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conversation； it is true； there was something military enough； as
it consisted chiefly of oaths； and of the great actions and wise
sayings of Jack； and Will； and Tom of our regiment； a phrase
eternally in his mouth； and he seemed to conclude that it
conveyed to all the officers such a degree of public notoriety
and importance that it entitled him like the head of a
profession； or a first minister； to be the subject of
conversation among those who had not the least personal
acquaintance with him。 This did not much surprise me； as I have
seen several examples of the same； but the defects in his
address； especially to the women； were so great that they seemed
absolutely inconsistent with the behavior of a pretty fellow；
much less of one in a red coat； and yet； besides having been
eleven years in the army； he had had； as his uncle informed me；
an education in France。 This； I own； would have appeared to have
been absolutely thrown away had not his animal spirits； which
were likewise thrown away upon him in great abundance； borne the
visible stamp of the growth of that country。 The character to
which he had an indisputable title was that of a merry fellow； so
very merry was he that he laughed at everything he said； and
always before he spoke。 Possibly； indeed； he often laughed at
what he did not utter； for every speech begun with a laugh；
though it did not always end with a jest。 There was no great
analogy between the characters of the uncle and the nephew； and
yet they seemed entirely to agree in enjoying the honor which the
red…coat did to his family。 This the uncle expressed with great
pleasure in his countenance； and seemed desirous of showing all
present the honor which he had for his nephew； who； on his side；
was at some pains to convince us of his concurring in this
opinion； and at the same time of displaying the contempt he had
for the parts； as well as the occupation of his uncle； which he
seemed to think reflected some disgrace on himself； who was a
member of that profession which makes every man a gentleman。
Not that I would be understood to insinuate that the nephew
endeavored to shake off or disown his uncle； or indeed to keep
him at any distance。 On the contrary； he treated him with the
utmost familiarity； often calling him Dick； and dear Dick； and
old Dick； and frequently beginning an oration with Dn me； Dick。
All this condescension on the part of the young man was received
with suitable marks of complaisance and obligation by the old
one； especially when it was attended with evidences of the same
familiarity with general officers and other persons of rank； one
of whom； in particular； I know to have the pride and insolence of
the devil himself； and who； without some strong bias of interest；
is no more liable to converse familiarly with a lieutenant than
of being mistaken in his judgment of a fool； which was not；
perhaps； so certainly the case of the worthy lieutenant； who； in
declaring to us the qualifications which recommended men to his
countenance and conversation； as well as what effectually set a
bar to all hopes of that honor； exclaimed； 〃No； sir； by the d I
hate all fools No； dn me； excuse me for that。 That's a
little too much； old Dick。 There are two or three officers of
our regiment whom I know to be fools； but dn me if I am ever
seen in their company。 If a man hath a fool of a relation； Dick；
you know he can't help that； old boy。〃 Such jokes as these the
old man not only tools in good part； but glibly gulped down the
whole narrative of his nephew； nor did he； I am convinced； in the
least doubt of our as readily swallowing the same。 This made him
so charmed with the lieutenant； that it is probable we should
have been pestered with him the whole evening； had not the north
wind； dearer to our sea…captain even than this glory of his
family； sprung suddenly up； and called aloud to him to weigh his
anchor。 While this ceremony was performing； the sea…captain
ordered out his boat to row the land…captain to shore； not indeed
on an uninhabited island； but one which； in this part； looked but
little better； not presenting us the view of a single house。
Indeed； our old friend； when his boat returned on shore； perhaps
being no longer able to stifle his envy of the superiority of his
nephew； told us with a smile that the young man had a good five
mile to walk before he could be accommodated with a passage to
Portsmouth。
It appeared now that the captain had been only mistaken in the
date of his prediction； by placing the event a day earlier than
it happened； for the wind which now arose was not only favorable
but brisk； and was no sooner in reach of our sails than it swept
us away by the back of the Isle of Wight； and； having in the
night carried us by Christchurch and Peveral…point； brought us
the next noon； Saturday； July 25； oft the island of Portland； so
famous for the smallness and sweetness of its mutton； of which a
leg seldom weighs four pounds。 We would have bought a sheep； but
our captain would not permit it； though he needed not have been
in such a hurry； for presently the wind； I will not positively
assert in resentment of his surliness； showed him a dog's trick；
and slyly slipped back again to his summer…house in the
south…west。
The captain now grew outrageous； and； declaring open war with the
wind； took a resolution； rather more bold than wise； of sailing
in defiance of it； and in its teeth。 He swore he would let go
his anchor no more； but would beat the sea while he had either
yard or sail left。 He accordingly stood from the shore； and made
so large a tack that before night； though he seemed to advance
but little on his way； he was got out of sight of land。
Towards evening the wind began； in the captain's own language；
and indeed it freshened so much； that before ten it blew a
perfect hurricane。 The captain having got； as he supposed； to a
safe distance； tacked again towards the English shore； and now
the wind veered a point only in his favor； and continued to blow
with such violence； that the ship ran above eight knots or miles
an hour during this whole day and tempestuous night till
bed…time。 I was obliged to betake myself once more to my
solitude； for my women were again all down in their sea…sickness；
and the captain was busy on deck； for he began to grow uneasy；
chiefly； I believe； because he did not well know where he was；
and would； I am convinced； have been very glad to have been in
Portland…road； eating some sheep's…head broth。
Having contracted no great degree of good…humor by living a whole
day alone； without a single soul to converse with； I took but ill
physic to purge it off； by a bed…conversation with the captain；
who； amongst many bitter lamentations of his fate； and protesting
he had more patience than a Job； frequently intermixed summons to
the commanding officer on the deck； who now happened to be one
Morrison； a carpenter； the only fellow that had either common
sense or common civility in the ship。 Of Morrison he inquired
every quarter of an hour concerning the state of affairs： the
wind； the care of the ship； and other matters of navigation。 The
frequency of these summons； as well as the solicitude with which
they were made； sufficiently testified the state of the captain's
mind； he endeavored to conceal it； and would have given no small
alarm to a man who had either not learned what it is to die； or
known what it is to be miserable。 And my dear wife and child
must pardon me； if what I did not conceive to be any great evil
to myself I was not much terrified with the thoughts of happening
to them； in truth； I have often thought they are both too good
and too gentle to be trusted to the power of any man I know； to
whom they could possibly be so trusted。
Can I say then I had no fear？ indeed I cannot。 Reader； I was
afraid for thee； lest thou shouldst have been deprived of that
pleasure thou art now enjoying； and that I should not live to
draw out on paper that military character which thou didst peruse
in the journal of yesterday。
From all these fears we were relieved； at six in the morning； by
the arrival of Mr。 Morrison； who acquainted us that he was sure
he beheld land very near； for he could not see half a mile； by
reason of the haziness of the weather。 This land he said was； he
believed； the Berry…head； which forms one side of Torbay： the
captain declared that it was impossible； and swore； on condition
he was right； he would give him his mother for a maid。 A forfeit
which became afterwards strictly due and payable； for the
captain； whipping on his night…gown； ran up without his breeches；
and within half an hour returning into the cabin； wished me joy
of our lying safe at anchor in the bay。
Sunday； July 26。Things now began to put on an aspect very
different from what they had lately worn； the news that the ship
had almost