PETER LOOKS UPON HIS LOSS AS SOMETHING GAINED--GOES ON BOARD THE
"Rattlesnake" TO PACK UP, AND IS ORDERED TO PACK OFF--POLITE
LEAVE-TAKING BETWEEN RELATIONS--MRS. TROTTER BETTER AND BETTER--GOES TO
LONDON, AND AFTERWARDS FALLS INTO ALL MANNER OF MISFORTUNES BY THE HANDS
OF ROBBERS, AND OF HIS OWN UNCLE.
I hardly knew whether I felt glad or sorry at this sentence. On the one
hand, it was almost a death-blow to my future advancement or employment
in the service; on the other, the recommendation very much softened down
the sentence, and I was quite happy to be quit of Captain Hawkins, and
free to hasten to my poor sister. I bowed respectfully to the court,
which immediately adjourned. Captain Hawkins followed the captains on
the quarter-deck, but none of them would speak to him--so much to his
disadvantage had come out during the trial.
About ten minutes afterwards, one of the elder captains composing the
court called me into the cabin. "Mr Simple," said he, "we are all very
sorry for you. Our sentence could not be more lenient, under the
circumstances: it was that conversation with the gunner at the taffrail
which floored you. It must be a warning to you to be more careful in
future, how you permit any one to speak of the conduct of your superiors
on the quarter-deck. I am desired by the president to let you know,
that it is our intention to express ourselves very strongly to the
admiral in your behalf; so much so, that if another captain applies for
you, you will have no difficulty in being appointed to a ship; and as
for leaving your present ship, under any other circumstances, I should
consider it a matter of congratulation."
I returned my sincere thanks, and soon afterwards quitted the guardship,
and went on board of the brig to pack up my clothes, and take leave of
my messmates. On my arrival, I found that Captain Hawkins had preceded
me, and he was on deck when I came up the side. I hastened down into
the gun-room, where I received the condolements of my messmates.
"Simple, I wish you joy," cried Thompson, loud enough for the captain to
hear on deck. "I wish I had your luck; I wish somebody would try me by
a court-martial."
"As it has turned out," replied I, in a loud voice, "and after the
communication made to me by the captains composing the court, of what
they intend to say to the Admiralty, I agree with you, Thompson, that it
is a very kind act on the part of Captain Hawkins, and I feel quite
grateful to him."
"Steward, come--glasses," cried Thompson, "and let us drink success to
Mr Simple."
All this was very annoying to Captain Hawkins, who overheard every word.
When our glasses were filled--"Simple, your good health, and may I meet
with as good a messmate," said Thompson.
At this moment, the sergeant of marines put his head in at the gun-room
door, and said, in a most insolent tone, that I was to leave the ship
immediately. I was so irritated, that I threw my glass of grog in his
face, and he ran up to the captain to make the complaint: but I did not
belong to the ship, and even if I had, I would have resented such
impertinence.
Captain Hawkins was in a great rage, and I believe would have written
for another court-martial, but he had had enough of them. He inquired
very particularly of the sergeant whether he had told me that I was to
leave the ship directly, or whether that Captain Hawkins desired that I
should leave the ship immediately; and finding that he had not given the
latter message (which I was aware of, for had he given it, I dare not
have acted as I did), he then sent down again by one of the midshipmen,
desiring me to leave the ship immediately. My reply was, that I should
certainly obey his orders with the greatest pleasure. I hastened to
pack up my clothes, reported myself ready to the second lieutenant, who
went up for permission to man a boat, which was refused by Captain
Hawkins, who said I might go on shore in a shore-boat. I called one
alongside, shook hands with all my messmates, and when I arrived on the
quarter-deck, with Swinburne, and some of the best men, who came
forward, Captain Hawkins stood by the binnacle, bursting with rage. As
I went over the planeshear, I took my hat off to him, and wished him
good morning very respectfully, adding, "If you have any commands for my
_uncle_, Captain Hawkins, I shall be glad to execute them."
This observation, which showed him that I knew the connection and
correspondence between them, made him gasp with emotion. "Leave the
ship, sir, or by God I'll put you in irons for mutiny," cried he. I
again took off my hat, and went down the side, and shoved off.
As soon as I was a few yards distant, the men jumped on the carronade,
and cheered, and I perceived Captain Hawkins order them down, and before
I was a cable's length from her, the pipe "All hands to punishment;" so
I presume some of the poor fellows suffered for their insubordination in
showing their good-will. I acknowledge that I might have left the ship
in a more dignified manner, and that my conduct was not altogether
correct; but still, I state what I really did do, and some allowance
must be made for my feelings. This is certain, that my conduct after
the court-martial was more deserving of punishment than that for which I
had been tried: but I was in a state of feverish excitement, and hardly
knew what I did.
When I arrived at Sally Port, I had my effects wheeled up to the Blue
Posts, and packing up those which I most required, I threw off my
uniform, and was once more a gentleman at large. I took my place in the
mail for that evening, sent a letter of thanks, with a few bank notes,
to my counsel, and then sat down and wrote a long letter to O'Brien,
acquainting him with the events which had taken place.
I had just finished, and sealed it up, when in came Mrs Trotter. "O my
dear Mr Simple! I'm so sorry; and I have come to console you. There's
nothing like women when men are in affliction, as poor Trotter used to
say, as he laid his head in my lap. When do you go to town?"
"This evening, Mrs Trotter."
"I hope I am to continue to attend the ship?"
"I hope so, too, Mrs Trotter; I have no doubt but you will."
"Now, Mr Simple, how are you off for money? Do you want a little? You
can pay me by-and-bye. Don't be afraid: I am not quite so poor as I was
when you came down to mess with Trotter and me, and when you gave me a
dozen pairs of stockings. I know what it is to want money, and what it
is to want friends."
"Many thanks to you, Mrs Trotter," replied I; "but I have sufficient to
take me home, and then I can obtain more."
"Well, I'm glad of it, but it was offered in earnest. Good-bye, God
bless you! Come, Mr Simple, give me a kiss; it won't be the first
time."
I kissed her, for I felt grateful for her kindness; and with a little
smirking and ogling she quitted the room. I could not help thinking,
after she was gone, how little we know the hearts of others. If I had
been asked if Mrs Trotter was a person to have done a generous action,
from what I had seen of her in adversity, I should have decidedly said,
No. Yet in this offer she was disinterested, for she knew the service
well enough to be aware that I had little chance of being a first
lieutenant again, and of being of service to her. And how often does it
also occur, that those who ought, from gratitude or long friendship, to
do all they can to assist you, turn from you in your necessity, and
prove false and treacherous! It is God alone who knows our hearts. I
sent my letter to O'Brien to the admiral's office, sat down to a dinner
which I could not taste, and at seven o'clock got into the mail. I was
very ill; I had a burning fever and a dreadful headache, but I thought
only of my sister.
When I arrived in town I was much worse, but did not wait more than an
hour. I took my place in a coach which did not go to the town near
which we resided; for I had inquired and found that coach was full, and
I did not choose to wait another day. The coach in which I took my
place went within forty miles of the vicarage, and I intended to post
across the country. The next evening I arrived at the point of
separation, and taking out my portmanteau, ordered a chaise, and set off
for what once had been my home. I could hardly hold my head up, I was
so ill, and I lay in a corner of the chaise, in a sort of dream, kept
from sleeping from intense pain in the forehead and temples.
It was about nine o'clock at night, when we were in a dreadful jolting
road, the shocks proceeding from which gave me agonising pain, that the
chaise was stopped by two men, who dragged me out on the grass. One
stood over me, while the other rifled the chaise. The post-boy, who
appeared a party to the transaction, remained quietly on his horse, and
as soon as they had taken my effects, turned round and drove off. They
then rifled my person, taking away everything that I had, leaving me
nothing but my trowsers and shirt. After a short consultation, they
ordered me to walk on in the direction in which we had been proceeding
in the chaise, and to hasten as fast as I could, or they would blow my
brains out. I complied with their request, thinking myself fortunate to
have escaped so well. I knew that I was still thirty miles at least
from the vicarage; but ill as I was, I hoped to be able to reach it on
foot. I walked during the remainder of the night, but I got on but
slowly. I reeled from one side of the road to the other, and
occasionally sat down to rest. Morning dawned, and I perceived
habitations not far from me. I staggered on in my course.
The fever now raged in me, my head was splitting with agony, and I
tottered to a bank near a small neat cottage, on the side of the road.
I have a faint recollection of some one coming to me and taking my hand,
but nothing further; and it was not till many months afterwards, that I
became acquainted with the circumstances which I now relate. It appears
that the owner of the cottage was a half-pay lieutenant in the army, who
had sold out on account of his wounds. I was humanely taken into his
house, laid on a bed, and a surgeon requested to come to me immediately.
I had now lost all recollection, and who I was they could not
ascertain. My pockets were empty, and it was only by the mark on my
linen that they found that my name was Simple. For three weeks I
remained in a state of alternate stupor and delirium. When the latter
came on, I raved of Lord Privilege, O'Brien, and Celeste. Mr Selwin,
the officer who had so kindly assisted me, knew that Simple was the
patronymic name of Lord Privilege, and he immediately wrote to his
lordship, stating that a young man of the name of Simple, who, in his
delirium called upon him and Captain O'Brien, was lying in a most
dangerous state in his house, and, that as he presumed. I was a
relative of his lordship's, he had deemed it right to apprise him of the
fact.
My uncle, who knew that it must be me, thought this too favourable an
opportunity, provided I should live, not to have me in his power. He
wrote to say that he would be there in a day or two; at the same time
thanking Mr Selwin for his kind attention to his poor nephew, and
requesting that no expense might be spared. When my uncle arrived,
which he did in his own chariot, the crisis of the fever was over; but I
was still in a state of stupor arising from extreme debility. He
thanked Mr Selwin for his attention, which he said he was afraid was of
little avail, as I was every year becoming more deranged; and he
expressed his fears that it would terminate in chronic lunacy--"His poor
father died in the same state," continued my uncle, passing his hand
across his eyes, as if much affected. "I have brought my physician with
me, to see if he can be moved. I shall not be satisfied unless I am
with him night and day."
The physician (who was my uncle's valet) took me by the hand, felt my
pulse, examined my eyes, and pronounced that it would be very easy to
move me, and that I should recover sooner in a more airy room. Of
course, Mr Selwin raised no objections, putting down all to my uncle's
regard for me; and my clothes were put on me, as I lay in a state of
insensibility, and I was lifted into the chariot. It is most wonderful
that I did not die from being thus taken out of my bed in such a state,
but it pleased Heaven that it should be otherwise. Had such an event
taken place, it would probably have pleased my uncle much better than my
surviving. When I was in the carriage, supported by the
pseudo-physician, my uncle again thanked Mr Selwin, begged that he
would command his interest, wrote a handsome check for the surgeon who
had attended me, and getting into the carriage, drove off with me still
in a state of insensibility--that is, I was not so insensible, but I
think I felt I had been removed, and I heard the rattling of the wheels;
but my mind was so uncollected, and I was in a state of such weakness,
that I could not feel assured of it for a minute.
For some days afterwards, for I recollect nothing about the journey, I
found myself in bed in a dark room, and my arms confined. I recalled my
senses, and by degrees was able to recollect all that had occurred,
until I laid down by the roadside. Where was I? The room was dark, I
could distinguish nothing; that I had attempted to do myself some
injury, I took for granted, or my arms would not have been secured. I
had been in a fever and delirious, I supposed, and had now recovered.
I had been in a reverie for more than an hour, wondering why I was left
alone, when the door of the apartment opened. "Who is there?" inquired
I.
"Oh! you've come to yourself again," said a gruff voice; "then I'll give
you a little daylight."
He took down a shutter which covered the whole of the window, and a
flood of light poured in, which blinded me. I shut my eyes, and by
degrees admitted the light until I could bear it. I looked at the
apartment: the walls were bare and white-washed. I was on a truckle
bed. I looked at the window--it was closed up with iron bars. "Why,
where am I?" inquired I of the man, with alarm.
"Where are you?" replied he; "why, in Bedlam!"