"But the creed of a sailor still farther extends: To comfort his poor distress'd messmates and friends, It was on the afternoon of a lovely day in summer, a veteran tar came whistling through the narrow lane that cuts off a considerable portion of the main road between Plymouth and Exeter, and shortens the journey to the weary traveller. There was something in his whole appearance so peculiarly interesting and neat, that the passenger, after receiving his "What cheer, what cheer?" could not refrain from turning round and stopping to take another look. Indeed that sparkling eye of good humoured pleasantry, that counte. nance displaying at once the generous benevolence of his heart, was not easily passed by unnoticed, or readily forgotten. His dress consisted of a blue jacket and white trowsers, a straw hat bound with black ribbon thrown carelessly back upon his [No. 25. head, so as to display the straggling fainting with fatigue and grief, while a man grasped one shoulder, a boy the other, and a maid-servant toge ther, were attempting to force her out. "Yo-hoy, what's the matter here?" said the veteran, flinging the man to the opposite side of the room and giving the boy a trip that laid him sprawling on the other: "Cow. ardly lubberly rascals! what grapple a vessel in distress? and you," turning to the landlady, "to stand looking on! Is this a Christian country? For shame, old woman!" "Old woman, forsooth!" exclaimed the now doubly-exasperated landlady, "Old woman, forsooth! What you takes the part of the young-un, eh? But she shall budge directly." "I say she shan't, then. Come here, pretty one, and nobody shall harm you while old Will Block can keep the weather-gage." "Well, this is fine treatment, too, in my own house! And you, ye rapscallions, who eat my victuals and take my wages, to see it tamely! Lay hold of her I say. "Touch her if you dare," says old Will, flourishing his stick, "and I'l -I'll- -Aye, that's right, keep off, for if you come athwart my hawse, blow my wig but I'll cut your cables !" Poor Lucy had got close to his side; but, fearing her protector would be injured for his generosity, she entreated him to desist. "I am not worthy your notice, Sir;-only a drop of water, for I am Shall have the best the house affords, while I've a shot in the locker. Go along, old Mother Squeezelemon, and get something for the poor child; don't you see she's all becalmed?" "What, give my property to vagrums and wenches? in plaintive supplication, struck upon 66 the not I indeed! Will you pay reckoning?" "Avast, old Grampus! think of this here when you stands at another bar, and the last great reckoning comes-how will you look then? This will stand a black account against you, and what'll you have to rub it off with, eh? Go get her a glass of wine." "And who's to pay? Wine, indeed! talk of my father-I have fixed a wound in his heart"-"There, there; don't cry: I carn't bear to see a woman's tears-it makes a fool of me: but tell me honestly all about it, for I've got to be at old Admiral M-'s by night." "Of -get her some water, Jack," said the now alarmed landlady, for Will's reflection, and the solemu manner in which it was uttered, operated powerfully on her conscience. "Heave to, you porpoise-faced swab-none of your water; get us some wine, and the best in the house, too, d'ye Grove?" inquired Lucy, much hear? Why, what's the lubber grinning at? Will this satisfy you, ye old she-shark?" thrusting his hand into his jacket-pocket, and drawing it out again filled with gold-"Will this satisfy you?" The landlady's countenance brightened up: "Why if so be as how you means to pay for it, that's another thing. Well, well, I dare says you're a gentleman after all. Come, child, (to Lucy,) I'm sorry I was so harsh, but it's only my way. There, run, John, and fetch a bottle of my best wine, and some of those nice sweet cakes Stop, John, stop, I'll go myself for the poor dear." "Ha, ha, ha! what a generous heart!" cried Will; "how readily it expands at the voice of distress!" shaking his pockets. But don't be frightened, don't be "Here's the key will unlock the frightened. And so you have deserted floodgates of her benevolence at any your home and my poor old friend?” time," holding up a guinea. "But Spare me! sir, spare me! If my come, pretty one," drawing a chair, father was indeed your friend, oh "sit down and rest." "Oh, sir, how succour his erring child!" "Well, shall I ever repay your bounty?" well, my upper works get crazy now said Lucy. "Wait till I ax you," - hardly able to weather the storm. replied Will, who felt a little hurt at But the villian that would betray the idea of being repaid. "Here, innocence, and then abandon his miss," said the landlady, entering, victim-zounds! But come, come "take this nice cake and wine, 'twill along." "I thought of going to the admiral's, sir." "To be sure, to be sure! we'll be under weigh in a minute." "Yet, sir, perhaps he will not see me, or it may be injurious to his interests; and I would willingly die to serve him, for he has a feeling heart." "A what? a feeling heart? Why are you here then? But come along, sweetheart!" and, discharging the reckoning, they set off in company. agitated. "Why ay; do you know him?" "No, sir; but--but I have seen-I have been in company with his nephew;" and again she burst into tears as if her heart would break. "Why ay, I see how it is; knock old Will down for a witch. I see how it is: this is some of Master Tommy's doings, eh? Zounds!" clinching his fist;-"but no matter. "And where are you come from?" "From my father's, sir." "And who is your father?" "Oh do not ask me! my name is Lucy B-." "What, the daughter of old B-, that was in the Venerable as first lieutenant?" "Yes, I am indeed his wretched daughter." "Zounds! why," starting up in a passion, "why, and has Tom dared? do 66 you good. God bless your sweet face! why, do you think that I would go for to hurt a hair of your head?" There, there, there's enough of it--no more palaver; I arn't agreed for that, you know, though I suppose you'll consider it in the bill." Luckily at this moment, to prevent the gathering storm, the bell rang violently in another room, and she disappeared. "Come, come, don't be backward; never mind an old sailor," said Will: "refresh yourself, and then tell me what I can do to serve you; speak as if I was your father." "Oh, sir, don't 46 Of all the eccentric beings in this eccentric world, old Admiral M-. was the most eccentric. He had risen solely by merit from the station of cabin-boy to vice-admiral of the white; and 'twas ever his boast that he had never skulk'd in great men's pockets, nor been afraid to dip his hands in a tar-bucket. "I came in at the hawse-holes," he would say, "and didn't creep in at the cabin windows." He had been kown to absent himself from home for weeks together; and no one could tell where he went, or what had become of him, till his repeated acts of generous bounty discovered the track he had taken. He would frequently return home without previous notice, enter the house unobserved, ring the bell, and order refreshments, as if he had never quitted it. Not an old sailor that had ever sailed with him but was welcome to partake of his cheer; and those who had been his messmates previous to his mounting the uniform, if of good character, but not so successful as himself, always sat at his table. Possessed of an immense fortune, which he was accustomed to say was drawn from the Spanish stocks-yet without children, for he was a bachelor-he had adopted his nephew, determined to leave him the bulk of his property. The young man, who really was naturally of an amiable disposition, on this accession to his uncle's favour, associated with some of the dashing characters of the day, and became tinctured with their vices and follies. He had been introduced to the family of Lieutenaut B-, by a brother officer; and that acquaintance which terminated so fatally for poor Lucy, was begun. Yet he passionately loved her; but, fearing the condemnation of the admiral, and the loss of his patronage, he had withdrawn himself from Exeter without even bidding her farewell, choosing rather to immure himself from the world than break the oath he had pledged to Lucy, or disoblige his uncle by marrying without his consent, knowing that the old gentleman was ambitious for his nephew to look for a wife agreeable to the high prospects in view before him, and equally convinced that to thwart his inclina tions would but annihilate all his hopes, and cast him adrift upon the world. Such was the state of affairs when Lucy left her home to endeavour to gain an interview with her lover, and fell in with old Will, who in early life, according to his own account, had sailed with the admiral, and was now going to pay him a visit and see some of his old mess. mates, of whom the principal part of the household was composed. She had been plundered by some villians of all she possessed at day-break, but st continued her journey, till, worn wit hunger and faint with fatigue, she e tered the inn, and implored assistance. The shades of evening fell on the landscape as they passed under the avenue of trees that led to Grove House. Will, having promised t exert himself in obtaining an interview between Mr. M- - and ha convoy, left her at a short distance. and proceeded onward. Almost ove powered by her reflections, and ever pulse throbbing violently with agi tion, she leaned against the trunk a tree, expecting to see the being whom, next Heaven, she loved mos tenderly. "Twas now too dark to dis tinguish objects, but she could hear footsteps approaching, and she sur without sense or motion to the ground. On recovery she found her self sitting on a couch in a smal room, and the old housekeeper, other females, sedulously adminis tering to her necessity. Her ev glanced wildly round for another object, while the old Lady strove to soothe her mind, informing her that 'twas herself who had discovered her in the avenue, at the request of old Will, Refreshments were placed, c which Lucy partook sparingly, desirous of knowing, yet trembling to ask, whether Mr. Mhouse, or had seen the worthy veteran, her kind conductor. was in the ‘Pray, sir,” said the admiral, entering the room abruptly when his nephew was sitting alone, and ruminating upon his own hapless condition, but more upon the object of his sincere attachment, little imagining that she was at that moment under the same roof"pray, sir, what does that man deserve who robs a friend of his dearest treasure-who, stealing into the confidence of a young and artless girl under the flag of affection, turns pirate, and plunders his prize with remorseless cruelty?" The young man sat petrified, for these questions were precisely accordant to his own feelings previous to the entrance of his uncle." Answer me !" exclaimed the admiral," raising his voice-answer me directly!" "I cannot, sir; I am too deeply sensible of error." "Or what does he merit," continued the admiral, who, contrary to the views of a relative that has raised him to opulence, first contracted himself to a young female, and then deserted her!" " Infamy! infamy and disgrace!" exclaimed the agonized M. "I feel all-all, and shudder!" You have judged right, sir: your acquaintance with the poor distressed child of Lieutenant B-I have just received information of, and your own lips have condemmed you." "Not so much as my heart, sir," replied M. "Pass what sentence you please; but, oh! suffer me to expiate my fault! do not drive me to desparation!"""Tis well, sir, you are convinced of your error;" and, ringing the bell violently, a servant appeared. "Order Mr. M's horse to the door;" then, turning to the young man, "This is no longer a home for you: however, you shall first have the satisfaction of facing your accuser;" and, again ringing the bell, directed another servant to introduce the stranger. No culprit ever stood more agitated than Mwhile these orders were given. He fixed his eyes upon the door in anxious expectancy; but what were his feelings-what his agony-when Lucy herself appeared! He would have rushed towards her; but his uncle caught his arm, and in a voice that made the poor girl tremble, "No, sir! would you again coil like a snake about your victim? would you once more sting a bosom whose only fault was loving a villian? Go, sir! you have forfeited all pretensions to my favour-you have degraded my name-you have disgraced yourself. Go, and never let me see your face again !" This was too much for poor Lucy: she had expected a private interview with her lover, and imagined, when she quitted the housekeeper's apartment, 'twas for that purpose the folding-doors of the drawing-room were thrown open. How great then was her surprise and distress when she found herself in the presence of the admiral! He was habited in an immense cloak, that covered his whole person, and his laced cocked hat upon his head; but the sentence was no sooner pronounced than Lucy knelt before him imploring mercy. M- -, at the same moment, threw himself by her side, caught her upraised hand, joined it in his own, and offered his petitions with her's. The old admiral dashed the tears from his eyes, and, overcome by the scene, grasped their united hands, and blessed them. But who can express the astonishment, the gratitude, of Lucy, when, throwing off his cloak and hat, he appeared before her as her generous benefactor, protector, and guide,-even old WILL BLOCK! Fall, a Scotch Pirate. In the year 1781 a daring attempt was made to lay the town of Arbroath under contribution, by a person of the name of Fall, a native of Scotland, who then commanded a French Privateer, and committed various depredations on the northern trading vessels. His vessel he had named the Fearnought; and wishing, doubtless, to persuade the world that he also merited that appellation, he conceived the design of extorting a sum of money from the terrors of the people. With view he boldly anchored bef town. In an ill-written let pudently sent on shore by a truce, he demanded that the |