Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillijstgs Feom The Sketch-Book Of A ...
the shore , and I saw him no more till sixteen years afterwards , when again on my way out in command of some troops to India , I welcomed the old fellow ' s jolly face a second time , he being employed to navigate us as before .
Suffice it to add , that our time now , till reaching Portsmouth , was rather dully spent , as many suffered from sea-sickness ; but bating this , we had the prospect of a very pleasant voyage , as all evinced so much good-humour , — -all seemed to be so impressed with the necessity ofeven from selfish considerations , when brought together
, under such circumstances , being agreeable , and dropping all senseless etiquette , that those who a week previously were utter strangers to each other , might , by a casual observer , have been imagined to he friends of a long standing . It was amusing to see the various expedients adopted to dispel squeamish feelings . Some passed their chief
time in bed ; others in drinking cold brandy-and-water;—a few would set to work at reading and writing , and perhaps give it up in despair ; then try what good a very hearty meal would effect ; in general it may he said , that where people make up their minds to employ themselves , and can manage to eat and drink pretty well , mental energy and physical organization being kept in tone , they are not very long in getting over their troubles .
At Portsmouth , where we spent a week , the time was passed in visiting friends , the dockyard , ship Victory , of course , and the Isle of Wight ; the headquarters of the party being for the greater number of us an inn , then well known by the name of " The Blue Posts , " and regarding which , as being much frequented by young naval officers , the following humorous distich was in vogue at the time : —
" The Blue Postesses ., Where the middies leave their ehestesses , To pay for their morning ' s breakfastesses . " But the day of real departure from Great Britain at length arrived ; and we rejoined our ship . Doubtless each one of the party
there assembled indulged in the depth of his heart the pleasing hope of one day being permitted to return to his native shores , in the enjoyment of earthly blessings : some have realized this desire , —they have again set foot in the land which gave them birtli ; but to others this boon , I , alas ! know too well , was not given ; for Death , the great
destroyer of human wishes , has stepped in between them and their plans . Mercy had hidden the future from their view ; else , under the solemn impression that they were now looking for the last time on their fatherland , how painfully would a chord have vibrated in their hearts in unison with the words of a well-known , song : — " So , farewell , England , farewell for evermore !"
VOL . TT . 4 T
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillijstgs Feom The Sketch-Book Of A ...
the shore , and I saw him no more till sixteen years afterwards , when again on my way out in command of some troops to India , I welcomed the old fellow ' s jolly face a second time , he being employed to navigate us as before .
Suffice it to add , that our time now , till reaching Portsmouth , was rather dully spent , as many suffered from sea-sickness ; but bating this , we had the prospect of a very pleasant voyage , as all evinced so much good-humour , — -all seemed to be so impressed with the necessity ofeven from selfish considerations , when brought together
, under such circumstances , being agreeable , and dropping all senseless etiquette , that those who a week previously were utter strangers to each other , might , by a casual observer , have been imagined to he friends of a long standing . It was amusing to see the various expedients adopted to dispel squeamish feelings . Some passed their chief
time in bed ; others in drinking cold brandy-and-water;—a few would set to work at reading and writing , and perhaps give it up in despair ; then try what good a very hearty meal would effect ; in general it may he said , that where people make up their minds to employ themselves , and can manage to eat and drink pretty well , mental energy and physical organization being kept in tone , they are not very long in getting over their troubles .
At Portsmouth , where we spent a week , the time was passed in visiting friends , the dockyard , ship Victory , of course , and the Isle of Wight ; the headquarters of the party being for the greater number of us an inn , then well known by the name of " The Blue Posts , " and regarding which , as being much frequented by young naval officers , the following humorous distich was in vogue at the time : —
" The Blue Postesses ., Where the middies leave their ehestesses , To pay for their morning ' s breakfastesses . " But the day of real departure from Great Britain at length arrived ; and we rejoined our ship . Doubtless each one of the party
there assembled indulged in the depth of his heart the pleasing hope of one day being permitted to return to his native shores , in the enjoyment of earthly blessings : some have realized this desire , —they have again set foot in the land which gave them birtli ; but to others this boon , I , alas ! know too well , was not given ; for Death , the great
destroyer of human wishes , has stepped in between them and their plans . Mercy had hidden the future from their view ; else , under the solemn impression that they were now looking for the last time on their fatherland , how painfully would a chord have vibrated in their hearts in unison with the words of a well-known , song : — " So , farewell , England , farewell for evermore !"
VOL . TT . 4 T