"Would you like the Portsmouth paper, Mr Simple?" taking one out of her
pocket; "I know gentlemen are fond of the news. Poor Trotter used never
to stir from the breakfast-table until he had finished the daily paper--
but that was when we lived in very different style. Have you any
clothes to wash, Mr Simple,--or have any of the gentlemen?"
"I fear we have no time, we sail too soon," replied I; "we go with the
convoy."
"Indeed!" cried Mrs Trotter, who walked to the main hatchway and called
to her man Bill. I heard her give him directions to sell nothing upon
trust in consequence of the intelligence of our immediate sailing.
"I beg your pardon, Mr Simple, I was only desiring my head man to send
for your steward, that he might be supplied with the best, and to save
some milk for the gun-room."
"And I must beg your pardon, Mrs Trotter, for I must attend to my
duty." Mrs Trotter made her curtsy and walked down the main ladder to
attend to _her duty_, and we separated. I was informed she had a great
deal of custom, as she understood how to manage the officers, and made
herself generally useful to them. She had been a bumboat woman for six
years, and had made a great deal of money. Indeed, it was reported,
that if a _first lieutenant_ wanted forty or fifty pounds, Mrs Trotter
would always lend it to him, without requiring his promissory note.
The captain came on board in the evening, having dined with the admiral,
and left directions for having all ready for unmooring and heaving short
at daylight. The signal was made from the frigate at sunrise, and
before twelve o'clock we were all under weigh, and running past St.
Helen's with a favourable wind. Our force consisted of the _Acasta_
frigate, the _Isis_ ship, sloop, mounting twenty guns, the _Reindeer_,
eighteen, and our own brig. The convoy amounted to nearly two hundred.
Although the wind was fair, and the water smooth, we were more than a
week before we made Anholt light, owing to the bad sailing and
inattention of many of the vessels belonging to the convoy. We were
constantly employed repeating signals, firing guns, and often sent back
to tow up the sternmost vessels. At last we passed the Anholt light,
with a light breeze; and the next morning, the mainland was to be
distinguished on both bows.