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perfectly sober. He did not come with us, but in a shore boat, with Beaumgardte; and I believe he is to be called in evidence against us relative to that bit of bush-fighting ashore."

"I do not think he would utter an untruth for the world's wealth," said I, following Pascoe to the place he had mentioned, "and therefore, in some respects, it will be so much the better for us. But how in the name of wonder could he keep from getting groggy, or rather winey, I should say?"

"Oh, the canny Scotchman kept aloof, and gave us a wide berth," returned Pascoe; "he says he witnessed the whole affair: but here we are. Good morning, Mr. Snatchblock: can you favour us with a nip? We are all becalmed."

"You are beginning the voyage of life right merrily, young gentlemen," replied the veteran boatswain, "bowsing your jibs up at night, and then coming to me to clap a preventer on in the morning. How do you think the Company's Sarvice is to go on in this fashion? Howsomever, Jem, give 'em a drop out of the case, just to make their hands steady and their eyes square, afore they're overhauled by Mister Tremenhere; and he looks as black as the devil's table-cloth this blessed hour."

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"Mr. Pascoe and Mr. Grummett, you're wanted on the quarterdeck," said old Johnson, the quarter-master; there's the captain and chief mate, and the sodger-officers, and that chap of a cadet as called us 'sea-dogs.' I'm blowed if there ar'nt somut in the wind! And I say, young gentlemen," continued the veteran in a voice of kindness, I suspects they'll be all foul on you, and so I just made bould to rouse Mr. Allen-he's a good friend o' yours, and, mayhap 'll help you to weather it out."

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Without touching the brandy, we immediately repaired to the quarter-deck, and found that the whole party had retired to the cuddy, to which we followed. Captain Burgess was seated in the centre of the long-table, and the officers took their stations on each side of him. In the fore part, Pascoe and myself were placed on the larboard side, and Beaumgardte on the starboard side; and the latter was ordered to make his complaint, which he did, exaggerating every circumstance, more particularly against Pascoe, and not adhering over-scrupulously to the truth.

I could perceive the captain's anger was strongly kindling against us, and the chief officer was shifting about restlessly in his seat, as if he also was greatly provoked with us for getting intoxicated, although not altogether displeased that our accuser had got a drubbing. "And now, Sir, without wishing to impeach your veracity," said the Captain, "I must, as an act of justice to these young men, require confirmatory evidence. Who have you to produce? But first have the goodness to inform me whether you mean to make the occurrence the subject of any future proceedings on your arrival in India?"

"I shall rely solely on your judgment, gentlemen," said Beaumgardte; "I have been most unhandsomely treated, and all that I require is strict justice."

"And you shall have it, Sir, as far as it is within my authority to yield it," replied the Captain in a firm voice, and knitting his brows; "and now, Sir, name your witness."

"It is one of their own party, and a messmate," answered Beaumgardte. "Mr. Marshall saw it all, and is ready to attest what I have already uttered."

Tremenhere curled his upper lip and frowned when he heard Marshall's name mentioned; and shortly after the young Scotchman entered the cuddy. "You were present last night, Mr. Marshall, when this disgraceful occurrence took place ashore?" inquired the Captain.

"Au'm no sure of what your question speirs at, Sir," returned Marshall with seriousness; "forbye, I have nae heard ony thing that has been said."

Pascoe gave me a sly pinch, which I took to mean- "All's right yet." The Captain looked vexed. "You are over-cautious, Mr. Marshall," said he, "you must know I meant the attack upon Mr. Beaumgardte last night, and what took place afterwards. But pray, Mr. Tremenhere, was Mr. Marshall sober when he came on board?"

"As perfectly so as he is at this moment, Sir," replied the person addressed, "though I cannot say so much for Mr. Beaumgardte."

Another pinch from Pascoe; and an "Indeed!" from the Captain, "he has just stated that he was sober!"

"If I was a little elevated, Sir," said the Cadet, "it must be remembered that drinking was not a voluntary act on my part,—the wine was forced upon me."

"True! true!" exclaimed the Captain, "and now, Mr. Marshall, was the occurrence of running Mr. Beaumgardte down and throwing him on his beam-ends a premeditated act or not?"

The Midshipman looked at the Cadet inspectingly, and then turning to the inquirer uttered, "Beam-ends, did you say, Sir?"

The Skipper muttered something about "booby," and then in a louder tone" Yes, beam-ends! That is, did they, in the first instance, ride over him designedly?"

"In God's truth, not at all, Sir, "-the officers stared at one another, -"it was purely an accident altogether."

"You said differently last night, Mr. Marshall," said Beaumgardte, " and I can prove it!"

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Nae, nae, Mr. Boomguard," returned Marshall, "I said nae sic a thing. You sifflicated me to say so when they came to question me, and I answered I would speak the truth."

The examination was carried on pretty strictly, by which it appeared the Cadet had been tampering with the young Scotchman, but without effect. His statement was clear and distinct in every particular, without favour to either party, and it was firmly believed by all who heard him. When called upon to make our defence, we readily assented to all that Marshall had said; at the same time expressing the deepest regret at what had taken place, and were then ordered to withdraw whilst they consulted together.

We were soon after addressed by the quarter-master with—“ Young gentlemen, the Captain sends for you into the cuddy." With palpitating hearts we once more entered, and being arranged as before, the Captain addressing Beaumgardte said, "You still adhere, Sir, to your resolution of leaving this affair in our hands?"

"I do so, gentlemen," returned the Cadet, "indeed I have now no alternative,'

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"Well, then, Mr. Marshall, direct all the Gentlemen Cadets to bear

a hand into the cuddy!" added the Captain. And till their arrival a dead silence prevailed. As soon as they were assembled, he proceeded: "Mr. Beaumgardte, you have entirely failed in proving that the occurrence, in the first instance, had its origin in malice, for even some of those who afterwards joined you have declared, that your person was not known to them until several minutes after you had been thrown down; and it is much to be regretted that you did not accept of the frank apologies which were subsequently offered. However, I can make every allowance for the irritated feelings of the moment; but, Sir, I am truly sorry, after a night's reflection, when the passions ought to have become cool, to find you capable of giving a false colouring to your statement. This is not only disingenuousit is dishonourable. As for you two," addressing us, "you have disgraced yourselves so as to render you unfit to sustain the character of officer." I thought I should have sunk upon the deck with shame. "Hitherto your conduct has been irreproachable; but that very fact renders your offence more heinous, for it has broken down the force and beauty of example, which has so powerful an effect on the minds of the foremast-men. For you, Grummett,-you had nearly forfeited your life; and I trust that the recollection of it will deter you from ever indulging to excess again: but I should be wanting in the duty I owe to the Honourable East India Company,-I should be wanting in the duty I owe to myself,-nay more, I should be neglecting the duty I owe to you, did I not decree a punishment adequate to your crime. You know I shall do so with grief, and that ought to add to your contrition. Young gentlemen," turning to the Cadets," you are all of you more or less involved in this transaction, and let it be a warning to you from this hour." Then again addressing us-" Over you my control more immediately extends: you will both of you go below and strip off your uniforms." I felt as if I had been shot; whilst Pascoe drew himself up proudly and stiffly as the Captain proceeded: "And having so done, you will perform your duties before the mast, till by good conduct, you redeem your characters. At the same time, I shall leave it to the generosity of your late messmates, either to continue in or expel you from the midshipmen's berth. The fair dealing of Mr. Marshall is above all praise, and I honour him for his candour. You may now return to your duties; and oh, let me implore you all "there was a tear trembling in his eye,-" let me entreat you, as having some knowledge of human life, to abstain from drunkenness-discreditable to the soldier or the seaman-but disgraceful and disgusting in an officer. You have parents and relatives anxious for your welfare; do not disap point their expectations,-do not blast and wither up their hopes." He arose from his chair and retired into his state-room; whilst even Pascoe's proud spirit was bowed down like a child before its father,we were degraded.

May my young friends who read this feel the advice of Captain Burgess as directed to themselves, and never experience the anguish I endured at such a moment of humiliation. Let them take the word of an old tar, that the remembrance of such an event to a sensitive mind is a never-ceasing punishment of itself; for even now, though many years. have since passed away I feel the glow of shame upon my cheeks whilst thus recording

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SKETCHES OF THE CAPE DE VERD ISLANDS*,

BY A PASSENGER ON BOARD THE SIR THOMAS MUNRO, WRECKED THERE
ON THE 10TH DECEMBER LAST.

AFTER we had left the anything but hospitable mansion of our Yankee acquaintance, we were at a loss for some time where to find cover, Porto Praye

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was all before us where to choose Our place of rest, and Providence our guide."

At last we stumbled on a Marchand de Vins, where some American sailors, that had been shipwrecked like ourselves, were lodging, and here we got a few eggs boiled and some bread, which, though sour, appeared to us most delicious. Our host had not a bed to give us, but, as it was now pretty late, we prevailed on him to spread a piece of matting on the pavement in one corner of his shop, and here three of us not only lay down but slept well and soundly-so admirably is our nature framed to conform itself to situations however novel in which it may be placed. For this homely couch our host next morning modestly demanded a dollar.

In the course of the day we were fortunate enough in our rambles to meet with a native called George, I don't believe he had any sirname, who had picked up a smattering of English from some Americans that had lodged with him, and in his house we hired an apartment for two dollars a-week. Our new residence, though the best to be had, was anything but comfortable. The floor was earth, and there was a yard at the back of the house, the only way to which was through our room, that therefore served as a passage for some twenty goats to pass to and fro twice a-day.

The first day of the new year was welcomed by the inhabitants with great rejoicings. All the shops were shut, and on our way through the town we met the military, about two hundred in number, marching to chapel. They were much better dressed, and altogether infinitely more respectable in appearance, than the few unfortunate soldiers we saw at Bonavista. There were four officers with them, three of whom would have been no discredit to any corps; the fourth was a mere lad about twelve years of age, who, with his great military cap, looked not unlike a candle under an extinguisher. We entered the church with them and found no one there besides the soldiers and ourselves, except one lady who was seated, cross-legged like a tailor, on a piece of matting on the floor, most devoutly gazing on an image of the holy Virgin. We took it for granted that she was doing penance. There were no pews or seats of any kind; and on each side the altar three or four soldiers were drawn up with fixed bayonets. Soon after the priest entered by a side-door, and then the ceremony commenced, which seemed to be regulated by beat of drum. A soldier in front gave a rattle on the drum-head, and down we all went on our marrow-bones on the pavement. In a few minutes more another rattle, and up we rose again; and in one part of the service all the fifes and drums joined,the soldiers on each side the altar advanced one pace and presented arms,—while their fellow-soldiers in the body of the church did the

*Continued from No. 81, p. 479.

same, and then allowed the butts of their muskets to sink on the pavement with a clanging sound, that made the old chapel ring again. This was at the elevation of the Host.

After we came out of the church we went to inspect the barracks; and on our way we met a sad specimen of the state of prison discipline here. Two most miserable beings, without any clothing whatever on the upper part of their persons, and chained together round their waists, came up to ask charity. They had a keeper following them at a little distance, and I never before witnessed such an appearance of squalid wretchedness as they presented. As there is no provision made for prisoners here, they are utterly dependent on their friends and the public,-a source that too often fails them, and they are, therefore, allowed to go out thus in pairs, chained together, to beg. We entered the barracks through an archway, and was it not for their being so much larger, they looked very similar to an Irish mud-cabin. There was no whitewash or plaster of any kind, either inside or out, and the sleeping-place was a wooden platform extending along the wall in a slanting position. There was one poor fellow in the stocks, which are made in such a manner that whatever your height may be, you must stand on tiptoe to touch the ground, and, consequently, you must either continue in that fatiguing posture, or allow the whole weight of your body to come on your neck. The soldiers gathered round us soliciting us to view different things, evidently in the hope of exciting our admiration, though we saw nothing to elicit such a feeling.

Next morning we prepared for an excursion into the country. Two of us were mounted on donkeys, and two on horses; a padre or priest accompanying us, with a negro attendant who followed on foot. Soon after starting we had to descend a most rugged and steep path, leading from the high table-land on which the town stands into the vale below. To attempt to ride an English horse down such a place would be more than either his or your neck would be worth; but the animals we were on carried us not only safely, but with apparent ease. After descending we entered the bed of a river, now dried up, but which in the rainy season forms no inconsiderable stream. During our progress we were gratified by observing the sides of some of the mountains covered with wood, most of it of a dwarfish description, but still a pleasing contrast to the waste and barren sands of Bonavista. The only full-grown forest-tree we saw was the whitethorn, great numbers of which were as fine and large as I have ever seen them.

After we had proceeded some two or three miles, the views in many parts were very beautiful,-mountains of every shape presenting an endless variety of scenery-water alone was wanting. Had a lake but occupied one of the valleys, you might have imagined yourself amidst some of the loveliest and grandest of the highlands of Scotland. At length we came to a mountain, at whose base ran a very small rivulet, on each side of which the valley was covered with orange, lime, cocoanut, and fig trees. Half way up the mountain were a dozen straggling, mean-looking, mud-cabins. This was Trinidad, from whence Porto Praye is, for the most part, supplied with fruit and vegetables. Here we dismounted to enjoy a ramble amongst the luxuriant orange and cocoanut trees. Pine-apples, too, we encountered at every step; and we could have obtained as many for an hundred pence, as in London would

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