I must leave the reader to judge of this unexpected and welcome
communication. At first I was so stunned that I appeared as a statue,
with the letter in my hand, and in this condition I remained until
roused by the first lieutenant, who had come to the office to desire me
to pass the word for "letters for England," and to desire the sail-maker
to make a bag.
"Faithful--why what's the matter? Are you ill, or--?" I could not
reply, but I put the letter into his hand. He read the contents,
expressed his astonishment by occasional exclamations. "I wish you joy,
my lad, and may it be my turn next time. No wonder you looked like a
stuck pig. Had I received such news the captain might have hallooed
till he was hoarse, and the ship might have tumbled overboard before I
should have roused myself. Well, I suppose we shall get no more work
out of you--"
"The captain wants you, Mr Knight," said one of the midshipmen,
touching his hat.
Mr Knight went into the cabin, and in a few minutes returned, holding
the order for my discharge in his hand.
"It's all right, Faithful, here is your discharge, and an order for your
passage home."
He laid it on the table, and then went away, for a first lieutenant in
harbour has no time to lose. The next person who came was Tom, holding
in his hand a letter from Mary, with a postscript from his mother.
"Well, Jacob," said he, "I have news to tell you. Mary says that Mr
Turnbull is dead, and has left her father 200 pounds, and that she has
been told that he has left you something handsome."
"He has indeed, Tom," replied I; "read this letter."
While Tom was reading, I perceived the letter from Mr Drummond, which I
had forgotten. I opened it. It communicated the same intelligence as
that of the lawyer, in fewer words; recommended my immediate return, and
enclosed a bill upon his house for 100 pounds, to enable me to appear in
a manner corresponding to my present condition.
"Well," said Tom, "this is, indeed, good news, Jacob. You are a
gentleman at last, as you deserve to be. It has made me so happy; what
do you mean to do?"
"I have my discharge here," replied I, "and am ordered a passage home."
"Better still. I am so happy, Jacob; so happy. But what _is_ to become
of me?" And Tom passed the back of his hand across his eyes to brush
away a tear.
"You shall soon follow me, Tom, if I can manage it either by money or
any influence."
"I will manage it, if you don't, Jacob. I won't stay here without you,
that I am determined."
"Do nothing rashly, Tom. I am sure I can buy your discharge, and on my
arrival in England I will not think of anything else until it is done."
"You must be quick, then, Jacob, for I'm sure I can't stay here long."
"Trust to me, Tom; you'll still find me Jacob Faithful," said I,
extending my hand. Tom squeezed it earnestly, and with moistened eyes,
turned away, and walked forward.
The news had spread through the ship, and many of the officers, as well
as the men, came to congratulate me. What would I have given to have
been allowed only one half-hour to myself--one half-hour in which I
might be permitted to compose my excited feelings--to have returned
thanks for such unexpected happiness, and paid a tribute to the memory
of so sincere a friend? But in a ship this is almost impossible,
unless, as an officer, you can retreat to your own cabin; and those
gushings from the heart, arising from grief or pleasure, the tears so
sweet in solitude, must be prostituted before the crowd, or altogether
repressed. At last the wished-for opportunity did come. Mr Wilson,
who had been away on service, came to congratulate me as soon as he
heard the news, and with an instinctive perception of what might be my
feelings, asked me whether I would not like to write my letters in his
cabin, which, for a few hours, was at my service. I thankfully accepted
the offer; and, when summoned by the captain, had relieved my
overcharged heart, and had composed my excited feelings.
"Jacob Faithful, you are aware there is an order for your discharge,"
said he, kindly. "You will be discharged this afternoon into the
_Astrea_; she is ordered home, and will sail with despatches in a few
days. You have conducted yourself well since you have been under my
command; and, although you are now in a situation not to require a good
certificate, still you will have the satisfaction of feeling that you
have done your duty in the station of life to which you have, for a
certain portion of it, been called--I wish you well."
Although Captain Maclean, in what he said, never lost sight of the
relative situations in which we had been placed, there was a kindness of
manner, especially in the last words, "I wish you well," which went to
my heart. I replied that I had been very happy during the time I had
been under his command, and thanked him for his good wishes. I then
bowed and left the cabin. But the captain did not send me on board the
_Astrea_, although I was discharged into her. He told the first
lieutenant that I had better go on shore, and equip myself in a proper
manner; and as I afterwards found out, spoke of me in very favourable
terms to the captain of the _Astrea_, acknowledging that I had received
the education of a gentleman, and had been illegally impressed; so that,
when I made my appearance on board the _Astrea_, the officers of the
gun-room requested that I would mess with them during the passage home.
I went on shore, obtained the money for my bill, hastened to a tailor,
and with his exertions, and other fitting-out people, procured all that
was requisite for the outward appearance of a gentleman. I then
returned to the _Immortalite_, and bade farewell to the officers and
seamen with whom I had been most intimate. My parting with Tom was
painful. Even the few days which I had been away, I perceived, had made
an alteration in his appearance.
"Jacob," said he, "don't think I envy you; on the contrary, I am as
grateful, even more grateful than if such good fortune had fallen to my
own lot; but I cannot help fretting at the thought of being left here
without you: and I shall fret until I am with you again."
I renewed my promises to procure his discharge, and forcing upon him all
the money I thought that I could spare, I went over the side as much
affected as poor Tom. Our passage home was rapid. We had a continuance
of North West winds, and we flew before them, and in less than three
weeks we dropped our anchor at Spithead. Happy in the change of my
situation, and happier still in anticipation, I shall only say that I
never was in better spirits, or in company with more agreeable young men
than were the officers of the _Astrea_; and although we were so short a
time together, we separated with mutual regret.