admittance, authentic in place and person, generally allowed for many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations." I was once unfortunate enough to be invited to sup with a creature of this grade, and it was my greater misfortune to keep the appointment. He tenanted a handsomely furnished first floor, at the west end, and on admittance to the house, I was requested to walk up and knock at the door, as the "gentleman" was within. This I did once, twice, thrice—aye, nearly a dozen times; and though I could hear that some one was inside, yet no answer was returned. Impatient at evident neglect, I seized the handle of the door and opened it, and there in front of the fire with his legs spread wide, and his feet on the fender, sat my literary acquaintance. He had on a flowered morning dressing gown, and a greasy cap of knowledge. He never turned or took the slightest notice of my entrance, but appeared to be busily engaged in some especial and strange pursuit, which sorely puzzled me to understand. I walked up close to him, and then discovered that he had a small switch in his right hand, about two feet in length, from which dangled a piece of pack thread, having at its end a pin crooked like a hook. This he was whirling above his head, and then throwing it on the burning coals in the manner of fly fishing, and no sportsman trying for a fine trout could be more eager or acute. At length he hooked a large cinder, and shouted with uncommon glee “hurrah I have him at last," and he carefully raised it on the hook. Now, all this time I had stood unspoken to, and apparently unlooked at and unrecognised, but seeing that he had hooked his game, I entered into the humour of the thing, and taking up the fire shovel, proffered my services with the "landing net," for which he thanked me most cordially, and we were proceeding secundem artem to land the fish, when his recollection suddenly returned, and jumping up, he smote his head, exclaiming, "God bless me! what have I been doing?—I really beg your pardon, my mind was so absorbed-how long have you been here-my dear fellow do pray excuse it; alas! alas! it is the fate of genius to be absent-come, we will have supper, though I had almost forgotten it." I did sit down with him to a miserable meal-plenty in quantity but bad in quality, and worse cooked-his manners were gentlemanly, but his conversation perfectly outrageous; he would talk of nothing but cutting throats, suicides, battles, murders, and sudden death, and occasionally his eye in "A fine frenzy rolling," glared upon me with terrific vengeance, till at last I could endure it no longer, and snatching up my hat, I ran out of the room, turning the key and locking him in, and with a hop, skip, and a jump, I was soon clear of the house. You may say what you please of eccentricity, but I would rather take a lonely snack upon a raw turnip in the middle of a field at midnight, than sup with a genius again. "Unquiet meals make ill digestions." GREENWICH HOSPITAL. EASTER WEEK. THE veterans of this noble establishment were nearly swallowed up by the awful inundation of visitors during the late holidays. On Easter Monday in the fair, the park, the town, and on the heath, there could not have been less than two hundred thousand persons, male and female after their kind, and the Greenwich Pensioners in their deep marine blue, looked like minor convolvulus, amid flowers of every varied hue; it was indeed a busy scene, and the old blades seemed to enjoy it. There too in their school-grounds were those glorious lads, to whom the nation must look up, as the future guardians of England on the ocean, against the aggressions of foreign powers.-Yes there they were, some eight hundred of them singing in one general concert of heart and scul, "Rule Britannia." Every word could be heard clearly and distinctly from the summit of the Observatory hill, and as their young voices swelled on the breeze, they seemed to say, Oh England's my country, and dear is her name, But dearer, far dearer, to me is her fame; And dearest of all, as the place of my birth, That halo of glory, her honour and worth. Yes their youthful minds acquainted with the renown of those who so ably sustained the supremacy of the British flag in former times, long to emulate their deeds of daring, in defence of those rights which their ancestors freely shed their blood to secure. "Rule Britannia" was not a mere song to them, and the energy of manner with which they gave the last lines of each stanza, plainly evidenced that mind and spirit were both engaged in the cause of British liberty. I love my country, and to me who must shortly trip my anchor for another world, [for I have been "The OLD Sailor" now for more than twenty years,] it is a source of proud gratification to witness the devotion of these youngsters, who are looking forward to the exalted title of "lords of the main;" it satisfies me that the colorus which I have seen nailed to the mast, will never be disgraced in the presence of an enemy. The soul stirring sounds of that "Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves," I can still hear in fancy, as the wind of memory sweeps over the harp of thought, and the " never, never, never, never," declaration, which announced that they would not stoop to degradation, burst forth and was repeated by those who meant it to its full extent. A thrilling interest in the welfare of their native land had been awakened, and each one felt as he gazed upon the many thousand listeners, Oh England's the land of the fair and the brave, Yes, I love my country, and loving my country with the warm fervour of an English heart, every faculty is aroused, when I look upon those glorious boys; and not upon them alone, their prowess has yet to be displayed, but close at hand are veterans who have served under the gallant chiefs of former days, when the names of Howe, Nelson, Duncan, and many others were as familiar in seamen's mouths, as the Bill, the Jack, and the Tom, of intrepid and jovial messmates. Within how small a compass is presented a spectacle that is well calculated to excite the admiration and respect of all mankind. The aged who have done their duty faithfully and nobly, and who bear about them their honourable scars, now enjoying the benefits arising from national gratitude,-and the bold aspiring youth imbibing instruction in the first rudiments of nautical art, determined that whatever changes may take place in naval warfare, his object must be to carry out that grand principle which proclaims "Britons never shall be slaves." What though adverse gales may frown upon their fortunes in after life, they will know, for the sunny hours of childhood are never forgotten,— that if compelled to bear up before the stormy breeze of adversity, there is a comfortable asylum under their lee, a palace for the sea-kings who rule the waves." To me both old and young offer one of the most interesting sights of which England may be justly proud, and visitors who take pleasure trips to their locality would do well to cherish similar sentiments. I have some old shipmates in Greenwich as well as worthy friends, with whom it is a pleasure to spin a yarn of deeds and days that never will return. Can I for one moment suppose that the records of such veterans will not be interesting to general readers? No! as long as the name and character of the Old English Sailor is borne in remembrance, so long will a narrative of their courage and eccentricity be welcome to my countrymen. I shall collect memorials of old men who are still boys in heart; and anecdotes of youths who in spirit are becoming men, and present them occasionally for perusal under the cherished influence of those feelings which, on Easter Monday, made so deep an impression on my mind by the shouts of : "RULE BRITANNIA.” MACNAMARA RUSSELL. THERE are not many now living who can remember this brave but eccentric man. I recollect him when he commanded the old Vengeance, seventy-four, in the West Indies, and one day he had invited a midshipman to dine with him, but during the forenoon watch the "young gentleman" had done something to offend against etiquette, and, on the complaint of the first lieutenant, the captain directed that the middy should be sent to ride the weather main-yard-arm for two hours. Now this sentence was carried into execution just one hour before the captain's dinner was placed on the table, and as those who received invitations to dine in the cabin were never allowed to share in the mess of the midshipman's berth for that day, the hungry youngster saw the savoury dishes carried aft with a savage fierceness and a keen despair that made him almost wild. He had had nothing to eat since eight o'clock in the morning, and it was then near three o'clock in the afternoon. The pinching of the bowels, and the thoughts of what he had lost, brought tears into his eyes, but the scorching sun dried them up in a moment— and his tongue was becoming very parched in the extreme heat of the climate, so that he began to lament the hard fate which had induced him to mount the "weekly account," and to wish that "his mother had sold small-beer, and he had remained at home to bottle it off." Whilst suffering these torments he was hailed by the lieutenant of the watch on deck, and ordered to "descend immediately." It may be relied on as a fact in natural history that he was not very slow in obeying -down he came; and when on the quarter-deck the captain's steward told him that dinner was waiting for him, and he was not to stop and change his dress but to go as he then was. Here was a change from torture to delight, and without delay the ravenous young reefer took his seat at the festive board, where he was treated with great kindness and not a word uttered relative to his misconduct, so that he began to hug himself under the idea that he should enjoy his wine in comfort. No sooner, however, was the cloth removed than Captain Russell looking at his guest said mildly, "You were taking a spell at the main-yard-arm, Mr. it not so ? " eh, was The abashed youngster replied in the affirmative, but still felt satisfied by the bland manner of his commander that he had nothing to fear way of coercion. in the "I hope you have dined well, Mr. mara, in his softest tones. ,"continued old Macna "Oh yes, Sir, thank you-excellent dinner, Sir-I was very hungry, very hungry indeed, Sir," answered the gratified midshipman, smiling with increased pleasure. "Glad to hear it," said the captain; "and as you have still another hour's penance to perform, away up to the main-yard-arm, Sir, till the time has expired. I shall not allow you to take wine for fear it should make you sleepy or giddy :-away, up directly, Sir." The unfortunate reefer knew that it was in vain to plead in his own behalf, so, rising and bowing, he retired from the cabin, and was compelled to resume his uncomfortable seat aloft, where he was exposed to the merciless ridicule of his messmates till the full period of his punishment had expired. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX AND THE YOUNG PRINCESS. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, fifth son of George the Third, brother to George the Fourth and to William the Fourth, as well as uncle to her present Majesty, has departed this life, leaving an honoured and respected name as the patron of literature and the fine arts, and the friend to every institution that had benevolence for its object. He expired rather unexpectedly on Friday, April 21st, aged seventy-one. Whilst the colours on the flag-staffs were yet drooping half-mast, as a mournful tribute of respect to the memory of his late Royal Highness, the standard was on Tuesday morning, April 25th, at nine o'clock, suddenly hoisted at the tower, and the guns proclaimed that her Majesty was safely delivered of another child. The colours were immediately hoisted chock up where a few minutes before they had been half-mast, and the introduction of a young princess into existence superseded the deference paid to an old and valued prince whose days were at an end. Joy for the safety of the Queen had overcome sorrow at the death of her uncle. Her Majesty was brought to bed about four o'clock that morning. Peace and repose to the ashes of the dead-Joy and prosperity attend the living. |