VOL. VI.

IT has been sagely remarked by the ingenious Asmodeus, that in the moral as well as in the physical world all things proceed in a never-ceasing everrecurring circle; and hence it is that in the affairs of men there is nothing The faneither permanent or new. tastic day-dreams of human power and human greatness flit in illusive procession before us, and vanish ere they can be well secured. It is Adrian, renown, regret, and then another Adrian: it is Napoleon, conquest, unbounded power, and then a narrow prison.

For myself, I found that I was not destined to form any exception to the general doom of humanity. Like Sancho Panza's, my island-governorship, "though brilliant, was brief," and scarcely had I enjoyed it for six weeks, when I was summoned to rejoin the ship. I accordingly abdicated my vice-regal state with becoming submission; and, strange though it may appear, it was not only without regret, but with unmingled satisfaction, that I renounced the splendours of my "palace,” and reVOL. VI.

sumed once more my humble berth on board the Hesperus.

Our repairs, which had been for some time in progress, were just completed, frigate arrived to rewhen the lieve us from our present station, and we received orders to proceed to England for the purpose of being paid off. Those who have not experienced it can scarcely appreciate the pleasure which the receipt of homeward-bound orders diffuses on board a ship that has been out on a long station in foreign scas. To us youngsters, especially, who were now about to return from our first cruise, the anticipation of home was truly delightful. No sooner were the welcome tidings announced, than imagination was active in picturing all the pleasures that awaited us on our arrival. Already in anticipation we entered the house where we first saw the light, and visited all the loved haunts of our child

hood. Parents, friends, relations, playfairmates-with, perhaps, some haired child," who was associated, we

T

could not well tell why, in all our reminiscences-busy fancy gathered together into one smiling group-all met to receive and to welcome us. We pictured to ourselves the pride that would beam in the countenance of the mother when he whom she sent away a romping schoolboy should return to her arms a travelled man-one who had encountered dangers, and visited foreign climes, and listened to foreign tongues. And then the rapture with which the smiling circle gathered round the evening fire would listen to all the wondrous tales we had to tell; the sister's timid and shrinking looks when we painted the manners of the barbarous nations we had seen-the brother's glance of pride when we spoke of tempest and of battle-and the approving smile of the father when he listened to some tale of duty done. With these and similar day-dreams we shortened the hours of many a middle watch; overleaping, on the light wings of fancy, the broad ocean that still separated us from beloved England.

A week sufficed to gather in the parties that had been stationed at the various signal-posts, and we got under weigh from the Bell-buoy, amid the regrets and good wishes of all our friends, and the ill-suppressed delight of such of our plantation acquaintances as had felt the presence of the Hesperus to be a check upon their illicit slave-trade. Three weeks more brought us to our old quarters in Simon's Bay, though not before we had received a parting salute from the Cape L'Aguilhas in the shape of a heavy northwester, so severe that it was for some time doubtful whether the Hesperus would be able to weather it. Skilful management, however, and a good sea-boat, carried us through; though our foremast and bowsprit were both so badly sprung in the gale, that it was found necessary to replace them before proceeding on our voyage.

The delay occasioned by this accident was no slight cause of grumbling to us youngsters, whose thoughts and desires were for the present centered on home. Captain Morley in the meantime took advantage of the opportunity to go over to Cape Town on a visit to the Governor, and was kind enough to permit me to accompany him. How truly has the poet said of

man that he is "to one thing constant never !" In the society of my Cape Town acquaintances I almost forgot my anxiety for home. A few pic-nic parties in the neighbouring country, a dinner at Constantia, and a day at Zwart Clip, put me in such perfect good-humour with my present situation, that it was even with something like regret that I at last received intelligence of the Hesperus being again ready to proceed on her voyage.

Ten days more, and St. Helena hove in sight. But where were now the numerous well-appointed men-of-war that on our former visit cruised round its rocky coast, the cannon that bristled its batteries, the signal-posts that surmounted its rugged promontories, and gave intelligence of all that passed within and without. The great Napoleon was no more, and with him had vanished all "the pomp and circumstance of war." Instead of the gay troops that formerly crowded the streets of the town, and the mounted picquets that traversed the country, nothing was now to be seen but a few lazy yamstocks lounging about the dismantled batteries, awaiting the uncertain arrival of such Indiamen as either profit or pleasure might induce to visit their now deserted island. Like Ferrara, St. Helena derived its temporary fame from being a great man's prison, and it was now only remembered as being a great man's grave. A gallop to the tomb of Napoleon, a saunter through Plantation Gardens, a visit to the arbour which I had once considered as the bower of love, a sigh for Sophia, and adieu to "St. Helena's rock-bound shore."

Prosperous winds and bright anticipations accompanied us during the rest of our voyage, which at length rapidly approached its termination. One night I chanced to have the middle watch, and Strangway was the officer in charge of the deck. I was pacing about in silence, thinking, as usual, of friends and home, when I was startled by the voice of the look-out at the mast-head. "On the deck there." "Hilloa!"

"A light two points on the lec-bow."

Two points on the lee-bow," cried Strangway. "Then, it must be the Lizard!-and the Lizard, accordingly it proved to be.

Who can describe the mingled emotions of delight and hope and impatience which the first announcement of this far-famed beacon produced. Fain would I have mounted the rigging to get a peep at it; but duty confined me to my station, and I was obliged to wait with patience until it should become visible from the deck.

Captain Morley had been for somə time retired to his cabin, and Strangway went below to communicate to him the tidings. The night was dark, the sky obscured by dense clouds, and not a star was visible in the firmament. I kept my eye firmly fixed in the direction of the land; and as we were going through the water at a rapid rate, it was not long till I discovered in the extreme distance something that resembled a solitary planet.

"Can yonder tiny spark be the Lizard, sir," I said to Strangway, who at the moment returned from below.

"Hurrah!" cried the jolly lieutenant, tossing his cap in the air, and grasping me cordially by the hand. "I give you joy! The old Lizard it is, and no other. Come, my boy! everything is as it should be; our reckoning correct to a mile, and a fine rattling nine-knot breeze from the south-west carrying us up channel. The captain, God bless him, is snug in his cot, and I don't think he is likely to rouse out to greet his old acquaintance. So, jump down to my cabin, will you, and fetch up a bottle of champaigne, which you will find in the locker. We must drink 'Success to Old England.' Quick! in case the captain should come."

Having received the bearing and distance of the said bottle, I dived below, and presently returned bearing it triumphantly in one hand, while some cold junk and biscuit loaded the other. "Should the captain chance to come upon us," I said, as I placed the catables on the deck, "what will he say to our boozing champaigne upon watch. You know how strict a disciplinarian

he is."

I accordingly untwisted the wire after the most approved method, and was just proceeding to cut the string, when I descried a hat not easily mistaken emerging from the after ladder.

"The captain, sir!" I whispered to my companion, as, smuggling the bottle under my jacket, I was about to bolt round the main-mast from the gangway to my proper station on the lee-side.

Keep all fast youngster," cried the jolly lieutenant, nothing daunted;— "what the d-1 are you frightened for! out with the cork, I say-quick !”

In an instant my knife had done its office; the string was severed, and away flew the cork into the waist with a loud exhilarating pop.

"Hilloa!" cried the captain, who at this moment stepped up to us-" What's all this, gentlemen?"

Champaigne, sir!" replied Strangway, advancing towards him with the bottle in one hand and a glass in the other; "and I trust you will be inclined to overlook the breach of discipline when you consider the occasion. The Lizard is beaming right ahead, and we were about to drink 'SUCCESS TO OLD ENGLAND.'"

"That is a toast which I shall never refuse to pledge,” replied Morley, taking the creaming glass which the lieutenant proffered in his hand, and draining it to the bottom as he spoke. "But recollect, gentlemen, I do not permit my officers to pass their time during watch in drinking champaigne : so, the sooner you finish the bottle and attend to your duty the better."

When daylight appeared-for leaving the deck at the expiration of the watch was impossible-our eyes were greeted by the glad sight of the cliffs of dear England. Our impatience to be on shore was now redoubled; and though we were running up channel at a good rate, before a fine fresh breeze, the Hesperus seemed to linger among the waters. In the course of the morning we were hailed by a pilot-boat, and hove to for the purpose of gathering news. A little puny insignificant craft she was; but we saw her with feelings which under other circumstances the best appointed nan-of-war would have failed to produce. To us there was an indescribable sort of fascination in the idea that a few hours before this little boat had actually left an English port,

that her crew had actually trodden upon English soil, and spoken to English people in the English tongue; and much did we envy the captain when the pilot was brought on board and sent down to the cabin.*

I was leaning over the gangway; the boat, with her crew, were lying alongside immediately beneath me. Anxious to ascertain what news there was, and what of good or evil had happened in England during the long four years of my absence, I ventured to hail a fine weather-beaten old fellow, who was very quietly chewing his quid in the stern-sheets.

"Any news?" I inquired, in an under tone, of voice, almost dreading his reply, lest the tidings should be of evil import.

"

up his trowsers with the other; nothing very particular, sir: only pilchard fishing's uncommon slack-very!"

"Interesting!" thought I, as I turned away, determined not to risk any farther interrogatories.

We carried our favourable breeze to Spithead, and saluted the Admiral with seventeen guns. Next day we proceeded into the harbour, and in a fortnight more were paid off, when we prepared to depart, each for his respective home. The total dispersion of a crew that for four years had lived so harmoniously together, considerably damped the joyful feelings that would otherwise have been paramount on this occasion; and notwithstanding my anxiety to rejoin my friends, it was with a heavy heart that I took leave of my comrades, and having shaken hands with the benevolent Morley, turned my back forever on the HAPPY HESPERUS.

As the route of Strangway, Neville, and myself, lay in the same direction as far as London, we determined to proceed thither in company, and for this purpose secured our places in one of the "Portsmouth stages."

It was a fine bright and bracing October morning when we started on our journey, "rolling along the turnpike" on the top of The Regulator with all the speed at which a team of four fine bays could carry us. There were at the time of which I speak, as there are still, numerous coaches belonging to rival proprietors, plying on the road between Portsmouth and London, each of which was urged on the attention of the public by the usual expedients. In the advertisement which proclaimed the many advantages that attended travelling by the Regulator, there was placed

in the strong relief of a separate line and large letters, the announcement"One driver through." How far this proved to be really an advantage the reader will presently have an opportunity of judging.

Our Jehu, who was known on the road by the familiar appellation of Bill, was a middle-aged man, of a stout corpulent figure, and a complexion of which the weather-born bronze gradually deepening into a dark purple round the region of the nose betokened a close familiarity with gin and ale. He wore a smart bottle-green jockeycoat, with large mother-of-pearl buttons; a pair of mahogany-topped boots and shining white cord breeches adorned his nether man, and a huge broadbrimmed white hat surmounted his head. His button-hole was ornamented by the

English coachman's greatest pride-a full-blown cabbage rose and a goodly sprig of southern-wood. In driving, he prided himself on being an adept. He squared his elbows and handled his reins with an air of one who knows his business, making his long four-in-hand whip crack round the ears of his leaders with the greatest possible adroitness. As long as our route lay within the town, it required all his vigilance to steer his way through the crowded thoroughfares, and it was in vain that we attempted to draw him into conversation; but no sooner were we clear of the streets, than he showed that taciturnity was by no means his foible.

There's a team for you, gentlemen," he said, eyeing his horses, as they pranced along in gallant style, with infinite complacency. "That off-wheel horse has won two plates in his day, and taken Heaven knows how many brushes-isn't he a rare un to trot? sixteen miles an hour's clean nothing to him. Look you, now-they give me forty minutes to go this stage: see if I don't do it in the half-hour, and bring in my tits as fresh as daisies, without a turned hair. You were observing that you're just come from sea, gentlemenarrived, no doubt, with one of them ships as was paid off the other day?— ay, that's your sort; a light heart, a full purse, and a bright eye for a petticoat. Well, blow me, if you sha'nt see as pretty a bar-maid at the next stage as ever handled a porter pot; and one that's up to a bit of a lark, too, I'll warrant her."

As he intimated, little more than half an hour was requisite to bring us to the stage in question, and Bill having directed the hostler not to be in a hurry with the horses as he was "summit within time," invited us to follow him into the private parlour of the little inn. Here a supply of liquor was speedily produced and as speedily consumed-by far the greater proportion finding its way down the capacious throat of our worthy driver, who kept up a sort of flying flirtation with the pretty bar-maid, winking and nodding to us from time to time in order that his wit and pleasantry might not pass unobserved. At every stage on the road, and at every pot-house between stages where a glass of liquor could be procured, the same scene was

enacted, of course at our expense, and such were Bill's herculean potatory powers that the quantity of liquor which he imbibed seemed to produce no other effect on him than that of deepening the purple and brightening the carbuncles that garnished his physiognomy. Bacchus, however, is not a god to be trifled with. By degrees it became evident that the liquor he had taken was doing its work; his tongue moved more and more sluggishly, and the lies he told became more and more exaggerated and fearless. On every opportunity that offered he took care to afford us some proof of his expertness in driving, now making the wheels run close on the edge of some stcep bank or ditch, now cutting in between carriages where the space seemed quite insufficient for the purpose of passing, and now wheeling round the corners and windings of the road with a sharpness and rapidity which in no small degree jeopardized the necks of his passengers. Still, as if by a sort of habitual instinctiveness, he continued to hold the reins firmly, and to keep his team tolerably well together; turning round to us after the performance of each new feat with a peculiar leer on his face which seemed to say, "What do you think of that?"

As we approached the suburbs of London, and the thoroughfares became more crowded, the opportunities of showing his dexterity increased. Coaches, carts, and carriages were successively passed with hair-breadth proximity, and what seemed to me almost miraculous without accident.

"You're a good hand at a shave, Bill," I observed to him after he had just cleared a huge wagon, by running the coach close past it without the slightest collision.

"In course," replied Bill, "and why not! Ay, ay, its easy enough to drive along a road with a couple of yards open space on each side; but show me the man that can carry his coach safe through and not a quarter of an inch to spare. Look ye now; you see that 'ere carriage with the couple of bays trundling along before us, I warrant you that fat liveried lout on the box knows no more of his business than if he were the driver of a common dray