In other respects, he was a great dandy in his person, always
wore gloves, even on service, very gentlemanlike and handsome, and not a
very bad sailor; that is, he knew enough to carry on his duty very
creditably, and evidently, now that he was the first lieutenant, and
obliged to work, learnt more of his duty every day. I never met a more
pleasant messmate or a more honourable young man. A brig is only allowed
two lieutenants. The master was a rough, kind-hearted, intelligent young
man, always in good humour. The surgeon and purser completed our mess;
they were men of no character at all, except, perhaps, that the surgeon
was too much of a courtier, and the purser too much of a skin-flint; but
pursers are, generally speaking, more sinned against than sinning.
But I have been led away, while talking of the brig and the officers,
and had almost forgotten to narrate a circumstance which occurred two
days before we sailed. I was with O'Brien in the cabin, when Mr
Osbaldistone, the first lieutenant, came in, and reported that a boy had
come on board to volunteer for the ship.
"What sort of a lad is he?" said O'Brien.
"A very nice lad--very slight, sir," replied the first lieutenant. "We
have two vacancies."
"Well, see what you make of him; and if you think he will do, you may
put him on the books."
"I have tried him, sir. He says that he has been a short time at sea. I
made him mount the main-rigging, but he did not much like it."
"Well, do as you please, Osbaldistone," replied O'Brien; and the first
lieutenant quitted the cabin.
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