On the mainmast of the Ship of State, high up above the domes and
minarets of the Buccaneer's chief city, he had placed his crow's nest or
look-out tub, where the look-out man was stationed. This man had, as a
matter of course, the usual number of eyes; but one was an official eye,
the vision of which was peculiar; for it could see into far distant
lands if so inclined; but if not, there could be no eye more blind, not
being able to discover what was going on under the nose placed by nature
to its immediate front.
Then the Buccaneer had wonderful inventions, by which he could
communicate with all his foreign relations and receive in turn what
information it was their pleasure to give.
The way the Buccaneer filled up appointments on board of his Ship of
State was peculiar to himself. Adaptability, or knowledge of the
particular department, was of little or no consideration in his eyes. If
the hole to be filled was a round one, he took a square man and jammed
him into it, and left him to fit in as best he could. This might appear
difficult, and even detrimental to outsiders, but to those accustomed to
the peculiar system, things soon settled down and worked pretty well.
He had a distinct objection to anything new. Change had to be brought
about slowly and by degrees. If there was any haste in the matter, he
started up at once, took fright and cried out "revolution!" and then any
necessary reform was thrust back and considerably delayed. He loved
patchwork. His Ship of State was patched. His Church Hulk was patched,
though of course this was not admitted by the generality of her crew,
who declared that the order they sailed by had come down without
interruption from the fountain-head; but there were differences of
opinion as to this even on board the Church Ship, and sometimes even
heated discussions took place on other matters when charity, and
brotherly love, were either sent below, or kicked over the ship's side
for the time being.
The Buccaneer loved to mend and mend, not from any love of economy, for
his public expenditure far exceeded that of any of his neighbours, and
he gloried in the fact. If some article of his own manufacture wanted
repairing he would not take any of his own material, but he would borrow
or buy from his neighbours, and clap on over his own product something
peculiar to other people. It was nothing to him whether the thing suited
or not, he still held on the even tenor of his way with a doggedness
that was in him almost a virtue, because it overcame so many
difficulties. In course of time he became famed as the very best tinker
that the world had ever produced; and this trade he guarded with a
jealous care and kept it entirely to himself.
Then the way he had of relieving his watches was peculiar. He had no
regular shifts, but when one of the watches displeased him he just
kicked them over the ship's side and sent the whole crew about their
business, and a fresh lot had to be selected by the people on shore. It
was also another peculiarity of his that whenever the most learned, and
wisest of his sons, could not solve some difficult question of State, he
appealed at once to the most ignorant, and generally abided by their
decision. On such occasions his old coxswain took the helm and generally
brought him successfully out of his difficulties.
During the time the crew were on shore soliciting the suffrages of the
people they were ready to promise almost anything, if they were only
sent on board in charge, but memories were often proved to be very
short. The crew often abused each other soundly, making use at times
even of very bad language. This was in a measure to be attributed to
those who managed to creep on board amongst the crew, who had not all
the characteristics of gentlemen; and also to the establishment amongst
the Buccaneer's people of a new university called Billingsgate, the
language and manners taught at his two ancient seats of learning not
being strong enough for the necessities of the age. There were always
Ojabberaways on board, and some of these had neither the refinement of
manner, nor the delicacy of feelings peculiar to the thorough bred
gentleman.
At one time the old Ship of State was the scene of polished debate and
pointed epigram, while the satire was delicate and keen; but now things
had materially changed and the language too often descended to gross
personal abuse.