[Illustration]
"_Veneration_ is (according to Le Brun) the result of admiration and
esteem, when it has something for its object divine, beyond our
comprehension, or majestic in virtue. The face is modestly reclined; the
eyebrows bent down; the eyes almost shut and fixed, and the mouth
gentle, humble, and full of respect. Who is it that must not feel the
passion of _Veneration_, at the name even of our beloved sovereign,
eminent as he is in virtue, and mild and merciful as he is on the
throne? No wild acts of ambition, no base perfidy, no lawless stretch of
power, has dishonoured his reign. He is the father of his people, and he
has the affection and _Veneration_ of every good man."
The barge now approached the side of the ship, which was manned, that
is, the seamen stood on each side to hand the side-ropes (which were
covered with red baize) to the company; and Mr. Willock was received on
the quarter-deck by captain Manly, who commanded the Rainbow.
_A Description of a Man of War._
Captain Manly, who was a very well-bred man, received his guests with
great politeness, and gratified their curiosity by taking them all over
the ship. He showed them the fore-castle, which is the fore part of the
deck; the main deck, the gally-fire, and the coppers wherein the
sailors' dinner is cooked; from thence he took them down the hatchways,
to show them the midshipmens' births; and between decks, where the
hammocks are slung, and the cable tiers, where the cables which hold the
ship are coiled, or as you would call it, laid round; and the
bread-room, where the provisions are served out.
Captain Manly next took his visitors into his own cabin. Some
refreshment was prepared, and among other things, he gave them some real
salt junk, that is, salt beef, and some sea biscuit instead of white
bread, which the sailors, with great contempt, call _soft tommy_. He
gave them also some grog, as well as wine. They then returned to the
quarter-deck, when John, William and Henry amused themselves with the
young midshipmen, some of whom were old schoolfellows, and showed them
how to go aloft up the shrouds (called by the landsmen rope-ladders)
into the mizen-top, whither they followed them a little way, but did not
like climbing to get over the top rim, nor did they choose to go through
_lubber's hole_, which is a way of more safety, used by landsmen, for
fear they should be laughed at. Henry, however, expressed a great
inclination to go to sea; and on hearing captain Manly relate to his
father the gallant achievements of Lord Nelson, his eyes sparkled with
the love of glory. Captain Manly showed his guests a picture of his
gallant friend; and the passion of _Veneration_ was again visible in
every face.
One of the quarter-masters (who are old seamen, and have the care of the
quarter-deck, and whose duty it is to call the officers to their watch,
to turn the hour-glass, and go to the belfry to pull the bell-rope) was
very attentive to the young gentlemen, and took them forward, where some
of the sailors were dancing hornpipes on the main deck, to the music of
a broken fiddle, played by an old black fidler. The young people gave
the quarter-master (whom the sailors called Old Spun-yarn) some money to
drink their healths; and he, in return, got one of the boys who waited
on the midshipmen to go aloft, and stand upon the truck of the
top-gallant-mast-head, which is at the very greatest height of the
masts, where he stood on a space not larger than the top part of a dumb
waiter, and drew in the pendant, and let it out again at pleasure. John
and William shuddered to see him at such a tremendous height; but Henry
seemed very much delighted at the boy's activity.
The boat was now manned, at the request of Mr. Willock, to put them on
shore; but as the wind had sprung up, the water had got rather rough;
and before they had rowed far, a strong gale came on, when the boat's
crew were obliged to pull very hard to make the shore; and as the tide
run strong, they were some hours before they could fetch, that is, reach
the pier. During their passage to shore, the boat shipped several seas,
and the young people began to be a little frightened, except Henry, who
seemed more stout-hearted than any of the rest. Mr. Willock, for his
part, was only uneasy on account of the delay it occasioned, and the
apprehensions which would occur to the mind of his good lady. At length,
however, they were all landed safe on shore; and after taking a glass of
wine, Mr. Willock set out for home, where he arrived late at night. It
had now become quite tempestuous, and Mrs. Willock and her little
daughters were waiting with the most painful anxiety. Presently,
however, the carriage was heard at a distance on the road, and the gates
were thrown open by the servants, before the bells could be rung. Mrs.
Willock, who was a most affectionate mother, ran into the hall to meet
and embrace her children; and Caroline and Louisa ran to kiss their
brothers, followed by all the servants in the house. The family were now
all together, in the large parlour, where was a good fire, and all the
comforts of home prepared for the travellers. When they were a little
composed and refreshed, Mr. Willock drew from his pocket the Passions,
and asked the young people if, when they came in, they had not seen a
face like the one he shewed them? when they one and all cried out, that
it was mamma: the truth was, that it was the passion of