The next morning at daylight we exchanged numbers, and saluted the flag,
and by eight o'clock they all anchored. Mr Falcon went on board the
admiral's ship with despatches, and to report the death of Captain
Savage. In about half-an-hour he returned, and we were glad to
perceive, with a smile upon his face, from which we argued that he would
receive his acting order as commander, which was a question of some
doubt, as the admiral had the power to give the vacancy to whom he
pleased, although it would not have been fair if he had not given it to
Mr Falcon; not that Mr Falcon would not have received his commission,
as Captain Savage dying when the ship was under no admiral's command, he
_made himself_; but still the admiral might have sent him home, and not
have given him a ship. But this he did, the captain of the _Minerve_,
being appointed to the _Sanglier_, the captain of the _Opossum_ to the
_Minerve_, and Captain Falcon taking the command of the _Opossum_. He
received his commission that evening, and the next day the exchanges
were made. Captain Falcon would have taken me with him, and offered so
to do; but I could not leave O'Brien, so I preferred remaining in the
_Sanglier_.
We were all anxious to know what sort of a person our new captain was
whose name was Kearney; but we had no time to ask the midshipmen except
when they came in charge of the boats which brought his luggage: they
replied generally, that he was a very good sort of fellow, and there was
no harm in him. But when I had the night watch with Swinburne, he came
up to me, and said, "Well, Mr Simple, so we have a new captain, I
sailed with him for two years in a brig."
"And pray, Swinburne, what sort of a person is he?"
"Why, I'll tell you, Mr Simple; he's a good-tempered, kind fellow
enough, but--"
"But what?"
"Such a _bouncer_!!"
"How do you mean? He's not a very stout man."
"Bless you, Mr Simple, why, you don't understand English. I mean that
he's the greatest liar that ever walked a deck. Now, Mr Simple, you
know I can spin a yarn occasionally."
"Yes, that you can; witness the hurricane the other night."
"Well, Mr Simple, I cannot _hold a candle_ to him. It a'n't that I
might not stretch now and again, just for fun, as far as he can, but,
damn it, he's always on the stretch. In fact, Mr Simple, he never
tells the truth except _by mistake_. He's as poor as a rat, and has
nothing but his pay; yet to believe him, he is worth at least as much as
Greenwich Hospital. But you'll soon find him out, and he'll sarve to
laugh at behind his back, you know, Mr Simple, for that's _no go_
before his face."
Captain Kearney made his appearance on board the next day. The men were
mustered to receive him, and all the officers were on the quarter-deck
"You've a fine set of marines here, Captain Falcon," observed he; "those
I left on board of the _Minerve_ were only fit to be _hung_; and you
have a good show of reefers too--those I left in the _Minerve_ were not
_worth hanging_. If you please, I'll read my commission if you'll order
the men aft." His commission was read, all hands with their hats off
from respect to the authority from which it proceeded. "Now, my lads,"
said Captain Kearney, addressing the ship's company, "I've but a few
words to say to you. I am appointed to command this ship, and you
appear to have a very good character from your late first lieutenant.
All I request of you is this: be smart, keep sober, and always _tell the
truth_--that's enough. Pipe down. Gentlemen," continued he, addressing
the officers, "I trust that we shall be good friends; and I see no
reason that it should be otherwise." He then turned away with a bow,
and called his coxswain--"William, you'll go on board and tell my
steward that I have promised to dine with the governor to-day, and that
he must come to dress me; and, coxswain, recollect to put the sheepskin
mat on the stern gratings of my gig--not the one I used to have when I
was on shore in my _carriage_, but the blue one which was used for the
_chariot--you_ know which I mean." I happened to look Swinburne in the
face, who cocked his eye at me, as much as to say--"There he goes." We
afterwards met the officers of the _Minerve_, who corroborated all that
Swinburne had said, although it was quite unnecessary, as we had the
captain's own words every minute to satisfy us of the fact.
Dinner parties were now very numerous, and the hospitality of the island
is but too well known. The invitations extended to the midshipmen, and
many was the good dinner and kind reception which I had during my stay.
There was, however, one thing I had heard so much of, that I was anxious
to witness it, which was a _dignity ball_. But I must enter a little
into explanation, or my readers will not understand me. The coloured
people of Barbadoes, for reasons best known to themselves, are
immoderately proud, and look upon all the negroes who are born on other
islands as _niggers_; they have also an extraordinary idea of their own
bravery, although I never heard that it has ever been put to the proof.
The free Barbadians are, most of them, very rich, and hold up their
heads as they walk with an air quite ridiculous. They ape the manners
of the Europeans, at the same time that they appear to consider them as
almost their inferiors. Now, a _dignity_ ball is a ball given by the
most consequential of their coloured people, and from the amusement and
various other reasons, is generally well attended by the officers both
on shore and afloat. The price of the tickets of admission was high--I
think they were a joe, or eight dollars each.
The governor sent out cards for a grand ball and supper for the ensuing
week, and Miss Betsy Austin, a quadroon woman, ascertaining the fact,
sent out her cards for the same evening. This was not altogether in
_rivalry_, but for another reason, which was, that she was aware that
most of the officers and midshipmen of the ships would obtain permission
to go to the governor's ball, and preferring hers, would slip away and
join the party, by which means she insured a full attendance.
On the day of invitation our captain came on board, and told our new
first lieutenant (of whom I shall say more hereafter) that the governor
insisted, that all _his_ officers should go--that he would take no
denial, and therefore, he presumed, go they must; that the fact was,
that the governor was a _relation_ of his wife, and under some trifling
obligations to him in obtaining for him his present command. He
certainly had spoken to the _Prime minister_, and he thought it not
impossible, considering the intimate terms which the minister and he had
been on from childhood, that his solicitation might have had some
effect; at all events, it was pleasant to find that there was some
little gratitude left in this world. After this, of course, every
officer went, with the exception of the master, who said that he'd as
soon have two round turns in his hawse as go to see people kick their
legs about like fools, and that he'd take care of the ship.
The governor's ball was very splendid; but the ladies were rather
sallow, from the effects of the climate. However, there were
exceptions, and on the whole it was a very gay affair; but we were all
anxious to go to the _dignity_ ball of Miss Betsy Austin. I slipped
away with three other midshipmen, and we soon arrived there. A crowd of
negroes were outside of the house; but the ball had not yet commenced,
from the want of gentlemen, the ball being very correct, nothing under
mulatto in colour being admitted. Perhaps I ought to say here, that the
progeny of a white and a negro is a mulatto, or half and half--of a
white and mulatto, a _quadroon_, or one quarter black, and of this class
the company were chiefly composed. I believe a quadroon and white make
the _mustee_ or one eighth black, and the mustee and white the
mustafina, or one sixteenth black. After that, they are _white washed_
and considered as Europeans. The pride of colour is very great in the
West Indies, and they have as many quarterings as a German prince, in
his coat of arms; a quadroon looks down upon a mulatto, while a mulatto
looks down upon a sambo, that is, half mulatto half negro, while a sambo
in his turn looks down upon a nigger. The quadroons are certainly the
handsomest race of the whole: some of the women are really beautiful;
their hair is long and perfectly straight, their eyes large and black,
their figures perfection, and you can see the colour mantle in their
cheeks quite as plainly, and with as much effect, as in those of an
European. We found the door of Miss Austin's house open, and ornamented
with orange branches, and on our presenting ourselves were accosted by a
mulatto gentleman, who was, we presumed, "usher of the black rod." His
head was well powdered, he was dressed in white jean trowsers, a
waistcoat not six inches long, and a half-worn post-captain's coat on,
as a livery. With a low bow, he "took de liberty to trouble de
gentlemen for de card for de ball," which being produced, we were
ushered on by him to the ball-room, at the door of which Miss Austin was
waiting to receive her company. She made us a low curtsy, observing,
"She really happy to see de _gentlemen_ of de ship, but hoped to see de
_officers_ also at her _dignity_."
This remark touched our _dignity_, and one of my companions replied,
"That we midshipmen considered ourselves officers, and no _small_ ones
either, and that if she waited for the lieutenants she must wait until
they were tired of the governor's ball, we having given the preference
to hers."
This remark set all to rights; sangaree was handed about, and I looked
around at the company. I must acknowledge, at the risk of losing the
good opinion of my fair countrywomen, that I never saw before so many
pretty figures and faces. The officers not having yet arrived we
received all the attention, and I was successively presented to Miss
Eurydice, Miss Minerva, Miss Sylvia, Miss Aspasia, Miss Euterpe, and
many other, evidently borrowed from the different men-of-war which had
been on the station. All these young ladies gave themselves all the
airs of Almack's. Their dresses I cannot pretend to describe--jewels of
value were not wanting, but their drapery was slight. They appeared
neither to wear nor to require stays, and on the whole, their figures
were so perfect, that they could only be ill-dressed by having on too
much dress. A few more midshipmen and some lieutenants (O'Brien among
the number) having made their appearance, Miss Austin directed that the
ball should commence. I requested the honour of Miss Eurydice's hand in
a cotillon, which was to open the ball. At this moment stepped forth
the premier violin, master of the ceremonies and ballet-master, Massa
Johnson, really a very smart man, who gave lessons in dancing to all the
"'Badian ladies." He was a dark quadroon, his hair slightly powdered,
dressed in a light blue coat thrown well back, to show his lily-white
waistcoat, only one button of which he could afford to button to make
full room for the pride of his heart, the frill of his shirt, which
really was _un jabot superb_, four inches wide, and extending from his
collar to the waist-band of his nankeen tights, which were finished off
at his knees with huge bunches of riband; his legs were encased in silk
stockings, which, however, was not very good taste on his part, as they
showed the manifest advantage which an European has over a coloured man
in the formation of the leg: instead of being straight, his shins curved
like a cheese-knife, and, moreover, his leg was planted into his foot
like the handle into a broom or scrubbing-brush, there being quite as
much of the foot on the heel side as on the toe side. Such was the
appearance of Mr Apollo Johnson, whom the ladies considered as the _ne
plus ultra_ of fashion, and the _arbiter elegantiarum_. His _bow-tick_,
or fiddle-stick, was his wand, whose magic rap on the fiddle produced
immediate obedience to his mandates. "Ladies and gentle, take your
seats." All started up. "Miss Eurydice, you open de ball."
Miss Eurydice had but a sorry partner, but she undertook to instruct me.
O'Brien was our vis-a-vis with Miss Euterpe. The other gentlemen were
officers from the ships, and we stood up twelve, checkered brown and
white, like a chess-board. All eyes were fixed upon Mr Apollo Johnson,
who first looked at the couples, then at his fiddle, and, lastly, at the
other musicians, to see if all was right, and then with a wave of his
_bow-tick_ the music began. "Massa Lieutenant," cried Apollo to
O'Brien, "cross over to opposite lady, right hand and left, den figure
to Miss Eurydice--dat right: now four hand round. You lily midshipman,
set your partner, sir; den twist her round; dat do, now stop. First
figure all over."
At this time I thought I might venture to talk a little with my partner,
and I ventured a remark. To my surprise, she answered very sharply, "I
come here for dance, sar, and not for chatter: look Massa Johnson, he
tap um bow-tick."
The second figure commenced, and I made a sad bungle: so I did of the
third, and fourth, and fifth, for I never had danced a cotillon. When I
handed my partner to her place, who certainly was the prettiest girl in
the room, she looked rather contemptuously at me, and observed to a
neighbour, "I really pity de gentleman as come from England dat no know
how to dance, nor nothing at all, until em hab instruction at
Barbadoes."
A country dance was now called for, which was more acceptable to all
parties, as none of Mr Apollo Johnson's pupils were very perfect in
their cotillon, and none of the officers, except O'Brien, knew anything
about them. O'Brien's superior education on this point, added to his
lieutenant's epaulet and handsome person, made him much courted: but he
took up with Miss Eurydice after I had left her, and remained with her
the whole evening; thereby exciting the jealousy of Mr Apollo Johnson,
who, it appears, was amorous in that direction. Our party increased
every minute: all the officers of the garrison, and, finally, as soon as
they could get away, the governor's aides-de-camp, all dressed in
_mufti_ (i.e. plain clothes). The dancing continued until three o'clock
in the morning, when it was quite a squeeze, from the constant arrival
of fresh recruits from all the houses in Barbadoes. I must say, that a
few bottles of Eau de Cologne thrown about the room would have improved
the atmosphere. By this time the heat was terrible, and the _mopping_
of the ladies' faces everlasting. I would recommend a DIGNITY ball to
all stout gentlemen, who wish to be reduced a stone or two. Supper was
now announced, and having danced the last country dance with Miss
Minerva, I of course had the pleasure of handing her into the supper
room. It was my fate to sit opposite to a fine turkey, and I asked my
partner if I should have the pleasure of helping her to a piece of the
breast. She looked at me very indignantly, and said, "Curse your
impudence, sir, I wonder where you larn manners. Sar, I take a lily
turkey _bosom_, if you please. Talk of _breast_ to a lady, sar!--really
quite _horrid_." I made two or three more barbarous mistakes before the
supper was finished. At last the eating was over, and I must say a
better supper I never sat down to. "Silence, gentlemen and ladies,"
cried Mr Apollo Johnson, "wid de permission of our amiable hostess, I
will purpose a toast. Gentlemen and ladies--You all know, and if be so
you don't, I say there no place in de world like Barbadoes. All de
world fight again England, but England nebber fear; King George nebber
fear, while _Barbadoes 'tand 'tiff_. 'Badian fight for King George to
last drop of him blood. Nebber see the day 'Badian run away; you all
know dem French mans at San Lucee, give up Morne Fortunee, when he hear
de 'Badi volunteer come against him. I hope no 'fence present company,
but um sorry to say English come here too jealous of 'Badians.
Gentlemen and lady--Barbadian born ab only one fault--he _really too
brave_. I purpose health of `Island of Barbadoes.'" Acclamations from
all quarters follow--this truly modest speech, and the toast was drunk
with rapture; the ladies were delighted with Mr Apollo's eloquence, and
the lead which he took in the company.
O'Brien then rose and addressed the company as follows:--"Ladies an
gentlemen--Mr Poll has spoken better than the best parrot I ever met
with in this country; but as he has thought proper to drink the `Island
of Barbadoes,' I mean to be a little more particular. I wish, with him,
all good health to the island; but there is a charm without which the
island would be a desert--that is, the society of the lovely girls who
now surround us, and take our hearts by storm,"--(here O'Brien put his
arm gently round Miss Eurydice's waist, and Mr Apollo ground his teeth
so as to be heard at the furthest end of the room,)--therefore,
gentlemen, with your permission, I will propose the health of the
`'Badian Ladies.' This speech of O'Brien's was declared, by the females
at least, to be infinitely superior to Mr Apollo Johnson's. Miss
Eurydice was even more gracious, and the other ladies were more envious.
Many other toasts and much more wine was drunk, until the male part of
the company appeared to be rather riotous. Mr Apollo, however, had to
regain his superiority, and after some hems and hahs, begged permission
to give a sentiment. "Gentlemen and ladies, I beg then to say--
"Here's to de cock who make lub to de hen,
Crow till he hoarse, and make lub again."
The sentiment was received with rapture; and after silence was obtained,
Miss Betsy Austin rose and said--"Unaccustomed as she was to public
'peaking, she must not sit 'till and not tank de gentleman for his very
fine toast, and in de name of de ladies," she begged leave to propose
another sentimen, which was--
"Here to de hen what nebber refuses,
Let cock pay compliment whenebber he chooses."
If the first toast was received with applause, this was with enthusiasm;
but we received a damper after it was subsided, by the lady of the house
getting up and saying--"Now, gentlemen and ladies, me tink it right to
say dat it time to go home; I nebber allow people get drunk or kick up
bobbery in my house, so now I tink we better take parting-glass, and
very much obliged to you for your company."
As O'Brien said, this was a broad hint to be off, so we all now took our
parting-glass, in compliance with her request and our own wishes, and
proceeded to escort our partners on their way home. While I was
assisting Miss Minerva to her red crape shawl, a storm was brewing in
another quarter, to wit, between Mr Apollo Johnson and O'Brien.
O'Brien was assiduously attending to Miss Eurydice, whispering what he
called soft blarney in her ear, when Mr Apollo, who was above
spirit-boiling heat with jealousy, came up, and told Miss Eurydice that
he would have the honour of escorting her home.
"You may save yourself the trouble, you dingy gut-scraper," replied
O'Brien; "the lady is under my protection, so take your ugly black face
out of the way, or I'll show you how I treat a `'Badian who is really
too brave.'"
"So 'elp me Gad, Massa Lieutenant, 'pose you put a finger on me, I show
you what 'Badian can do."
Apollo then attempted to insert himself between O'Brien and his lady,
upon which O'Brien shoved him back with great violence, and continued
his course towards the door. They were in the passage when I came up,
for hearing O'Brien's voice in anger, I left Miss Minerva to shift for
herself.
Miss Eurydice had now left O'Brien's arm, at his request, and he and Mr
Apollo were standing in the passage, O'Brien close to the door, which
was shut, and Apollo swaggering up to him. O'Brien, who knew the tender
part of a black, saluted Apollo with a kick on the shins, which would
have broken my leg. Massa Johnson roared with pain, and recoiled two or
three paces, parting the crowd away behind him. The blacks never fight
with fists, but butt with their heads like rams, and with quite as much
force. When Mr Apollo had retreated he gave his shin one more rub,
uttered a loud yell, and started at O'Brien, with his head aimed at
O'Brien's chest, like a battering-ram. O'Brien, who was aware of this
plan of fighting, stepped dexterously on one side, and allowed Mr
Apollo to pass by him, which he did with such force, that his head went
clean through the panel of the door behind O'Brien, and there he stuck
as fast as if in a pillory, squealing like a pig for assistance, and
foaming with rage. After some difficulty he was released, and presented
a very melancholy figure. His face was much cut, and his superb jabot
all in tatters; he appeared, however, to have had quite enough of it, as
he retreated to the supper-room, followed by some of his admirers,
without asking or looking after O'Brien.
But if Mr Apollo had had enough of it, his friends were too indignant
to allow us to go off scot-free. A large mob was collected in the
street, vowing vengeance on us for our treatment of their flash man, and
a row was to be expected. Miss Eurydice had escaped, so that O'Brien
had his hands free. "Cam out, you hangman tiefs, cam out! only wish had
rock stones to mash your heads with," cried the mob of negroes. The
officers now sallied out in a body, and were saluted with every variety
of missile, such as rotten oranges, cabbage-stalks, mud, and cocoa-nut
shells. We fought our way manfully, but as we neared the beach the mob
increased to hundreds, and at last we could proceed no further, being
completely jammed up by the niggers, upon whose heads we could make no
more impression than upon blocks of marble. "We must draw our swords,"
observed an officer. "No, no," replied O'Brien, "that will not do; if
once we shed blood, they will never let us get on board with our lives.
The boat's crew by this time must be aware that there is a row."
O'Brien was right. He had hardly spoken, before a lane was observed to
be made through the crowd in the distance, which in two minutes was open
to us. Swinburne appeared in the middle of it, followed by the rest of
the boat's crew, armed with the boat's stretchers, which they did not
aim at the heads of the blacks, but swept them like scythes against
their shins. This they continued to do, right and left of us, as we
walked through and went down to the boats, the seamen closing up the
rear with their stretchers, with which they ever and anon made a sweep
at the black fellows if they approached too near. It was now broad
daylight, and in a few minutes we were again safely on board the
frigate. Thus ended the first and last dignity ball that I attended.