 CHAPTER 37 In which Jack takes up the other side of the argument and proves that he can argue as well on one side as on the other. This scene may give some idea of the state of Mr. Easey's household upon our hero's arrival. The poor lunatic, for such we must call him, was at the mercy of his servants who robbed, laughed at and neglected him. The waste and expense were enormous. Our hero who found how matters stood went to bed and lay the best part of the night resolving what to do. He determined to send for Dr. Middleton and consult him. The next morning Jack rose early. Mest he was in the room with warm water as soon as he rang. Poid of power, Mest Easey, your father, very silly old man. I'm afraid so, replied Jack. He not right here, observed Mestee, putting his fingers to his head. Jack sighed and desired Mestee to send one of the grooms up to the door. When the man knocked he desired him to mount a horse and ride over to Dr. Middleton and request his immediate attendance. The man, who was really a good servant, replied, Yes, sir, very respectfully and hastened away. Jack went down to breakfast and found it all ready, but his father was not in the room. He went to his study and found him occupied with the carpenter, who was making a sort of a frame as the model of a platform or dais to be raised under the wonderful invention. Mest Easey was so busy that he could not come to breakfast, so Jack took his alone. An hour after this, Dr. Middleton's carriage drove up to the door. The doctor heartily greeted our hero. My dear sir, for so I suppose I must now call you. I am heartily glad that you've returned. I can assure you that it is not a moment too soon. I have found that out already, Doctor, replied Jack. Sit down. Have you breakfasted? No, I have not, for I was so anxious to see you that I ordered my carriage at once. Then sit down, Doctor, and we will talk over matters quietly. You, of course, perceive the state of your father. He has been some time quite unfit to manage his own affairs. So I am afraid. What do you intend to do, then? Put them in the hands of trustees? I will be trusty for myself, Dr. Middleton. I could not do the other without submitting my poor father to a process and confinement which I cannot think of. I can assure you that there are not many in bedlam worse than he is, but I perfectly agree with you. That is, if he will consent to your taking charge of the property. A power of attorney will be all that is requisite, replied Jack. That is, as soon as I have ridden the house of the set of miscreants who are in it, and who are now in open mutiny. I think, replied the Doctor, that you will have some trouble. You know the character of the butler. Yes, I have it from my father's own mouth. I really should take it as a great favour, Dr. Middleton, if you could stay here a day or two. I know that you have retired from practice. I would have made the same offer, my young friend. I will come here with two of my servants, for you must discharge these. I have one of my own who is worth his weight in gold. That will be sufficient. I will dismiss every man you think I ought, and as for the women, we can give them warning and replace them at leisure. That is exactly what I should propose, replied the Doctor. I will now go, if you please, procure the assistance of a couple of constables and also of your father's former legal adviser who shall prepare a power of attorney. Yes, replied Jack, and we must then find out the tenants who refused to pay upon the principles of equality, and he shall serve them with notice immediately. I am rejoiced, my dear young friend, to perceive that your father's absurd notions have not taken root. They lasted some time, nevertheless, Doctor, replied Jack, laughing. Well then, I will only quit you for an hour or two, and then, as you wish it, we'll take up my quarters here as long as you find me useful. In the forenoon, Doctor Middleton again made his appearance, accompanied by Mr. Hanson, the solicitor, bringing with him his portmanteau and his servants. Mr. Easy had come into the parlour and was at breakfast when they entered. He received them very coolly, but a little judicious praise of the wonderful invention had its due effect, and after Jack had reminded him of his promise that, in future, he was to control the household, he was easily persuaded to sign the order for his so-doing, that is, the power of attorney. Mr. Easy also gave up to Jack the key of his escritoire, and Mr. Hanson possessed himself of the books, papers and receipts necessary to ascertain the state of his affairs and the rents which had not yet been paid up. In the meantime, the constables arrived. The servants were all summoned. Mr. Hanson showed them the power of attorney, empowering Jack to act for his father, and, in less than half an hour afterwards, all the men's servants, but two grooms, were dismissed. The presence of the constables and Masty prevented any resistance, but not without various threats on the part of the butler, whose name was O'Rourke. Thus, in twenty-four hours, Jack had made a reformation in the household. Mr. Easy took no notice of anything. He returned to his study and his wonderful invention. Masty had received the keys of the cellar, and had now complete control over those who remained. Dr. Middleton, Mr. Hanson, Mr. Easy and Jack sat down to dinner, and everything wore the appearance of order and comfort. Mr. Easy ate very heartily, but said nothing till after dinner, when, as was his usual custom, he commenced arguing upon the truth and soundness of his philosophy. By the by, my dear son, if I recollect right, you told me last night that you were no longer of my opinion. Now, if you please, we will argue this point. I'll argue the point with all my heart, sir, replied Jack. Will you begin? Let's fill our glasses, cried Mr. Easy triumphantly. Let's fill our glasses, and then I will bring Jack back to the proper way of thinking. Now then, my son, I trust you will not deny that we are all born equal. I do deny it, sir, replied Jack. I deny it in total, deny it from the evidence of our own senses and from the authority of scripture. To suppose all men were born equal is to suppose that they are equally endowed with the same strength and with the same capacity of mind, which we know is not the case. I deny it from scripture, from which I could quote many passages, but I will restrict myself to one, the parable of the talents. To one, he gave five talents, to another, but one, holding them responsible for the trust reposed in them. We are all intended to fill various situations in society and are provided by heaven accordingly. That may be, replied Mr. Easy, but that does not prove that the earth was not intended to be equally distributed among all alike. I beg your pardon, the proof that that was not the intention of providence is that equality, allowing it to be put into practice, could never be maintained. Not maintained? No, because the strong oppress the weak. Tyrants rise up and conquer. Men combine to do wrong. Not so, my dear father. I say it could not be maintained without the organization of each individual had been equalized and several other points established. For instance, allowing that every man had at origins a certain portion of ground. He who was the strongest or the cleverest would soon cause his to yield more than the others would, and thus the equality be destroyed. Again, if one couple had ten children and another had none, then again would equality be broken in upon, as the land that supports two in the one instance would have to feed twelve in the other. You perceive therefore that without rapine or injustice your equality could not be preserved. But Jack, allowing that there might be some diversity from such causes, that would be a very different thing from the present monstrous state of society in which we have kings and lords and people rolling in wealth while others are in a state of pauparism and obliged to steal for their daily bread. My dear father, I consider that it is to this inequality that society owes its firmest cementation, that we are enabled to live in peace and happiness protected by just lords, each doing his duty in that state of life to which he is called, rising above or sinking in the scale of society according as he has been entrusted with the five talents or the one. Equality can and does exist nowhere. We are told that it does not exist in heaven itself. How can it exist upon earth? But that is only asserted, Jack, and it is not proof that it ought not to exist. Let's argue the point, Father, coolly. Let us examine a little what would be the effect if all was equality. We're all equal in beauty. There would be no beauty for beauty is only by comparison. We're all equal in strength. Conflicts would be interminable. We're all equal in rank and power and possessions. The greatest charms of existence would be destroyed. Generosity, gratitude, and half the finer virtues would be unknown. The first principle of our religion, charity, could not be practiced. Pity would never be called forth. Benevolence, your great organ, would be useless and self-denial a blank letter. We're all equal in ability. There would be no instruction, no talent, no genius, nothing to admire, nothing to copy to respect, nothing to rouse emulation or stimulate to praise worthy ambition. Why, my dear Father, what an idle, unprofitable, weary world would this be if it were based on equality? But allowing all that, Jack, replied Mr. Easy, and I will say you argue well in a bad cause. Why should the inequality be carried so far? Kings and lords, for instance. The most lasting and imperishable form of building is that of the pyramid which defies ages and to that made the most perfect form of society be compared. It is based upon the many and rising by degrees it becomes less as wealth, talent, and rank increase in the individual until it ends at the apex or monarch above all. Yet each several stone from the apex to the base is necessary for the preservation of the structure and fulfills its duty in its allotted place. Could you prove that those at the summit possess the greatest share of happiness in this world, then indeed you have a position to argue on. But it is well known that such is not the case, and provided he is of a contented mind, the peasant is more happy than the king, surrounded as the latter is by cares and anxiety. Very well argued indeed, my dear sir, observed Dr. Middleton. But my dear boy, there are other states of society than monarchy. We have republics and despotisms. We have, but how long do they last compared to the first? There is a cycle in the changes which never varies. A monarchy may be overthrown by a revolution and republicanism succeed, but that is shortly followed by despotism, till after a time monarchy succeeds again by unanimous consent, as the most legitimate and equitable form of government. But in none of these do you find a single advance to equality. In a republic those who govern are more powerful than the rulers in a restricted monarchy. A president is greater than a king, and next to a despot whose will is law. Even in small societies you find that some will naturally take the lead and assume domination. We commence the system at school when we are first thrown into society, and there we are taught systems of petty tyranny. There are some few points in which we obtain equality in this world, and that equality can only be obtained under a well-regulated form of society, and consists in an equal administration of justice and of laws to which we have agreed to submit for the benefit of the whole, the equal right to live and not to be permitted to starve, which has been obtained in this country. And when we are called to account we shall have equal justice. Now, my dear father, you have my opinion. Yes, my dear, this is all very well in the abstract, but how does it work? It works well. The luxury, the pampered state, the idleness, if you please, the wickedness of the rich, all contribute to the support, the comfort and employment of the poor. You may behold extravagance, it is vice, but that very extravagance circulates money, and the vice of one contributes to the happy of many. The only vice which is not redeemed by producing commensurate good is avarice. If all were equal, there would be no arts, no manufacturers, no industry, no employment. As it is, the inequality of the distribution of wealth may be compared to the heart, pouring forth the blood like a steam engine through the human frame, the same blood returning from the extremities by the veins to be again propelled and keep up a healthy and vigorous circulation. Bravo, Jack! said Dr. Middleton. Have you anything to reply, sir? continued he, addressing Mr. Easy. To reply, sir? replied Mr. Easy with scorn. Why, he has not given me half an argument yet. Why, that black servant even laughs at him. Look at him there showing his teeth. Can he forget the horrors of slavery? Can he forget the base unfeeling lash? No, sir, he has suffered, and he can estimate the divine right of equality. Ask him now, ask him if you dare, Jack, whether he will admit the truth of your argument. Well, I'll ask him, replied Jack, and I can tell you candidly that he was once one of your disciples. Mestie, what's your opinion of equality? Equality, Master Easy, replied Mestie, pulling up his cravat. I say, damn equality, now I major domo. The Roscoe deserves to be a slave all his life. True, I have been slave, but I am prince in my own country. Master Easy, tell how many skulls I have. Skulls, do you know anything of the sublime science? Are you a phrenologist? I know man's skull very well in a shanty country, anyhow. Then if you know that, you must be one. I had no idea that the science had extended so far. Maybe it was brought from thence. I will have some talk with you to-morrow. This is very curious, Dr. Middleton, is it not? Very indeed, Mr. Easy. I shall feel his head to-morrow after breakfast, and if there is anything wrong, I shall correct it with my machine. By the by I have quite forgotten, gentlemen. You will excuse me, but I wish to see what the carpenter has done for me, and after that I shall attend the meeting of the society. Jack, my boy, won't you come and hear my speech? Ah, thank you, sir, but I cannot well leave your friends. Mr. Easy quitted the room. Are you aware, my dear sir, that your father has opened his preserves to all the poachers, said Mr. Hanson? The devil he has! Yes, he has allowed several gangs of gypsies to locate themselves in his woods, much to the noise of the neighborhood, who suffer from their depredations, continued Dr. Middleton. I find by the receipts and books that there is nearly two years rental of the estate due. Some tenants have paid up in full, others not for four years. I reckon 14,000 pounds still in a rear. You will oblige me by taking immediate steps, Mr. Hanson, for the recovery of the sums due. Most certainly, Mr. John. I trust your father will not commit himself to-night, as he has done lately. When they rose to retire, Dr. Middleton took our hero by the hand. You do not know, my dear fellow, what pleasure it gives me to find that, in spite of all the doting of your mother and the madness of your father, you have turned out so well. It is very fortunate that you have come home. I trust you will now give up the profession. I have given it up, sir, which by the by reminds me that I have not applied for either my discharge or that of my servant. But I cannot spare time yet, so I shall not report myself. End of Chapter 36 Chapter 37 of Mr. Midshipman Easy This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Mr. Midshipman Easy by Captain Frank Marriott read by Adrian Pretzelis Chapter 38 In which our hero finds himself an orphan and resolves to go to see again without the smallest idea of equality. The next morning when they met at breakfast Mr. Easy did not make his appearance and Jack inquired of Mesti where he was. They see down below that the old gentlemen not come home last night. Did not come home? said Dr. Middleton. This must be looked into. He great rascal! That butler man! said Mesti to Jack. But the old gentlemen not sleep in his bed. That for sure. Make inquiries when he went out said Jack. I hope no accident has happened observed Mr. Hanson that his company has lately been very strange. Nobody see him go out our last night reported Mesti. Very likely he is in his study observed Dr. Middleton. He may have remained all night fast asleep by his wonderful invention. I'll go and see replied Jack. Dr. Middleton accompanied him and Mesti followed. They opened the door and beheld a spectacle which made them recoil with horror. There was Mr. Easy with his head in the machine. The platform below fallen from under him hanging with his toes just touching the ground. Dr. Middleton hastened to him and assisted by Mesti and our hero took him out of the steel collar which was round his neck. Life had been extinct for many hours and on examination it was found that the poor old gentleman's neck was dislocated. It was surmised that the accident must have taken place the evening before and it was easy to account for it. Mr. Easy who had had the machine raised four feet higher for the platform and steps to be placed underneath must have mounted on the frame and have fixed his head in for the knob was pressed on his bump of benevolence. The framework hastily put together with a few short nails had given way with his weight and the sudden fall had dislocated his neck. Mr. Hanson led away our hero who was much shocked at this unfortunate and tragical end of his poor father while Dr. Middleton ordered the body to be taken up into a bedroom and immediately dispatched a messenger to the coroner of the county. Poor Mr. Easy had told his son but the day before that he felt convinced that this wonderful invention would immortalise him and so it had although not exactly in the sense that he anticipated. We must pass over the few days of sorrow to the shutters which always are given to these scenes. The coroner's inquest and the funeral over daylight was again admitted our hero's spirits revived and he found himself in possession of a splendid property and his own master. He was not of age it is true for he wanted nine months but on the opening of the will of his father he found that Dr. Middleton Mr. Hanson on examining and collecting the papers which were in the greatest confusion discovered bank notes in different corners and huddled up with bills and receipts to the amount of two thousand pounds and further a cheque signed by Captain Wilson on his banker for the thousand pounds advanced by Mr. Easy dated more than fifteen months back. Dr. Middleton wrote to the Admiralty informing them Mr. John Easy who had been left at sick quarters to leave his majesty's service requesting his discharge from it forthwith. The Admiralty were graciously pleased to grant the request and lose the services of a midshipman. The Admiralty were also pleased to grant the discharge of Mesty on the sum required for a substitute being paid in. The gypsies were routed out of their abodes and sent once more to wander. The gamekeepers were restored. The preserves cleared out of all poachers. And the gentry of the county were not a little pleased at Jack's succession for they had wished that Mr. Easy's neck had been broken long ago. The societies were dissolved since now that Mr. Easy no longer paid for the beer there was nothing to meet for. Cards and compliments were sent from all parts of the county and one was anxious that our hero should come of age as then he would be able to marry to give dinners subscribe to the Foxhounds and live as a gentleman ought to. But during all these speculations Jack had made Dr. Middleton acquainted with the history of his armoire with Agnes de Riviera and all particulars connected therewith. Also with his determination to go out to bring her home as his wife. Dr. Middleton saw no objection to the match and he perceived that our hero was sincere and Jack had made inquiries when the packet would sail for Malta when Mestie, who stood behind his chair, observed Packet, bad vessel, Master Easy why not go out in man of war? Very true replied Jack but you know Mestie that is not so easy. And then how come home, sir? Suppose you and Mestie Agnes take in prisoner put in prison. Very true, replied Jack and as for a passage home in a man of war that will be more difficult still. Dare not I think, sir suppose you buy one fine vessel plenty of guns take out letter of mark plenty of men and bring Mestie Agnes home like a lady you captain of your old ship. That deserves consideration, Mestie replied Jack who thought of it during that night and the next day resolved to follow Mestie's advice. The Portsmouth paper lay on the breakfast table Jack took it up and his eye was caught by an advertisement for the sale of the Jean Dark Prize to Her Majesty's ship Thetis Brigantine of two hundred and seventy-eight tons copper-bottomed, armed on-flute with all her stores spars, sales, running and standing rigging then lying in the harbour of Portsmouth to take place on the following Wednesday Jack rang the bell and ordered post-horses Where are you going my dear boy inquired Dr. Middleton to Portsmouth doctor and pray what for if not an impertinent question Jack then gave Dr. Middleton an insight into his plan and requested that he would allow him to do so as there was plenty of ready money but the expense will be enormous it will be heavy sir I grant but I have calculated it pretty nearly and I shall not spend at the rate of more than my income besides as a letter of mark I shall have the right of capture in fact I mean to take out a privateer's regular license but not to remain there and cruise no upon my honour I am too anxious to get home again you must not refuse me my dear guardian as a lady is in the case I will not my dear boy but be careful what you're about never fear sir I will be back in four months at the farthest but I must set off at ascertain if the vessel answers the description given in the advertisement Jack threw himself into the chariot Mesti mounted into the rumble and in two hours they were at Portsmouth went to the agent, viewed the vessel which proved to be a very fine fast sailing craft well found with six brass cannonades on each side the cabins were handsome fitted up with birds-eye maple and some gilt mouldings this will do thought Jack a couple of long brass nines forty men and six boys and she will be just the thing we require so Mesti and Jack went on shore again and returned to Forest Hill to dinner when he desired Mr. Hanson to set off for Portsmouth and bid at the sail for the vessel as he wished to purchase her this was Monday and on Wednesday Mr. Hanson purchased her as she stood for £1,750 which was considered about half her value Dr. Middleton had in the meantime been thinking very seriously of Jack's project he could see no objection to it provided that he was steady and prudent but in both these qualities Jack had not exactly been tried he therefore determined to look out for some steady naval lieutenant and make it a sine qua non that our hero should be accompanied by him and that he should go out as sailing master now that the vessel was purchased he informed Jack of his wish indeed as Dr. Middleton observed his duty as guardian demanded this precaution and our hero who felt very grateful to Dr. Middleton immediately acquiesced and by the by doctor see that he is a good navigator for though I can fudge a day's work pretty well laterally I've been out of practice everyone was now busy Jack and Mesti at Portsmouth fitting out the vessel and offering three guineas ahead to the crimps for every good able seaman Mr. Hanson obtaining the English register and the letters of license and Dr. Middleton in search of a good naval dry nurse Jack found time to write to Don Phillip and Agnes apprising them of the death of his father and his intentions in about six weeks all was ready and the brigantine which had taken out her British register and license under the name of the Riviera went out of harbour and anchored at Spithead Dr. Middleton had procured as he thought a very fit person to sail with Jack and our hero and Mesti embarked wishing the doctor and solicitor and leaving them nothing to do but to pay the bills the person selected by Dr. Middleton by the advice of an old friend of his a purser in the navy who lived at Southsea was a lieutenant ox belly who with the ship's company which had been collected received our hero as their captain and owner upon his arrival on board there certainly was no small contrast between our hero's active slight figure and Hanson person set off with a blue coat something like the present yacht club uniform and that of his second in command who waddled to the side to receive him he was a very short man with an uncommon protuberance of stomach with shoulders and arms too short for his body and hands much too large more like the paws of a polar bear than anything else he wore trousers, shoes and buckles on his head was a foraging cap which when he took it off showed that he was quite bald his age might be about 55 or 60 his complexion florid no whiskers and a little beard nose straight lips thin teeth black with chewing and always a little brown on dribble from the left corner of his mouth there was a leak there he said altogether his countenance was pre-possessing for it was honest and manly but his waist was preposterous steady enough thought Jack as he returned Mr. Oxbelly's salute how do you do sir said Jack I trust we shall be good shipmates for Jack had not seen him before Mr. Easy replied the lieutenant I never quarrel with anyone except I won't tell a story with my wife I'm sorry that you have ever domestic dissensions Mr. Oxbelly and I only quarrel with her at night sir she will take up more than her share of the bed and won't allow me to sleep single but never mind that sir now will you please muster the men if you please Mr. Oxbelly the men were mustered and Jack made them a long speech upon subordination discipline, activity, duty and so forth a very good speech Mr. Easy said Mr. Oxbelly as the men went for it I wish my wife had heard it but sir if you please we'll now get underway as fast as we can for there is a channel cruiser working up at St. Helens and we may give him the go-by by running through the needles but what need we care for the channel cruiser you forget sir that as soon as she drops her anchors she will come on board and take a fancy to at least ten of our men but they are protected yes sir but that's no protection nowadays I've sailed in a privateer at least three years and I know that they have no respect for letters of mark or for privateers I believe you're right Mr. Oxbelly so if you please we will leave the anchor at once the crew of the Riviera had been well chosen they were prime men of wars men most of whom were deserted from the various ships on the station and of course were most anxious to be off in a few minutes the Riviera was under way with all sail set below and aloft she was in excellent trim and flew through the water the wind was fair and by night they had passed Portland lights everything was steering a course for the bay of Biscay without having encountered what they feared more than an enemy a British cruiser to overhaul them I think we shall do now sir observed Mr. Oxbelly to our hero we have made a famous run it's twelve o'clock and if you please I'll work the attitude and let you know what it is we must shape our course so as not to run in with the breast squadron more wrestling sir I'll be up in one minute my wife but I'll tell you about that when I come up latitude forty one degrees twelve minutes sir I was about to say that my wife when she was on board of the privateer that I commanded board of the privateer Mr. Oxbelly yes sir would go told her it was impossible but she wouldn't listen to reason came on board flopped herself into the standing bed place and said that there she was for the cruise little Billy with her what your child too yes two years old fine boy always laughed when the guns were fired while his mother stood on the ladder and held him on the top of the booby hatch I wonder that Mrs. Oxbelly let you come here now so you would sir but I'll explain that she thinks I'm in London about my half pay she knows all by this time and frets I don't doubt but that will make her thin and then there will be more room in the bed Mrs. Oxbelly is a very stout woman why you are not a little man no not little attending to be lusty as the saying is that is in good condition it's very strange that Mrs. Oxbelly has an idea that she is not large I cannot persuade her to it that's the reason we always spar in bed she says it is I and I know that it is she who takes up the largest share of it perhaps you may both be right no no it is she who crates all the disturbance if I get nearer to the war she jams me up till I am as thin as a thread paper if I put her inside and stay outside she cuts me out as you do a cask by the chime till I tumble out of bed why don't you make your bed larger Mr. Oxbelly sir I have proposed it but my wife will have it that the bed is large enough if I would not toss in my sleep I can't convince her however she'll have it all to herself now I slept very well last night for the first time since I left the Bode Sia the Bode Sia yes sir I was a second lieutenant of the Bode Sia for three years she's a fine frigate I'm told on the contrary such a pinched up little craft below I never saw why Mr. Easy I could hardly get into the door of my cabin and yet as you must see I'm not a large man good heavens is it possible thought Jack that this man does not really know that he is monstrous yes such was the case Mr. Oxbelly had no idea that he was otherwise than in good condition although he had probably not seen his knees for years it was his obesity that was the great objection to him for in every other point there was nothing against him he had upon one pretence and another been shifted by the maneuvers of the captains out of different ships until he went up to the Admiralty to know if there was any charge against him the first lord at once perceived the charge to be preferred and made a mark against his name as not fit for anything but harbour duty out of employment he had taken the command of a privateer cutter when his wife who was excessively fond would as he said follow him with little billy he was sober steady knew his duty well but he weighed 26 stone and his weight had swamped him in the service his wish long indulged had become as Shakespeare says the father of his thoughts and he had really at last brought himself to think that he was not by any means what could be considered a fat man his wife as he said was also a very stout woman and this exuberance of flesh on both sides was the only but continual ground of dispute End of Chapter 37 Chapter 38 of Mr. Midshipman Easy this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Mr. Midshipman Easy by Captain Frank Marriott read by Adrian Pretzelis Chapter 38 in which our hero as usual gets into the very middle of it on the 11th day the Riviera entered the straits and the Rock of Gibraltar was in sight as the sun went down after which the wind fell light and about midnight it became calm and they drifted up at sunrise they were roused by the report of heavy guns and perceived an English frigate about eight miles farther up the straits and more in the mid channel engaging nine or ten Spanish gunboats which had come out from Algiers to attack her it still continued a dead calm and the boats of the frigate were all ahead towing her so as to bring her broadside to bear upon the Spanish flotilla the reverberating of the heavy cannon on both sides over the placid surface of the water the white smoke ascending as the sun rose in brilliancy in a clear blue sky the distant echoes repeated from the high hills had a very beautiful effect for those who are partial to the picturesque but Jack thought it advisable to prepare for action instead of watching for tints and in short time all was ready they'll not come to us mystery easy as long as they have the frigate to hammer at but still we had better be prepared for we cannot well pass them without having a few shot when I came up the straits in the privateer we were attacked by two and fought them for three hours their shot dashed the water over our decks till they were wet for an aft but somehow or other they never hit us we were as low as they were I'll be bound but they'll hull the frigate though Mrs. Oxbelly and Billy were on deck the whole time and Billy was quite delighted and cried when they took him down to breakfast why Mrs. Oxbelly must be very courageous cares neither for shot nor shells sir laughs when they whizz over her head and tells Billy to hark but sir it's not surprising her father is a major and her two brothers are left tenants in the bombardiers that indeed replied Jack but see there is a breeze springing up from the westward very true Mr. Easy and a steady one it will be for it comes up dark and slow the frigate though she'll get a little on there and plenty of mauling at this work I hope we shall take it up with us observed Jack how far do you reckon the gun boats from the shore I should think about five miles or rather less trim sails Mr. Oxbelly perhaps we may cut one or two of these off steering shore of them exactly up there my lads up gallant studding sails top mast studdings to hand rig out the booms keep as you go now my lads we shall be well inshore of them and out of the range of the batteries the breeze came down fresh and all sail was set upon the Riviera she took the wind down with her and it passed her but little half a mile ahead of them all were still and smooth as a glass mirror and they neared and gained inshore at the same time the gun boats were still engaging the frigate and did not appear to pay any attention to the Riviera coming down at last the breeze reached them and the frigate light at first and then gradually increasing while the Riviera foamed through the water and had now every chance of cutting off some of the gun boats the frigate trimmed her sails and steered towards the flotilla which now thought proper to haul off and put their heads inshore followed by the frigate firing her bow chasers but the Riviera was now within half gunshot inshore and steering so as to intercept them as she rapidly closed the flotilla scarcely knew how to act to attack her would be to lose time and allow the frigate to come up and occasion their own capture so they satisfied themselves with firing at her as she continued to run down between them and the land as they neared Jack opened his fire with his 18lb caranades and long nines the gun boats returned his fire and they were within a quarter of a mile when Jack shortened sail to his top sails and a warm engagement took place which ended in one of the gun boats being in a few minutes dismasted the frigate under all canvas came rapidly up and her shot now fell thick the flotilla then ceased firing about 2 cables length ahead of the Riviera and making all possible sail for the land Jack now fired at the flotilla as they passed with his labored broadside while with his starboard he poured in grape and canister upon the unfortunate gun boat which was dismasted and which soon hauled down her colours in a few minutes more the remainder were too far distant for the caranades and as they did not fire Jack turned his attention to take the question of his prize sending a boat with 10 men on board and heaving too close to her to take her in tow 10 minutes more and the frigate was also hoved to a cables length from the Riviera and our hero lowered down his other quarter boat to go on board have we any men hurt Mr. Oxbelly inquired Jack only two Speeling has lost his thumb with a piece of language bad wound in the thigh very well I will ask for the surgeon to come on board Jack pulled to the frigate and went up the side touched his hat in due form and was introduced by the midshipman to the other side where the captain stood Mr. Easy exclaimed the captain Captain Sawbridge replied our hero with surprise good heavens what brought you here Captain and what vessel is that the Riviera letter of mark commanded and owned by Mr. Easy replied Jack laughing Captain Sawbridge gave him his hand come down with me into the cabin Mr. Easy I am very glad to see you give you great credit for your conduct and am still more anxious to know what has induced you to come out again I knew that you had left the service Jack in a very few words told his object in fitting out the Riviera but continued Jack allow me to congratulate you upon your promotion which I was not aware of may I ask where you left the harpy and what is the name of your frigate the Latona I have only been appointed to her one month after an action in which the harpy took a large poor vet and am ordered home with dispatches to England we sailed yesterday evening from Gibraltar were becalmed the whole night and attacked this morning by the gun boats how is Captain Wilson sir I believe he is very well but I have not seen him how did you know then that I left the service Captain Sawbridge from Mr. Gascoigne who is now on board Gascoigne exclaimed our hero yes he was sent up to join the Aurora by the governor but she had left the fleet and having served his time and a passing day being ordered he passed and thought he might as well go home with me and see if he could make any interest for his promotion pray Captain Sawbridge is the gun boat our prize or yours it ought to be wholly yours but the fact is by the regulations we share with all my heart sir will you send an assistant surgeon on board to look after two of my men who are hurt yes directly now send your boat away easy with directions to your officer in command we must go back to Gibraltar for we have received some injury and I am sorry to say lost some men you are going then I presume to stay on board and dine with me we shall be at anchor before night I will with pleasure sir but now I will send my boat away and shake hands with Gascoigne Gascoigne was under the half-deck waiting to receive his friend for he had seen him come up the side from his station on the folksel a hurried conversation took place after our hero had dismissed his boat with the assistant surgeon in it to dress the two wounded men Jack then went on deck talked with the officers looked with pleasure at the Riviera with the gun boat in tow keeping company with the frigate although only under the same canvas promised Gascoigne to spend the next day with him either on shore or on board the Riviera and then return to the cabin after he had a long conference with Captain Solbridge when you first entered at the service easy said Captain Solbridge I thought that the sooner the service was rid of you the better now that you have left it I feel that it has lost one who in all probability would have proved a credit to it many thanks sir replied Jack but how can I be a midshipman for the rest of the year I agree with you that that is impossible but dinner is serving go into the after cabin and the steward will give you all you require our hero whose face and hands were not a little grime with the gunpowder washed himself combed out his curly black hair and found all the party in the fore cabin Gascoigne who had not been asked in the forenoon was the captain of Captain Solbridge added to the number before dinner was long off the table the first lieutenant reported that it was necessary to turn the hands up as they were close to the anchorage the party therefore broke up sooner than otherwise would have been the case and as soon as the Latona sales were furled Captain Solbridge went on shore to acquaint the governor with the results of the action he asked Jack to accompany him to be with Gascoigne excused himself until the next day and now easy said Gascoigne as soon as the captain had gone over the side I will ask permission to go on board with you or will you ask I will ask replied Jack a gentleman of fortune has more weight with a first lieutenant than a midshipman so Jack went up to the first lieutenant with one of his polite bows hoped if duty would permit he would honour him by coming on board that evening with some of his officers to see the Riviera and to drink a bottle or two of champagne the first lieutenant as the Riviera was anchored not two cables length from him replied that as soon as he had shifted the prisoners and secured the gunboat he would be very glad and so did three or four more of the officers and then Jack begged for the favour that his old friend Mr. Gascoigne might be permitted to go with him now as he had important packages to entrust to his care to England the first lieutenant was very willing and Gascoigne and I hero jumped into the boat and were once more in all the confidence of tried and deserved friendship Jack I have been thinking of it and I have made up my mind said Gascoigne or nothing by going home for my promotion I may as well stay here and as I have served my time and passed my pay is now a little consequence will you take me with you it was exactly what I was thinking of Ned do you think that Captain Solbridge will consent I do he knows how I am circumstances and that my going home was merely because I was tired of looking after the Aurora we will go together and ask him tomorrow replied Jack and all events you will have a more gentlemanly companion than Mr. Oxbelly but not so steady Ned the first lieutenant officers came on board and passed a merry evening there is nothing past his time more agreeably away than champagne and if you do not affront this regal wine by mixing him with any other he never punishes you the next morning End of Chapter 38 Chapter 39 of Mr. Midshipman Easy this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Mr. Midshipman Easy by Captain Frank Marriott read by Adrian Pretzelis Chapter 39 a council of war in which Jack decides that he will have one more cruise as Captain Solbridge did not return on board that evening Easy went on shore and called upon him at the governors to whom he was introduced and received an invitation to dine with him as Gascoigne could not come on shore this opportunity of making his request to Captain Solbridge stating that the person he had with him was not such as he wished and could confide everything to that is not one to whom he could talk about Agnes Jack, as he found that Captain Solbridge did not immediately assent, pressed the matter hard at last Captain Solbridge who reflected that Gascoigne's interest after would be much greater through his friend Easy than any other quarter and that the more the friendship was cemented the more advantageous it might prove to Gascoigne gave his consent to I Hero's Wish who called on board of the Latona to acquaint Gascoigne and the first lieutenant of Captain Solbridge's intentions and then went on board of the Ribiera and ordered Mesti to come with his portmanteau on shore to the inn that he might dress for dinner Gascoigne now considered as not belonging to the Latona was permitted to accompany him and Jack found himself looking out of the window at which he had hung out his trousers upon the memorable occasion when the boson had to follow his own precept of duty before decency What scenes of adventures I have passed through since that brought Jack not much more than four years ago than not three weeks in the service whereupon Jack fell into a deep reverie and thought of the baboon and of Agnes The repairs of the Latona were all made good by the next day and Gascoigne having received his discharge ticket went on board of the Ribiera the gunboat was put into the hands of the agent and shortly afterwards purchased by government The Ribiera's crew did not however obtain their prize money and share of the head money for she had seventy men on board until their return but, as they said they had broken the ice and that was everything Moreover it gave them confidence in themselves in their vessel and in their commander Our hero weighed a short time after the Latona had taken leave of Captain Sawbridge and committed to his care a letter to Dr Middleton Once more behold the trio together the two midshipmen hanging over the taff rail and Mesti standing by them They had rounded Europa Point and, with a fine breeze off the land were lying close-hauled along the Spanish shore Mr Ock's belly was also walking near them When I was cruising here it was very different observed Jack I had a vessel which I did not know how to manage a crew which I could not command and if it had not been for Mesti what would have become of me Master Easy you know very well how to get out of scrapes anyhow Yes and how to get into them continued Gascoigne and how to get others out of them too Ned No more of that Hal and thou lovest me quoted Gascoigne I have often wondered what has been the lot of poor Azar The lot of most women Ned in every country prized at first neglected afterwards the lot she might have had with you Hmm perhaps so replied Ned with a sigh Master Easy you get everybody you get me out of scrap I do not recollect how Mesti you get me out from boil kettle for young gentlemen that devil of escape and I'm sure I've got you out of a scrape Mr Ock's belly Oh so Mr Easy How so? Have I not prevented your quarrelling with your wife every night Hmm certainly sir I've seen the means but do you know when we were engaging the other day I could not help saying to myself I wish my wife was here now holding little Billy by the hatch way But at night Mr Ock's belly At night Why then I'm afraid I should have wished her home again It's astonishing how comfortable I sleep now every night Besides in this climate it's intolerable Mrs Ock's belly is a very large woman very large indeed Well, but now we must hold a council of war Are we to run up the coast or to shape a course direct for Palermo Course direct and we shall take nothing that is certain said Gascoigne If we take nothing we shall make no prize money for continued Ock's belly If we make no prize money the men will be discontented said easy If no up-notting to do it will be damned stupid continued messy Now then the other side of the question if we steer for Palermo we shall soon be there and sooner home To which I reply said Gascoigne that the shorter the cruise is the less I shall have of your company and I shall have to sleep with Mrs Ock's belly continued Ock's belly have fine ship fine gun fine men and do nothing cried messy by the power I know like that master easy You want eight months of coming of age Jack observed Gascoigne it won't make a difference four weeks said Mr Ock's belly and the expenses have been very great but but what Jack Agnes Agnes will be better defended going home by men who have been accustomed to be in action and as for her waiting a little longer it will only make her love you a little more Sleep single a little longer Mr Easy very pleasant said Mr Ock's belly that's not very bad advice of yours observed Gascoigne stop a little master easy said Mestie you know that very good advice well then replied Jack I will as I am quite in the minority we will work up the whole coast up to Toulon after all very pleasant in commanding your own ship and I'm not in a hurry to resign it so that points decided the Ribiere was steered into the land and at sunset they were not four miles from the lofty blue mountains which overhung the town of Malaga there were many vessels lying at the bottom of the bay close in with the town the wind now fell light and the Ribiere as she could not fetch the town as if she were a merchant vessel standing in and showed American colours a hint which they took from perceiving three or four large vessels lying in the outer roads with the colours of that nation hoisted at the peak what is your intention Jack said Gascoigne I'll be hanged if I know yet I think of working up to the outer roads and anchoring at night boarding the American vessels and gaining intelligence not a bad idea we shall then learn if there's anything to be done and if not we may be off at daylight the Prateek boat will not come off after sunset and if they did we could pass for an American bound for Barcelona or anywhere else the outer roads where the vessels lie are hardly within gunshot Mesti who had resumed his sailor's clothes now observed what we do master easy we do quickly time for all ting time for show face and fight time for hide face crawl and steal very true Mesti we'll crawl this time and steal if we can it's not the warfare I like best of the two both good master easy suppose you know steel-born of a palakka ship you know see Missy Agnes very true Mesti about ship Mr. Oxbelly Mr. Oxbelly are not good for boat service observed Mesti showing his teeth it was dark before the Riviera was anchored in the outer roads a cable's length a turn of the outermost American vessel one of her quarter boats was lowered down and gas going in our hero pulled alongside and lying on their oars hailed and asked the name of the vessel so help me God just now I forget her name replied a negro looking over the gangway who's the captain so help me God he gone unsure is the mate aboard no so help me God he gone onshore too who is aboard then so help me God nobody on board but Pompey and at me good ship keepers in all events said Jack a ship in the outer roads with only a black fellow on board I say Pompey do they always leave you in charge of the vessel no sir but tonight great pleasure onshore everybody dance and sing get drunk in the library and all that what is it a festival so help me God I know no sir is there anyone on board of the other vessels everybody gone onshore suppose they have black man he stay on board good night Pompey good night sir who shall I say when captain come on board captain easy captain easy very well sir a hero pulled to another ship and found it equally deserted but at the third he found the second mate with his arm in a sling and from him they gained the information that it was a great festival being the last day of the carnival and that everyone was thinking of nothing but amusement are the notion said the mate in reply that you're American you've guessed right Jack what ship and what port Rhode Island the Susan and Mary replied Gascoigne I thought you were north we're of New York what news do you bring nothing replied he we are from Liverpool last a succession of questions were now put by the American mate and answered very skillfully by Gascoigne who then inquired how the market was it was necessary to make an reply to all these inquiries before they could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders at last Gascoigne inquired do you think they would allow us to go on shore the practic boat has not been on board they'll never find out if you were off before daylight I doubt they know that you're anchored besides from Liverpool you would have a clean bill of health and if they found it out pretty much they're not over particular I have a notion what are those vessels lying in shore I guess they have all of all on board the chief on them but there are two double land teams came in from Valparaiso the day before yesterday with hides and copper how they escaped the British I can't tell but they did that sure enough good night then you won't take a glass of sling by night with a countryman tomorrow my good fellow tomorrow we must go on shore now Ahiro and Gascoigne returned on board the Riviera consulted with Oxbelly and Mesti and then manned and armed the two quarter and stern boats they thought it advisable not to hoist out their longboat no firearms were permitted to be taken lest going off by accident or otherwise an alarm should be given Ahiro and Mesti proceeded in the first boat and pulled in for the town Gascoigne shortly after in the second and the Boson in the Jolly boat followed at some distance there was no notice taken of them they pulled gently down to the landing place which was deserted there was a blaze of light and the sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore but the vessels appeared equally deserted as the American ones in the offing finding themselves unobserved for they had taken the precaution to pull only two oars in each boat they dropped gently alongside one of the double masted Lantine vessels and Mesti stepped on board he peeped down in the cabin and perceived a man lying in the lockers he came up in his stealthiest manner closed the hatch softly and said alright Jack left Gascoigne to take out this vessel which he did very successfully for it was very dark and although there were centuries posted not far off their eyes and ears were turned towards the town listening to the music a second vessel her consort was boarded in the same way but here they found a man on deck whom they were obliged to seize and gag they put him down in the cabin and Mesti with another boat's crew took her cables and swept her gently out toward the American vessels one more vessel was required and Jack pulling two oars as usual saluted a Galliat heavily laden but of what her cargo consisted was not known in this vessel they found two men in the cabin playing cards whom they seized and bound and cutting her cables were obliged to make sale upon her as she was much too obliged to sweep out as they were making sale they however met with an interruption which they did not expect the crew belonging to the vessel having had enough amusement for the evening and intending to sale the next morning had thought it right to come off sooner than the others it was then about midnight or a little later and while some of Jack's men were aloft for he had six with him Jack to his annoyance had heard a boat coming off from the shore the men in her singing a chorus the Galliat was at that time just under steerage way her topsoils had been loosed and her jib hoisted but the former had not been sheeded home for the three men below could not in the dark find the ropes the other three men were on the four yard loosing the fossil and Jack was undetermined whether to call them down immediately to sail and thus get good way on the vessel so as to prevent the boat which was loaded with men from overtaking them the boat was not more than twenty yards from the Galliat when not finding her where they left her they pulled to the right and lay on their oars this gave a moment of time but they very soon spied her out Karamba was the exclamation and the head of the boat was pulled round down my lads in a moment by the swifters cried Jack here's a boat on board of us the men were in a few seconds on deck and the others who had now sheeded home the topsoils hastened aft the vessel soon gathered way but before that her way was sufficient the boat had pulled under the counter and the Spaniards letting their oars swing for and aft were climbing up with knives in their teeth a scuffle ensued and they were thrown down again but they renewed their attempt our hero perceiving a small water or wine cast lashed to the gunnel cut it loose with his cutlass and with one of the men who was by his side pushed it over and dropped it into the boat it struck the gunnel stove a plank and the boat began to fill rapidly in the meantime the Galliat had gained way the boat could not longer be held on from its weight and dropped a stern with the men in it those who were half in and half out were left clinging to the gunnel of the vessel and as they climbed up were secured and put down in the cabin fortunately no firearms having been used on either side the alarm was not given generally but the sentry reported fighting on board of one of the vessels and the people of the guard boat were collected and pulled out but they only arrived in time to see that the Galliat was under way and that the two other vessels from Valparaiso were not in their berths they hastened on shore gave the alarm the gunboats of which there were three at the mole were ordered out but half the crew and all the officers were on shore some at balls, others drinking at taverns or posadas before they could be collected the men's vessels were alongside of the Riviera and not aware that anything had been discovered our hero and his crew were lulled into security Jack had gone on board leaving fourteen of his men on board the Galliat Gascoigne had done the same Mestis still remained on board his vessel and they were congratulating themselves and ordering the men on board to the windlass when they heard the sound of oars Silence What is that? exclaimed Oxbelly the gunboats or rowboats as sure as I'm alive at this moment Mestis jumped up the side Master easy I hear rowboat not far off so do we Mestis Gascoigne jump into the boat tell the men in the prizes to make all sail right out and leave us to defend their retreat stay on board of one lead your men that all right Master easy Mestis Gascoigne be smart and now sir cut cable and make sail no time to get up anchor the order was given but although the men were aloft in a moment and very expeditious as the Riviera paid her head round and the jib was hoisted they could perceive the boom of the three gunboats pulling and sailing not five cables length from them although rather short-handed topsoils courses and top-gallant sails were soon set the men down to their quarters and the guns cast loose before the gunboats were close under their stern then Jack rounded to braced up and the Riviera stood across them to the westward why the devil don't they fire said Jack I think because they have no powder said Mestis Mesti was right the ammunition chests of the gunboats were always landed when they were at the mole in case of accidents which might arise from the crew being continually with cigars in their mouths and in the hurry they had quite forgotten to put them on board in any events we have powder said Jack and now we'll prove it grape and canister my lads and take good aim the commanders of the gunboats had hailed each other and agreed to board the Riviera but she now had good way on her and sailed faster than they pulled a well-directed broadside astonished them they had no idea of her force and the execution done was so great that they first lay on their oars and then pulled back to the mole with all speed leaving the Riviera in quiet possession of her prizes they had already gained two miles in the offing the Riviera, as soon as Jack perceived that the gunboats had retreated was put before the wind and soon closed with her captures when she was hoved to till daylight with the three vessels in company Gasco in returned on board prize masters were selected and Jack determined to keep them all with him and take them to Palermo End of Chapter 39 Chapter 40 of Mr. Midshipman Easy This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Mr. Midshipman Easy by Captain Frank Marriott read by Adrian Pretzelis Chapter 40 in which there is another slight difference between those who should be friends the two Lantine vessels proved of considerable value being laden with copper hides and cochineal the Galliot was laden with sweet oil and was also no despicable prize at daylight they were already and the mortification of the good people of Malaga sailed away to the eastward without interruption Me think we do that job pretty well Master Easy observed Mesti as he laid the breakfast table Nothing like trying replied Gascoigne I'm sure that when we stood into the bay I would have sold all my prize money for a doubloon How do I share Jack? Only as one of the crew Ned for you are a supernumerary and our articles and agreements for prize money were signed previous to our sailing I ought to share with Mr Oxbell his class by riots replied Gascoigne That would be to take half my prize money away I sure wanted all Mr Gascoigne to pacify my wife for giving her the slip Ah, very well I'll get all I can For ten days they ran down the coast going much too fast for the wishes of the crew who were anxious to make more money They seized a fishing boat and put on board of her the four prisoners which they had found in the vessels and arrived off Barcelona without falling in with friend or foe The next morning the wind being very light they discovered a large vessel at daylight a stern of them to the westward and soon made her out to be a frigate She made all sail in chase but that gave them very little uneasiness as they felt assured that she was a British cruiser One fear however came over them that she would if she came upon them impress a portion of their men As certain as I'm here of Mrs Oxbell's at Southsea said Oxbelly they all take some of them in the more so as supposing us to be a Spanish convoy they will be disappointed They will hardly take them out The prizes? observed easy I don't know that Men must be had for his Majesty's service somehow It's not their fault, Mr Easy The Navy must be manned and as things are so so things must be It's the King's prerogative, Mr Easy and we cannot fight the battles of the country without it Yes replied Gascoigne and although as soon as the services of seamen are no longer wanted you'll find that there are demagogues on shore who exclaim against impressment They are quiet enough on the point when they know that their lives and property depend upon sailor's exertions A very true Mr Gascoigne but it's not our fault if we are obliged to take men by force It's the fault of those who do not legislate so as to prevent the necessity Mrs Oxbelly used to say that she would easily manage the matter if she were Chancellor of the Exchequer I dare say Mrs Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor of the Exchequer replied Gascoigne one thing is certain that if they gave the subject half the consideration they have others of less magnitude an arrangement might be made by which his Majesty's navy would never be short of men No doubt no doubt Mr Gascoigne but nevertheless the king's prerogative must never be given up There I agree with you Mr Oxbelly it must be held in case of sudden emergency and absolute need We'll argue that point by and by replied Jack Now let us consult as to our measures My opinion is that if I made a more sale we should beat the frigate but she would come up with the prizes That's the best thing we can do Mr Easy but let us send a boat on board of them and take out all the men that can possibly be spared that there be no excuse for impressing them Yes and as the wind is falling it is possible it may fall calm and they may send their boats Suppose we separate a mile or two from each other That very good advice Master Gascoigne observed Mestie This plan was acted upon only three men were left in the Lantines and four in the Galiot and the vessels in obedience to the orders sheared off to both sides of the Riviera who made all sale and started ahead of the prizes This manoeuvre was perceived on board of the frigate and made them sure that it was a Spanish convoy attempting to escape The fire engine was got on deck sales wetted and every exertion made to come up But about four o'clock in the afternoon when the frigate was eight or nine miles it fell calm as Gascoigne had predicted and the heads of all the vessels as well as the frigate were now round the compass There's out boats said Mr. Oxbelly They will have a long pool and all for nothing How savage they will be observed Gascoigne Never mind that replied Jack Mestie says that dinner is ready After dinner all went on deck and found that the boats had separated one pulling for each of the prizes and two for the Riviera In less than an hour they will probably be alongside and now let us decide how we are to act We must not resist if they attempt to impress the men I've been thinking about that matter Mr. Easy and it appears to me that the men must be permitted to act as they please and we must be neuter I, as a lieutenant in his majesty's service cannot of course act neither can Mr. Gascoigne You are not in the service but I should recommend you to do the same that the men have a right to resist if possible is admitted they always do so and never are punished for so doing under the guns of the frigate of course we should only have to submit but those two boats do not contain more than 25 men I should think and our men are the stronger party we had better leave it to them and stand neuter Dad, very good voice said Mestie leave it to us and Mestie walked away forward where the seamen were already in consultation Jack also agreed to the prudence of this measure and he perceived that the seamen after a consultation with Mestie were all arming themselves for resistance the boats were now close on board and the English colours were hoisted at the gaff this did not however check the impetus of the boats who with their ensigns trailing in the still water astern of them dashed alongside and an officer leapt on board cutlass in hand followed by the seamen of the frigate the men of the Riviera remain collected ford easy gas going an oxbelly aft what vessel is this? cried the lieutenant who commanded the boats Jack with the greatest politeness took off his hat and told him that it was the Riviera letter of mark and that the papers were ready for his inspection and the other vessels prizes to the Riviera cut out of Malaga bay replied Jack then you are a privateer observed the disappointed officer where are your papers Mr. Oxbelly obliged me by bringing them up said Jack fat Jack of the bone house observed the lieutenant looking at Oxbelly a lieutenant in his majesties service of longer standing than your self young man replied Oxbelly firmly do if he ever meets you in any other situation will make you answer for your insolent remark indeed observed the lieutenant ironically now if you had said you were once a boson or gunner consider yourself kicked raw oxbelly losing his temper hey day why you old porpoise sir observed a jack who listened with indignation Mr. Oxbelly is a lieutenant in his majesties service and you have no right to insult him even if he were not I presume you are all officers replied the lieutenant I am sir reported Gascoigne an officer in his majesties service and on board of this vessel by permission of Captain Sawbridge of the Latona and I was until a few months ago sir continued Jack and I am Captain and owner of this vessel but here are the papers you will have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty at the same time I call upon the two young gentlemen by your side and your own men to bear witness to what takes place oh very well sir just as you please your papers I perceive are all right now you will oblige me by mustering certainly sir replied Jack send all the men after muster Mr. Oxbelly the men came after to the main mast with musty at their head and answered to their names as the men passed over the lieutenant made a pencil mark against ten of them who appeared the finest seaman and when the roll had been called he ordered those men to get their bags and go into the boat sir as you observe I am short handed with my men away in the prizes and I as commander of this vessel protest against this proceeding if you insist upon taking them of course I can do nothing observed Jack I do insist sir I am not going on board empty handed at all events well sir I can say no more said Jack walking aft aft rail to which Oxbelly and Gascoigne had retreated come on my lads get those men in the boat said the lieutenant but the men had all retreated ford in a body with musty at their head and had armed themselves some of the seaman of the frigate had gone ford in obedience to their officer to lead the men selected into the boat but they were immediately desired to keep back scuffle ford attracted the notice of the lieutenant who immediately summoned all his men out of the boats mutiny by heaven come up all of you my lads musty then came forward with a sabre in one hand and a pistol in the other and then addressed the seaman of the frigate I tell you this my lads you not as strong as we you not got better arms we not under gun of frigate now an ab determination not to go board pose you want us come take us pose you can but by all the power but we make mince meat of you anyhow the seaman paused they were ready to fight for their country but not to be killed by or kill those who were their own countrymen and who were doing exactly what they would have done themselves the lieutenant thought otherwise he was exasperated at the sensation you black scoundrel I left you out because I thought you not worth having but now I'll add you to the number stop a little replied musty the lieutenant would not take the ashantis a very prudent advice he flew forward to seize musty who striking him a blow with the flat if his sabre almost leveled him to the deck at this the men and other officers of the frigate darted forward but after a short scuffle in which a few wounds were received were beaten back into the boats the lieutenant was thrown in after them by the nervous arm of musty and assailed by cold shot and other missiles they sheared off with precipitation and pulled back in the direction of the frigate there will be a row about this said ox belly as soon as they come clear of the vessel if the frigate gets hold of us she will show us no mercy there was a breeze coming from the north west how fortunate we shall be three leagues to winward and may escape I doubt if she could catch us at any point of sailing they may come up with the prizes nothing with them no the boats which boarded them are already returned to the frigate she must wait for them and that will give us a start and it will be night before they can make sail fire a gun for the prizes to close said jack we will put the men on board again and then be off to Palermo as fast as we can we can do no better said ox belly I have a chance to meet that fella again I will trouble him to repeat his words trim the sails my lads his language was unpardonable observed jack since I've been in the service Mr. Easy I've always observed that some officers appear to imagine that because they are under the king's penant they are warranted insulting and tyrannizing over all those who have not the honor to hoist it whereas the very fact of there being king's officers should be an inducement to them to show an example of courtesy and gentlemanly conduct in the execution of their duty however unpleasant it may be it is only those who insignificant themselves want to make themselves of importance by the penant they serve under replied our hero very true Mr. Easy but you are not aware that a great part of the ill will shown to the service is owing to the insolence of those young men in office the king's name is a warrant for every species of tyranny and unwarrantable conduct I remember Mrs. Oxbelly telling one of them when I beg your pardon Mr. Oxbelly interrupted Jack but we have no time to chat now the breeze is coming down fast and I perceive the prizes are closing let us lower down the boat send the men on board again and give them their orders which I will do in writing incase they part company very true sir it will be dark in half an hour and as we are now standing in shore they will think that we intend to remain lost as soon as it is quite dark we will shape our course for Palermo I will go down and look at the chart end of Chapter 40 Chapter 41 the last chapter of Mr. Midshipman Easy this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Mr. Midshipman Easy by Captain Frank Marriott read by Adrian Pretzelis Chapter 41 which winds up the nautical adventures of Mr. Midshipman Easy in half an hour the prizes were again alongside the men put on board and the boat hoisted up the frigates still remained becalmed to Leeward and hoisted in her boats watched until she was hid by the shades of night and then wearing round stood away with the wind two points free for the coast of Sicily the next morning when the sun rose there was nothing in sight strange anomaly in a state of high civilization where you find your own countrymen avoided and more dreaded than even your foes the run was prosperous the weather was fine the wind did not part company on the 16th day the Riviera and her convoy anchored in Palermo Bay the wind was light in the morning that they stood in and as Jack had a large blue flag with Riviera in white letters hoisted at the main Don Phillip and Don Martin were on board and greeting our hero before the Riviera's anchor had plunged into the clear blue water the information which our hero received after having been assured of the health of Agnes and her parents was satisfactory the disappearance of the friar had at first occasioned much surprise but as the servants of Don Riviera swore to his return without the black and the letter of Don Riviera sent to the convent requesting his presence was opened and read there was no suspicion against the family a hundred conjectures had been afloat but gradually they had subsided and it was at last supposed that he had been carried off by the Banditi some of whom had been taken and acknowledged that they had seized a friar on a day they could not recollect the reader will remember that it was messy the Riviera received Prateek and Jack hastened on shore with Don Phillip and his brother and was once more in company of Agnes who in our hero's opinion had improved since his departure most young men in love think the same after an absence provided it is not too long the prizes were sold and the money distributed and every man was satisfied as the cargos fetched a larger sum than they had anticipated we must pass over the pros and cons of Don Riviera and his lady the pleading of Jack for immediate nuptures the unwillingness of the mother to part with her only daughter the family consultation the dowry and all these particulars a month after his arrival Jack was married and was of course as happy as the day was long a few days afterwards Mr Oxbelly advised departure as the expenses of the vessel were heavy and it was his duty to do so Don Phillip and Don Martin remained leave to go to England with their sister and her husband nevertheless Jack who found Palomo a very pleasant residence was persuaded by the Don and his wife to remain there a month and then there was crying and sobbing and embracing and embarking and at last the Riviera whose cabins had been arranged for the reception of the party weighed and made sale for Malta Jack having promised to call upon the Governor in four days in Vallette Harbour and Jack paid his respects to his old friend who was very glad to see him the Governor sent his own barge for Mrs Easy and she was installed in the State Apartments which were acknowledged to be very comfortable our hero had as usual a long story to tell the Governor and the Governor listened to it very attentively probably because he thought it would be the last which opportunity Jack employed to narrate the unfortunate end of his father I would not have said so at the time Mrs Easy but now the wound is healed I tell you that is the best thing that could have happened poor old gentleman he was mad indeed our hero remained a fortnight at Malta and then Signora Easy was re-embarked and once more the Riviera made sale fair you well my lad what I have seen of your brothers in law pleases me very much and as for your wife it will be your own fault if she is not all that you would wish if ever I come to England again I will pay my first visit to Forest Hill God bless you but Sir Thomas never did go back to England and this was their final idea once more the Riviera pursued her course stopped one day or two at Gibraltar shared the proceeds of the captured gunboat and then made sale for England where she arrived without adventure or accident in three weeks last ended the last cruise of Mr Midshipman Easy as soon as their quarantine at the mother bank was over they disembarked and found Dr Middleton Hanson waiting for them at the George Hotel our hero scarcely had time to introduce his wife when the waiter said that a lady wished to speak to him she did not wait to know if Jack was visible but forced her way past him Jack looked at her large proportions and decided at once that it must be Mrs Oxbelly in which conjecture he was right pray sir what do you mean by carrying off my husband in that way exclaimed the lady read with anger God forbid that I should have to carry your husband Mrs Oxbelly he is rather too heavy yes sir but it's little better than kidnapping and there's a law for kidnapping children in all events I shall send my lawyer to you that you may depend upon my husband as a child Mrs Oxbelly replied Jack very well sir we shall see pray where is he now he is on board Mrs Oxbelly and will be delighted to see you I'm not quite so sure of that he is very anxious to see little Billy said Gascoigne what do you know of little Billy young man and more than anxious to be on shore again he's quite tired of sleeping single Mrs Oxbelly oh very well he has been talking as he very well exclaimed the lady in a rage but so easy I'm happy to say that with pay and prize money during his short absence he has brought home nearly 500 pounds 500 pounds you don't say so sir exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly are you sure of that quite sure rejoined Gascoigne 500 pounds well that is comfortable dear me how glad I shall be to see him well Mr Easy it was hard to part with him in so unhandsome a way but all's for the best in this world what a dear nice lady your wife is Mr Easy but I won't intrude big pardon where is the brig Mr Easy now coming into harbour replied Gascoigne if you bargain you can get off for tuppence 500 pounds exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly whose wrath was now appeased boy all power she no fool of a woman that said mesty as she retreated curtsying I think Mr Oxbelly we have now come to the end of our hero's adventures that afternoon they all started to forest hill where everything was ready for their reception the Riviera's men were paid often were soon distributed on board of his majesty's ships the vessel was sold and Mr Oxbelly retired to Southsea to the society of his wife and little Billy the wife a divorced dothoro is not handed down our hero who was now of age invited all within 20 miles of home to balls and dinners became a great favourite kept a pack of hounds rode with the foremost received a deputation to stand for the county in the conservative interest was elected without much expense which was very wonderful and took his seat in parliament and Philip and Don Martin after two months' stay took their passage back to Palermo fully satisfied with the prospects of their sister as the competence and happiness Jack had no occasion to argue the point with Agnes she conformed at once to the religion of her husband proved an excellent an affectionate wife and eventually the mother of four children three boys and a girl he held his post with dignity and proved himself trustworthy Gascoigne by the interest of the conservative member soon obtained the rank of post captain and was always his devoted and sincere friend and thus ends the history of Mr Midshipman Easy End of Chapter 41 and end of Mr Midshipman Easy by Frank Marriott read by Adrian Pretzelis in Santa Rosa, California January 2010