HOW TO KILL TIME--THE O'WIGGINS--ENGLAND'S BULWARKS--JACK MIZEN AND THE
"FUN"--HER FAIR CREW--NAVAL HEROES AND NAUTICAL HEROINES.
I had promised to yacht during the summer with Hearty; and as he paid me
the compliment of saying that he could not do without me,
notwithstanding several other invitations I had received, I felt myself
in honour bound to rejoin the "Frolic." I had no disinclination to so
doing, though I own at times we led rather a more rollicking life than
altogether suited my taste. Accordingly, I once more took up my berth
aboard the "Frolic." Hearty was growing somewhat tired of the style of
life he was leading. He wanted more variety, more excitement. Indeed,
floating about inside the Isle of Wight with parties of ladies on board
is all very well in its way to kill time, but unless one of the fair
creatures happens to be the only girl he ever loved, or, at all events,
the only girl he loves just then, or the girl he loves best, he very
soon wearies of the amusement, if he is worth any thing, and longs for
the wide ocean, and a mixture of storms with sunshine and smooth water.
I found the party on board the "Frolic" increased by the addition of
two. The most worthy of note was Tom Porpoise, a thorough seaman, and
as good a fellow as ever stepped. He had entered into an arrangement
with Hearty to act as captain of the yacht; for though Snow was a very
good sailing-master, he was nothing of a navigator, and Hearty was now
contemplating a trip to really distant lands.
Porpoise was a lieutenant in the navy of some years' standing; he had
seen a great deal of service, and was considered a good officer. He
sang a good song, told a good story, and was always in good spirits and
good humour. He had been in the Syrian war, in China, on the coast of
Africa, and in South America; indeed, wherever there had been any
fighting, or work of any sort to be done, there has dashing Tom Porpoise
been found. He had a good appetite, and, as old Snow used to say, his
victuals did him good. Porpoise was fat; there was no denying the fact,
nor was he ashamed of it. His height was suited to the dimensions of a
small craft, and then, having stated that his face was red, not from
intemperance, but from sun and spray, I think that I have sufficiently
described our most excellent chum.
The other addition of note was ycleped Gregory Groggs. How Hearty came
to ask him on board I do not know. It could scarcely have been for his
companionable qualities, nor for his general knowledge and information;
for I had seldom met a more simple-minded creature--one who had seen
less of the world, or knew less of its wicked ways. It was his first
trip to sea, and he afforded us no little amusement by his surprise at
every thing he beheld, and every thing which occurred. He had a
tolerably strong inside; so, as we had fine weather, he fortunately for
us and for himself, was seldom sea-sick. Our friend Groggs was a native
of an inland county, from which he had never before stirred, when,
having come into some little property, he was seized with a strong
desire to see the world. He had been reading some book or other which
had given him most extraordinary principles; and one of his ideas was,
that people should marry others of a different nation, as the only way
of securing peace throughout the world. He informed us that he should
early put his principles into practice, and that, should he find some
damsel to suit his taste in France, he should without fail wed her. We
bantered him unmercifully on the subject; but, as is the case with many
other people with one idea, that was not easily knocked out of his head.
Hearty, having fallen in with him on a visit to his part of the country,
invited him, should he ever come to the sea-side, to visit the "Frolic."
By a wonderful chance, Groggs did find his way on board the yacht, as
she one day had gone up to Southampton, and once on board, finding
himself very comfortable, he exhibited no inclination to leave her. He
therein showed his taste; and Hearty, though at first he would have
dispensed with his company, at last got accustomed to him, and would
have been almost sorry to part with him.
So much for Groggs.
We lay at anchor off Cowes. Several other vessels lay there also,
mostly schooners--a rig which has lately much come into fashion.
"What shall we do next?" exclaimed Hearty, as we sat at table after
dinner over our biscuits and wine.
"What shall we do next?" said Carstairs, repeating Hearty's question;
"why, I vote we go on deck and smoke a cigar."
We had not time to execute the important proposal before the steward put
his head into the cabin and announced a boat alongside.
"Who is it?" asked Hearty.
"Mr O'Wiggins, of the `Popple' schooner, sir," answered the steward.
"She brought up while you were at dinner, sir."
"Oh, ask him down below," said our host, throwing himself back in his
chair with a resigned look, which said, more than words, "What a bore!"
Before the steward could reach the deck, O'Wiggins was heard descending
the companion-ladder. He was a tall, broadly-built man, with a strongly
marked Hibernian countenance. Hearty did not think it necessary to rise
to receive his guest, but O'Wiggins, no way disconcerted, threw himself
into a vacant chair.
"Ah, Hearty, my boy! Faith, I'm glad to find any one I know in this
dull place," he exclaimed, stretching out his legs, and glancing round
at the rest of us, as he helped himself from a decanter towards which
Hearty pointed.
"We are not likely to be here long, but we are undecided what next to
do," returned Hearty.
"Och, then, I'll tell you what to do, my boy," said O'Wiggins. "Just
look in at the regattas to the westward, and then run over to Cherbourg.
I've just come across from there, and all the world of France is
talking of the grand naval review they are to have of a fleet, in
comparison to which that of perfidious Albion is as a collection of
Newcastle colliers. There'll be rare fun of one sort or another, depend
on it; and, for my part, I wouldn't miss it on any account. What say
your friends to the idea? I haven't had the pleasure of meeting them
before, I think?"
"I beg your pardon," said Hearty; "I forgot to introduce them." And he
did so in due form; at which O'Wiggins seemed mightily pleased, and
directly afterwards began addressing us familiarly by our patronymics,
as if we were old friends. In fact, in a wonderfully short space of
time he made himself perfectly at home. The proposal of the Cherbourg
expedition pleased us all; and it was finally agreed that we would go
there. We could not help being amused with O'Wiggins, in spite of the
cool impudence of his manner. He told some capital stories, in which he
always played a prominent part; and though we might have found some
difficulty in believing them, they were not on that account the less
entertaining. Meantime coffee and cigars made their appearance.
O'Wiggins showed a determination to smoke below, and Hearty could not
insist on his going on deck: so we sat and sat on; Porpoise enjoying the
fun, and Groggs listening with opening eyes to all the wonders related
by our Irish visitor, for whom he had evidently conceived a vast amount
of admiration. At a late hour O'Wiggins looked at his watch, and
finding that his boat was alongside, he at length took his departure.
We were present at most of the regattas to the westward, but as they
differed but little from their predecessors for many years past, I need
not describe them. No place equals Plymouth for a regatta, either on
account of the beauty of the surrounding scenery, or in affording a good
view of the course from the shore. By the by, it was some little
satisfaction to look at the two new forts run up on either side of the
entrance to the harbour, as well as at the one with tremendously heavy
metal between the citadel and Devonport, not to speak of the screw
guardships, which may steam out and take up a position wherever
required. I can never forget the superb appearance of that mammoth of
two-deckers, the "Albion," with her ninety guns, and a tonnage greater
than most three-deckers. It is said that she could not fight her
lower-deck guns in a heavy sea; but one is so accustomed to hear the
ignorant or unjust abuse and the falsehood levied at her talented
builder, that one may be excused from crediting such an assertion. She
is acknowledged to be fast; and, from looking at her, I should say that
she has all the qualifications of a fighting ship, and a great power of
stowage. What more can be required? [Note.] If she is not perfect, it
is what must be said of all human fabrics. If Sir William Symonds had
never done more than get rid of those sea-coffins, the ten-gun brigs,
and introduce a class of small craft superior to any before known in the
service, the navy would have cause to be deeply indebted to him. He has
enemies; but in the service I have generally found officers willing and
anxious to acknowledge his merits.
There is no little satisfaction in cruising about Plymouth Sound. I
suspect that now our neighbours would not be so ready to attempt to
surprise the place and to burn its arsenal, as they one fine night
thought of doing some few years back. People in general are so
accustomed to believe our sacred coasts impregnable, that they could not
comprehend that such an enterprise was possible. Yet I can assure my
readers that not only was it possible, practicable, in contemplation,
and that every preparation was made, but that we were perfectly
helpless, and that they would indubitably have succeeded in doing all
they intended. Neither Plymouth nor Portsmouth were half fortified; and
such fortifications as existed were not half garrisoned, while we could
not have collected a fleet sufficient to have defended either one or the
other. Providentially the differences were adjusted in time, and the
French had not the excuse of inflicting that long-enduring vengeance
which they have a not unnatural desire to gratify. When they have
thrashed us, and not till then, shall we be cordial friends; and, though
electric wires and railroads keep up a constant communication, may that
day be long distant! We had brought up just inside Drake's Island,
which, as all who know Plymouth are aware, is at the entrance of
Hamoaze. We were just getting under way, and were all on deck, when a
cutter-yacht passed us, standing out of the harbour. Our glasses were
levelled at her to see who she carried, for bonnet-ribbons and shawls
were fluttering in the breeze.
"What cutter is that?" asked Porpoise. "There's a remarkably pretty
girl on board of her."
"That must be--yes, I'm certain of it--that must be the `Fun;' and, by
Jove, there's jolly Jack Mizen himself at the helm!" ejaculated Hearty,
with for him unusual animation.
He waved his cap as the rest of us did, for Porpoise and I knew Mizen.
Mizen waved his in return, and shouted out,--
"Come and take a cruise with us. We'll expect you on board to lunch."
"Ay, ay!" shouted Hearty, for there was no time for a longer answer
before the yacht shot by us.
We had soon sail made on the "Frolic," and were standing after the "Fun"
towards the westernmost and broadest entrance to the Sound. It was a
lovely day, without a cloud in the sky, and a fine steady breeze; such a
day as, from its rarity, one knows how to value in England. Yachts of
all sizes and many rigs were cruising about in the Sound. Largest of
all was the "Brilliant," a three-masted square-topsail schooner, of
nearly 400 tons, belonging to Mr Ackers, the highly-esteemed Commodore
of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club; and as for the smallest, there were
some with the burgee of a club flying, of scarcely ten tons. We,
meantime, were standing after the "Fun." Her owner, Jack Mizen, had
once been in the navy; but before he had risen above the exalted rank of
a midshipman he had come into a moderate independence, and not being of
an aspiring disposition, he had quitted the service, with the intention
of living on shore and enjoying himself. He, after a few years,
however, got tired of doing nothing, so he bought a yacht and went
afloat, and, as he used to say,--
"Fool that I am! I have to pay for sailing about in a small craft, not
knowing where to go or what to do, when, if I had stuck to the service,
I might have got paid for sailing in a large ship, and have been told
where to go and what to do. Never leave a profession in a huff; you'll
repent it once, and that will be to the end of your days, if you do."
Such was Jack Mizen. He was a jolly, good-natured fellow. He sang a
good song, told a good story, and everybody liked him. He had seven
ladies on board, two of whom we judged to be chaperones; the other five
were young, and, if not pretty, were full of smiles and laughter. The
"Fun" was much smaller than the "Frolic," so we easily kept way with
her, and ran round the Eddystone and hove-to, while the racing-vessels
came round also. We four bachelors then went on board the "Fun," and
were welcomed not only by her owner, but by the many bright eyes she
contained. There were already four or five gentlemen on board, but they
had not done much to make themselves agreeable, so nearly all the work
had fallen on Mizen. We gladly came to his assistance: poor Groggs,
also, afforded them much amusement, but it was at his own expense--not
the first person in a like position--unknown to himself. They were all
talking about Cherbourg, and had insisted on Mizen's taken them over
there. He, of course, was delighted. The main cabin was to be devoted
to them. Fortunately, however, one chaperone and two damsels could not
go, so the rest might continue to rough it for a few nights. We had a
large luncheon and much small talk. I mustn't describe the ladies, lest
they should be offended. If I was to say that one of the chaperones was
fat, and another tall, all the fat and tall elderly ladies on the water
that day would consider I intended to represent them. However, there
can be no risk in saying that the eldest, dame was Mrs Mizen, an aunt
of the owner of the "Fun," and chaperone-general to the party. The very
pretty girl was Laura Mizen, her daughter, and the other married lady
was Mrs Rullock, wife of Commander Rullock, RN, and who had also two
unmarried daughters under her wing. Of the other young ladies, one was
Fanny Farlie, a rival in beauty, certainly, of Laura Mizen--it was
difficult to say which was the prettiest--and another was her cousin,
Susan Simms, who read novels, played on the piano, was devoted to the
polka, and kept tame rabbits. It was perceptible to us, before we had
been long on board, that Mizen affected Fanny, while Miss Mizen at once,
with some effect, set her cap at Hearty. She did not intend to do so,
but she could not help it. She was not thinking of his fortune nor of
his position, nor did she wish to become mistress of the "Frolic." Of
the gentlemen, one was in the navy, Lieutenant Piper, an old messmate of
Mizen's, and Mr Simon Simms, the brother of Susan, who had an office in
the dockyard, smoked cigars, and was very nautical in his propensities.
There was a fat old gentleman and a thin Major Clay, of a foot regiment;
but I have not space to describe all the party. They will re-appear in
their proper places. We ate and drank, and were very merry, and sailed
about all day, most of us hoping to meet again at Cherbourg.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note. Well we may say _Tempera mutantus_. A pygmy ram would send her
to the bottom in a few minutes.--Editor.