*Having been one of a party who visited Lundy Island in the summer of 1817, we were permitted to see (but having no gun of course did not destroy one head of) the myriads of rabbits with which that plain abounds; and whatever else was to be seen (not much by the by) on the island. We presented a bottle of rum accompanied by a one-pound note to the farmer in charge of the property, who seemed extremely disappointed and disconcerted with the compliment, although he brought the water with which we mixed our grog to his door, without inviting us inside it.

CHAPTER VII.

"His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt."

A SHORT period of idleness had clapsed, when I once more earnestly pressed on my father the performance of his promise. He, therefore, took me by the hand one morning to that worthy old veteran, the late Sir Alexander Schomberg, then commander of the royal yacht the Dorset, who kindly accompanied us to the house of Post-Captain Lord Charles Fitzgruff, who had just then been appointed to the command of a fine new frigate, nearly ready for sea, to introduce me as a candidate for playing the young midshipman.

I quailed under the cloudy look his lordship threw upon me, while he muttered in doubtful tones his ungracious consent. He was a man as coarse in person as in tastes; the indelicacy of the latter may be judged from the bare fact of his having taken two wives in succession from the public_stock. Of all his noble family he was the least noble, although a man of probity and honour, and withal a gallant officer in his profession. After some harsh remarks on my rather dandified appearance, he stated that he wanted some "rough-spun younkers," but concluded with the uncalled-for observation, that "if I was determined to go, he would take care to make me do my duty." I augured the worst for my appointment,-nor was I mistaken. His lordship gave me a letter to the officer commanding the tender, under whose orders I was directed to place myself, and to be in readiness to sail for the river (Thames) in the course of two days, with the volunteers, more than one half of whom were in irons. Sharp work, my Lord Charles, thought I, but I had been on the alert.

Little doubting as to the appointment, I had been beforehand with my rigging, and the following evening (Sunday) I was able to appear at the grand weekly promenade at the Rotunda, the resort of every one from the duke to his draper. Here the senator and the shopkeeper, the countess and the citizen's wife, congregate each Sunday evening; by their presence contributing to the support of that splendid and unequalled establishment, the GENERAL LYING-IN HOSPITAL of Dublin; which Curran called "aiding the staple manufacture of the country!"

All who feel an inclination to see and touch the skirts of nobility might here indulge it at the moderate expense of half-acrown. One class of females was under the ban of exclusion -a class, whose non-admission into the places of public amusement in MORAL England would impoverish the theatres, and send Vauxhall to the hammer!

In this vast assemblage, seldom less than two thousand persons, the distinctions of rank were never for a moment forgotten. In the unceasing rounds of the promenade, the wealthy and well-dressed citizen invariably gave the pas on the right or left to his superior; a mark of respect repaid by that courtesy which was always a striking characteristic in the highbred Irish nobleman.

Such an assemblage could never exist for a third night in this country. The sensitive pride of the ancient aristocracy of Britain dare not risk the shock of collision with the puffed up, purse-proud plebeian, on whom courtesy and condescension would be either thrown away, or mistaken and abused with vulgar familiarity, by a class that can interpret the civility of their superiors but one way, and with all the sordidness of their habits imagine that the bow of the nobleman would be succeeded by a request for a loan or mortgage, or discount of a bill.

Hence, that immeasureable distance which exists between the various orders. The patrician of rank despises the plebeian of wealth: confining himself to an exclusive circle, the former leaves to the citizen the enjoyment of his Margate and his Richmond, his theatres, and that portion of Brighton peculiarly canaille.

In France, Spain, Italy, Germany, in short, every where but in Mammon-adoring England, the case is different. The various orders of persons of really civilized and polite nations know their respective places, and neither yield nor encroach on that of others.

At this Sunday assembly, graced by the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant and all the nobility of the land, I had the gratification of sporting my finery to the envy of many an old school-fellow. But the next morning's sun was to see me on board. I had scarcely time to pack up my "well-found" trunk, bedding, &c., and take leave, ere I was hurried on board the Arrow hired cutter, with a cargo more than one-half of whom were the veriest vagabonds that ever risked the chances of a watery death to escape a more exalted one in another element. Nearly three-fourths of them were jail-birds, who still sang to the clanking of their fetters! My messmates were a young lieutenant-that is, young for the period-about thirty, who had been already twenty years a mid, and with the gloss still

fresh on his first white facings; a surgeon's mate, (who, of course, was called "The doctor;") two brother middies, my seniors, and a nondescript character, half gentleman, half steward, who was named "Agent Victualler," (for the voyage!)

Two guineas each, was the amount of the subscription to the stock purse, for the purchase of the wherewithal to relish our rations; a small portion of wine, a rather large one of whiskey, some dozens of porter, with tea, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, fresh meat and vegetables, a dozen loaves, and a string of red herrings; all which formed the elegancies of the mess. But we found them superabundant; as, after the first twelve hours' sail, we were all, with the exception of the lieutenant, unable to crawl from our berths, owing to sea-sickness. As regarded myself, I fancied that, after a few days' rolling about, I should rally and be on my legs again; but I was deceived. I no longer felt the comforts and the luxuries of the well-provided cabin of Sir James's brig; and I was sickened, beyond all my anticipations of disgust, by the filth and misery of our wretched live cargo, and the utter absence of all arrangement for cleanliness and comfort. These poor wretches had been unmanacled, it is true, on our leaving the harbour, but were huddled down into the hold, where a ton or two of straw in bulk had been thrown in along with blankets, in the proportion of one to every two men, forming the only accommodation, or rather the apology of bedding. They were all closely confined below, with the exception of ten at a time, which number, during two hours, from 8 A. M. to 4 P. M., were permitted to enjoy the air on deck. The food was served out to them by the agent victualler, or channel commissary, in regular messes, and was of unexceptionable quality; but when the ladder was drawn up at four o'clock, their only light was the slight glimmering which the removal of a fractional part of the main hatch afforded. These privations and restraints were deemed necessary, from the well-known character of the " volunteers," but a purification became also indispensable for the general safety, for the effluvia from below was pestilential, and the unfortunate prisoners became desperate under their sufferings: yet such were the poor devils who were taught to boast in song,

"BRITONS never shall be SLAVES!"

On the fifth day, when running down St. George's channel with a light breeze and smooth water, the main hatch was entirely removed. Heavens! what a polluted atmosphere these wretches must have breathed during the preceding days. Thirty of them were admitted on deck; and those above and