heard amid the "hum of myriads." His Royal Highness acknowledged these marks of attachment, as also did the Duchess, in the most gracious manner, and appeared sincerely gratified with the homage which was paid to himself individually, and collectively to the noble service to which he belonged. At twenty minutes past one, her Royal Highness reached the water's edge, and, from an elevation which had been constructed for the purpose, flung, with remarkable precision, a bottle of wine at the ship's stern, naming her, and wishing her success.-On the bottle was written, "Part of the stock of Lord Nelson's wine, which he had on board his ship at the memorable battle of Trafalgar." -The blocks were almost instantaneously removed, and though there appeared to be some delay in her advancing, for a moment or two, which the impatience of the spectators magnified almost into as many hours, she slid off the ways amidst the most deafening shouts, and took possession of that element of which she is so superb an ornament. Union Flag, the Admiral's, and the National, floated on the Breeze. The On the 28th, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Clarence, presented the division of Royal Marines, under the command of Col. Savage, with a pair of new colours, in the presence of thousands of spectators. The indifference of the Dutch, and the difference of the English. Among the ships taken from the Dutch, in 1798, was the Ambuscade, of 32 guns; which having received a very expensive repair at Sheerness, was ordered thence to the Nore. The crews were still composed of Dutchmen; for these ships, though under our protection, were kept in a state of passive neutrality. In coming out of the harbour, it blew nearly a gale of wind; but the Dutchmen, instead of having a sail suitable to the weather, set their top-gallant sails: the conse quence was, that the ship, when clear of the garrison point, would not steer, and in a minute after upset and went down. Fortunately, however, it was in four fathom water, and consequently most of the men above-board were saved upon the side of the vessel; but all those below were drowned, except one.--The ship was soon after weighed, and taken into the harbour; when it was ascertained, that the cause of the disaster arose from her hawse holes, which were between decks, not having been secured before she sailed; and the sea, thrown up before her broad bows by the pressure of two much sail, had filled the ship before any one on deck was informed of it by those below. Dutch apathy is a standing joke among English sailors; but that twenty people should have seen the water pouring into the ship, and not have given notice of it on deck, is a fact which our readers, we fear, will think on the other side of credibility. The officers and many of the men of His Majesty's ship, the Theseus, who saw the accident, were very soon on the wreck of the ship, and as they walked on her side, her guns pointing to the zenith, and the sea washing over her, a sailor of the Theseus begged that he might be permitted to break open a lower deck port, (the Dutch frigates having generally two of a side); the officer replied that he might do so, but what purpose would it answer? "Please your honour," said the honest Shiver-my-timbers, "I think there is some poor devil of a Dutchman alive below." Jack went to work with his axe; the port was opened, and up rose a Dutchman, who made but one spring which carried him clean out of the Ambuscade into the Theseus's cutter,-rescued thus miraculously, by this humane fellow, from a lingering death. Not satisfied with what he had done, our honest tar, through the opening he had made, descend ed into the lower deck, while chests, bags, and hammocks, floated up against the side (to which the water reached within one foot), and prevented the approach of those who might yet be alive. Another man, however, was caught hold of by the persevering Englishman; but the poor Dutchman, exhausted and feeble, slipped from his grasp, and sunk to rise no more. The Laplander and the Bear. In attacking the larger animals, such as bears, the Laplander experiences considerable difficulty and risk to himself, as it is necessary to make a near approach to the animal which, if not wounded in a mortal part, and at once disabled, turns immediately upon its antagonist. This, it may be conjectured, must frequently happen, the dependance being on a single ball, not much cxceeding a good sized shot. When this is the case, the animal turns to the place whence the smoke proceeds; and if his ground be favorable to the pursuit, easily overtakes his adversary, who has then little chance of escape, except there should be a tree near, under which he can take refuge, and puzzle the bear by dodging behind it. The skill and address necessary in the pursuit of the bear, and its comparitive scarcity in Finmark, render the killing one these animals the most honourable exploit a Laplander can perform; and it is a constant source of triumph to the successful adventurer. The Laplanders have, besides, exalted ideas of the sagacity and talents of the bear, and treat him, in consequence, with a kind of respect and deference, which they do not pay to any other animal. It is a common saying among them, that the bear has twelve men's strength, and ten men's understanding; and their superstitious ideas lead them to suppose, that it perfectly comprehends their discourse. It is a frequent custom with them to speak to the beast, when about to attack it; and one instance of this occurred during the time I was at Alten, on the mountains above Knafional. A Laplander being in pursuit of wild rein-deer, with his rifle,suddenly encountered a bear; and his piece missing fire, he addressed it, as Mr. Klerck related in these words: "You rascal, you ought to be ashamed of attacking a single man; stop an instant till I have reloaded my rifle, and I shall be again ready to meet you." The bear, however, which was a female, thought it prudent not to wait, and made an immediate retreat with two cubs which she had with her. A Winter in Lapland. ANECDOTES, WITTICISMS, &c. Admiral Holbourne, on being appointed to the command of a fleet stationed at Portsmouth, went down to attend his post for the first time, when the youngest lieutenant on board the Royal Anne, the ship on which he was to hoist his flag, was appointed his day officer, to receive his orders every morning. The lieutenant having never seen the admiral, was going the first morning to attend him on shore, and in his way met him, drest in an old brown coat, shabby hat, without a cockade, or any ensign of his rank 66 or profession. The admiral accosted him with, "Where the devil are you going?" The young officer eyeing him over, thought a contemptuous look was a sufficient reply, and walked on. Hark ye, sir, I say, what business are you going about?". Nettled at a repetition of such insolent impertinence, the lieutenant returned, brandished his cane over the admiral's head, and swore that nothing but his age and contemptible appearance saved him from the chastisement his insolence deserved; and that if he ever presumed to accost him in the same manner again, he would consider neither. Nothing more passed; they parted: the lieutenant pursued his walk, and the admiral his. Upon the lieutenant's arrival at the admiral's house, he was informed he was out; but desired to sit down till his return, which was not many. minutes afterwards. His situation may more easily be imagined than described on seeing the admiral in the person he had so lately encountered. The admiral perceived his embarrassment, avoided the least hint of the affair, entered into familiar converse with him, and afterwards testified his regard for him, by using his interest in getting him promoted to the rank of commander. While the Eddystone light-house was erecting, a French privateer took the men from the rock, together with their tools, and carried them to France; and the captain was in expectation of a reward for the achievement. While the captives lay in prison, the transaction reached the ears of Louis IV.; he immediately ordered them to be released, and the captors put in their places, saying, that though he was at war with England, he was not so with mankind." He directed the men to he sent back to their work with presents, observing, that "the Eddystone light-house was so situated as to be of equal service to all nations having occasion to navigate the channel between England and France." When Lord Howe was captain of the Magnanime, a negro sailor on board was ordered to be flogged. Every thing being prepared, and the ship's company assembled to see the punishment inflicted, Captain Howe made a long address to the culprit on the enormity of his offence. Poor Mungo, tired of the harangue, and having his back exposed to the cold, exclaimed, "Massa, if you floggee, floggee; or if you preachee, preachee; but no preachee and floggee too!" When Whitfield first went to America, observing, during his voyage, the dissolute manners of the crew, he invited them to one of his pious declamations, and took occasion to reprehend them for their loose manner of living. "You will certainly," says he, "go to hell. Perhaps you may think I will be an advocate for you: but, believe me, I will tell of all your wicked actions." Upon this one of the sailors, turning to his messmate, observed, "Aye, Jack, that's just the way at the Old Bailey, the greatest rogue always turns king's evidence." THE DYING SAILOR BOY. Dark flew the scud along the wave, Repeated thunders' roll'd on high; All hands aloft the storm to brave, At midnight was the boatswain's cry. On deck sprang every soul apace; But one, bereft of human joy, Within a hammock's narrow space Lay stretch'd-a hapless sailor boy. Once when the boatswain's pipe would hail, The first was he of all the crew On deck to spring, to trim the sail, To steer, to reef, to furl, or clew. Now fell disease had seized a form, Which nature cast in happiest mould; The bell struck midnight through the storm, His last, his funeral knell it told. Oh! God, he cried, and dropped a tear, Before my spirit mounts the skies; Are there no friends, or messmates dear, To close in death my weary eyes? THE MINUTE GUN. When in the storm on Albion's coast, The minute gun at sea. Swift, on the shore, a hardy few, For they go the crew to save. But, oh! what rapture fills each breast Of all the dangers that befel : Then is heard no more, By the watch on the shore, VERSES Found in a Bower at Merton, on Lord Nelson's taking the command of the British Fleet off Cadiz. From Merton's pleasing shades, again That mourns, ah! mourns his fall. Shall here with ardour glow; Shall pant to meet the foe. And pensive mark her bow'rs: And sooth'd his peaceful hours. A hardy tar, who had been paid off from one of his Majesty's ships at Portsmouth, feeling a great desire to visit London, and being fearful if he took the whole of his cash with him he might chance to loose it, and not be able to return, hit upon the following expedient for its safety. At each house of entertainment he stopped at on the road, he entered into a contract with its landlord to pay him a sum of money sufficient to cover any expence he might incur on his return-and, that he might know him again, he was, by way of signal, to hoist his hat upon his cudgel and twirl it round. Quite elated with his plan, Jack made sail, and after a successful voyage, arrived in Town, where he soon launched into all the gaieties and amusements the place afforded, until his cash began to run low; and thinking, if he stopped longer, he should not have sufficient left to pay any trifling expences he might incur on his passage home, resolved to weigh anchor and return. [No. 11. Having arrived as far as Godalming, he brought to at one of his houses, and called for refreshments, which were immediately brought him free of expence, by his giving the agreed on signal. Among the company present who were all astonished at Jack's not being called on for the reckoning, was a Jew, who alone had observed the twirl of the hat, which seemed to satisfy the landlord, and taking no notice of the circumstance told Jack that as he was also going to Portsmouth he should be glad to accompany him. thither, to which our hero readily assented, and they proceeded onward. Arriving at the next house of call, Jack again produced his talismanic cudgel to the fresh surprise of the Jew, who now really thought there must be some invaluable virtues in the stick, and he became determined, at whatever price Jack might ask, to possess himself of it; but thinking if he appeared too eager in the purchase, he might put an advance upon it, or, perhaps, not part with it at all, |