previous to my entering the drawing-room, and several of the youngsters who knew how much I loved a frolic, earnestly begged of me to try her temper. I admit that it was not altogether correct to do so, but I always thought that the cup of human enjoyment was none the worse for being spiced with a little innocent mischief, and consequently I acceded to their requests. I was in dress uniform, and on being introduced as Mr. of the Navy, and she as Miss O'F, a smile passed over her harsh features, but it was a smile of scorn.

"How do, Maam ?" said I, extending my hard, horny fin, towards her delicate white kid glove; "how is every inch on you? You seem to howld your age well. I hopes the young-uns are all shipshape."

Without deigning to reply, she drew back her hand; and as she turned away I heard her mutter, "Vulgar, filthy brute-faugh-but how bastely he smells of tar."

I assumed a surprised and mortified look at such an unwelcome reception, and the general titter amongst the youngsters, male and female, told me I had made a pretty good commencement. During dinner I was challenged by a friend, awake to the joke, to "take wine with him ;" and my reply was, "No thankee, Sir, I likes grog best."

Miss O'F seemed to be struck with astonishment, and I heard her, in an audible whisper, inquire of her next neighbour, "For the love of Heaven, do pray tell me who that baste is-how came he here it is an insult to the family."

Soon afterwards the lady of the mansion asked me, "What part of a fine turkey (on the table) I would choose ?"

In a drawling tone, I answered, "Please Maam, a ving, and a slice of the bussum."

Down went Miss O'F's knife and fork with a tremendous rattle on her plate, and her look was one of ineffable contempt. Perceiving that her eyes were fixed on me, I exclaimed rather loud, "Miss O'F——, Maam-pleasure of taking vine vith you."

She bridled up her head-or rather, screwed it up with pride and vengeance, as she replied, "No, Sir. You refused to take vine-as you call it a few minutes since, with a gentleman, and now a lady refuses you"-she turned away in anger, and every one of the guests could distinctly hear her, as she uttered, "Take wine with you, indeed!-Low, ignorant fellow-who introduced him into society like this? By what means can such a vulgar wretch have become an Officer of the Crown? Take wine with him! faugh! never!"

In spite of efforts to smother laughter, it would burst forth; but it appeared to gratify the old lady, who placed it to the account of ridicule for me, brought about by her own sarcasm. Several of the youngsters took up the cue, and I got a regular roasting, but acted my part as if self-conceit had blinded me to my own imperfections— they drew me out, and the game was carried on admirably well.

After dinner, when the ladies retired, I arose and opened the door; and as Miss O'F———— passed me, I gave her a most polite bow, and one of the best smiles my ugly phiz could afford—but she walked on, affecting the extreme of disdain. When left to ourselves, the wine and the whiskey punch went merrily round, our host keeping it up with the genuine spirit of Irish hospitality. We had some excellent songs-the doors of the dining-room were left open, so that the ladies might listen to the harmony-and as there were many fine voices amongst the company, the singing was somewhat of a treat. I was no mean proficient myself in music-more than one of my family had been, and still were, celebrated as vocalists-and I warbled my strains so as to call forth considerable applause, not only from the gentlemen, but also from the ladies who crowded the passage, and amongst whom I detected the fierce face and fiery hair of Miss O'F. Toasts, in like manner, went round, after every song; and on our host calling upon me "to name some fair damsel who held the dearest spot in my heart, "I commenced a flowery address -and I was no bad hand at a speech either-praising to the very excess of devotion, and yet with the utmost respect, the fair lady whom I most esteemed. To be sure there was a strong dash of blarney in it, but I abandoned my cockneyisms-spoke with fluency and ardour-(thanks to the whiskey punch)—and concluded an oration fraught with eulogies, by proposing the "health of Miss O'F—” whose carrotty locks shone bright in the doorway. A thundering roar followed the proposition, for all took the joke; it was drank upstanding, with three times three, and not a drop left in the glasses. At a proper time, when exhilarated without being inebriated, I joined the ladies in the drawing-room, I found my scheme had taken effect. I singled out the maiden lady-poured the soft odour of flattery into her ears-whiskey punch inspired me with eloquenceI canted and descanted as much as I had decanted-rattled away to the best of my wit and humour, till I fairly won the old girl's heart. What followed? Invitation to Bally— House—a jaunting-car at my service-capital game preserves-a chair at the dinner tableCeid nulle falteagh-and stop a month if I liked. I went-and didn't I live like a fighting-cock? Ask Miss O'F!

THE RULING PASSION.

"Strong even in Death."

WHEN I first rigged myself in the "jacket and trousers so blue," the Epitome of Navigation in general-nay, if I mistake not, in sole use at sea, was that which was well known and became celebrated under the title "Hamilton Moore." This was superseded by a superior work put forth by "Norie," of Leadenhall-street; and perhaps no two individuals ever had their names so universally upon the tongues of mariners as those whom I have mentioned. Other Epitomes have since been published, both in England and in America. One is by Mr. Riddle, a master in the Upper School, Greenwich-another is by Lieutenant Raper, of the Royal Navy-and the productions of both these gentlemen are, I believe, from their own observations and calculations. Of John Hamilton Moore's history little has been given to the world-he possibly might be a descendant of the famous Francis Moore, physician-for both professed to deal in siderial matters the former as an Astronomer, the latter as an Astrologer, but neither having much to do with the books that bore their superscription. It is true that a portrait, purporting to be a likeness of John Hamilton Moore, appeared as a frontispiece to his Epitome, but in point of fact, it more strongly resembled a certain Irish schoolmaster-the very beau ideal of the character-who kept an Academy near the sign of the Roman Eagle (a crack place in its day), in Church-street, Deptford. His name was B- -t, and the actual calculator of most of the logarithmic tables, sines, tangents, secants, &c., with which Hamilton Moore abounds. Well do I remember the venerable man-nearly six feet in altitude, dressed in a long green dressing-gown, illustrated with small flowers and numerous maps of grease his white hair thickly clustering over his shoulders-a bottle of whiskey on one side of his desk, a small chest of snuff on the other, and (when not in his mouth) a doudeen stuck in his buttonhole-be was a man of undoubted talent as a mathematician-full of the milk of human kindness, which he was accustomed to mingle with his favourite beverage pretty freely, and sometimes to excess. The national peculiarities of the Emerald Isle were perfectly natural in all his sayings and doings—he was the Irish gentleman of the old school. Age, however, brought on its attendant infirmities, and at

the termination of his eighty-sixth year, although his intellects were nearly as acute as ever, he was compelled to retire from his profession; most of his pupils having abandoned him. Not one sixpence had he saved to comfort his last days, but grateful esteem induced certain parties to collect sufficient to procure him an annuity of about £15. per annum-scarcely enough to find the poor old boy in "potheen" and "bacca."

It happened that three or four years afterwards, a person connected with one of the Epitomes-I think it was "Norie's," was desirous of ascertaining the data upon which B- -t had founded his tables, as well as to make some very abstruse calculations, which had puzzled many of the astronomers, but the veteran schoolmaster was no where to be discovered, and it was believed that he had taken his last sight in time, and had entered upon eternity. At length, however, after diligent search, his whereabouts was discovered, and he was found bed-ridden in a sorry hole of a garret, in Rotherhithe or Wapping— I cannot recollect which. The visitor stated the cause of his errand, and though the mind was wavering upon every other subject, yet it was fully able to develop this-he craved for half a pint of whiskey and his pipe, and was raised up whilst he enjoyed them, seemingly to his heart's content. When his liquor and pipe were both out, his former mental energies seemed to revive-he entered clearly and distinctly into the required explanations-there was no hesitation— no faltering-it was the last flash from the lamp of life-he laid himself back upon his pillow, and in a few minutes was a corpse. Ninety-one" was engraved upon the lid of his coffin.

I recollect another instance in an old seaman, who, after serving all his younger days in a Ship-of-War, was at the age of eighty master of a coasting vessel. But he could not endure for ever— ill health confined him to his bed, and a want of his usual activity, conjoined with a decay of nature, speedily reduced him to a state of imbecility. For several days before he died he was much convulsed, and writhed about in restless disquietude, until a piece of rope was put into his hands, and he immediately became pacified-nor would he suffer it to be taken from him, but unceasingly went through the process of spliceing, knotting, or coiling it away, until a few minutes before he breathed his last; when, resigning his charge, he expired without a struggle.