M'Millan and me. I give it verbatim, without colouring or addition. "What rank does old Mr Cloud hold in society?"

"He is a manufacturer; a very honest, worthy man."

"Has he not some foreign commission?"

"No, no; he just works for the people of the village."

"He does not attend to the manufactory in person, surely?"

"That he does. He has no other to attend to it. In plain terms, he is a common weaver, and has just two looms in the house, one for himself, and one for an apprentice, or an occasional journeyman in a strait.”

"Did he never serve in any army, either abroad or at home?"

"Never. He has lived in the village all his life, and his father before him."

"What sort of character does my friend sustain in general?"

"He has some strange peculiarities about him; there are, however, good points in his character. He is sober, industrious, and a most kind and affectionate son. His father has pinched himself to bring him out as a dominie, and he has requited his parent by a course of the hardest studies, as well as the utmost gratitude and attention."

"That is enough for me," said I in my heart; "Jacob and the shepherd shall be friends still. I hold these qualities in higher estimation than a reversion of a lucrative post at the court of Austria." I said not a word to Mr M'Millan how I had been hoaxed. He continued :—

"The truth is, that if the young man had not too fertile an imagination-a fancy that has a scope beyond that of any other man's that ever existed-he would have been a first-rate character."

Well might I assent mentally to

that remark, when I thought of the Castle of Coalpepper-the great staff officer-the square-rigged brigandine -the Empress-the Colonel's carriage with three outriders-the dogs

-the rural sports-and a thousand things beside, all vanished in a breath. All the creation of a fancy, over which truth, reason, and ultimate disgrace, had no control. Mr M'Millan perceiving me thoughtful, went on. was once in our family teaching the children, and gave us much satisfaction by his attention."

He

Never was there a day so fertile of disclosures to me. I was sure, from the beginning, that I had been intimately acquainted with this singular person. It was true, I had. But never, till that moment, did it strike me how, where, or when. "We had him teaching our children," said Mr M'Millan. I then recollected that I had, indeed, known him previously, but in circumstances so extremely degrading, that they cannot be mentioned to you along with the name of the Hon. Colonel Cloud of the staff of Austria.

Were some people to read this long epistle, they would regard it as an extravagant romance, so far does truth sometimes overreach fancy. You know that it is true, and to you it needs no confirmation, as I introduced him to you in all his borrowed plumage, for which, madam, I humbly ask your pardon: Not for introducing to you the son of a poor operative weaver; as such, he had as good a right to be there as the son of a poor shepherd, but it is for introducing to your kindness and hospitality an impostor. There's the rub! But I entreat that you will only laugh at it, and regard it as a harmless and unaccountable lunacy. I am, with the utmost respect, my honoured and esteemed friend, yours most faithfully,

JAMES HOGG.

Ir was on a bleak and cloudy December's morning that the dull drawling light of day first peeped on his Majesty's ships the Tottumfog and Whippersnapper, as they lay snugly at their moorings in the roadstead of Leith, and no long period elapsed ere the hollow boom of the Admiral's gun, startling their half-awakened crews, again reminded them they were once more in harbour. All hands were immediately turned up, and the usual comfortable service of sanding, and stoning, and scrubbing, and flooding the decks with water, was gone through, considering the severity of the weather, both with alacrity and cheerfulness.

There were a thousand things which conduced to this general hilarity, but we shall content ourselves with only a brief mention of a few of the more prominent. Jack, it is well known, is quite a red-hot zealot in all his pursuits, whether as a lover, an epicure, or a grog-bibber; and to those happy fellows, therefore, who were of some standing in the service, and had husbanded a trifle of the wherewithal-in short, the monied-interest of the ship, as the Ricardo spouter would phrase it -the very circumstance of being in harbour, it mattered not where, was fraught with associations of the most renovating kind. They already anticipated, with joyous hearts, the pleasures of their stinted liberty-ticket to the shore-the fiddle and the dance already tingled in their ears-and the charms and smiles of beauty-the overwhelming fascinations of female company and female conversation-would ever and anon so completely tickle their fancies, as to lighten up, while they rubbed their bulky paws with great velocity, a most grotesque, though good-humoured smile on their rough, muscular, and weather-beaten features. Then, at Leith, that most useful of all huge fellows muckle Rob had his abode at once the pilot, postman, sculler, and bumboatman of the fleet. His services were ever indispensable; VOL. XVIII.

and we firmly believe the present generation will have slept with their fathers, ere his strict punctuality and sterling probity will fade from the remembrance of our North-Sea cruizers. Him they already saw in their mind's eye, hauled alongside of them-his boat absolutely groaning under a weighty load of soft tack, potatoes, fresh butter, eggs, legs of mutton, and an endless catalogue of agreeable morsels for stout, healthy, and ravenous stomachs, long since palled and sickened, even to disgust, with salt junk, as hard as mahogany-Irish pork, twenty years old, as strong and rancid as train oilmusty meal, and still mustier flourcheese absolutely alive-and the still more detested villainous sweepings of a hard-up bread-room, where a piece of biscuit the size of a square inch, accidentally showing face in the mess's daily allowance of twelve or fourteen pounds, was a prize that was frequently fought for. But these gladdening consolations were not exclusively confined to these fortunate fellows, for even the poverty-struck and the cashless enjoyed their share. They, in their turn, luxuriated in the glorious idea of, at all events, gorging on fresh beef and vegetables-of throwing all their night duty on the shoulders of the lobster-backs-of turning in for the night-ay, for the whole nightye Gods! for an entire twelve or fourteen hours' stretch without a single fear! occasionally, during that time, hearing the sentry, as he slowly paced his dreary round, sing out from the gangway, Boat ahoy! to the midnight rowers, or echo All's Well! to the striking hours, while the half-wakened listener wheeled him, nothing loath, slowly round on his starboard side, preparing himself, heart and soul, with the most secret satisfaction, for a second doze of inestimable sleep!— Gracious Heaven! what a delicious, what a rapturous thrill did pervade his soul at the very idea of such an Elysium-the seaman's heaven on earth!

F

-Think of this, ye nightly sleepless on your beds of down-think of it, we say, and weep!

With the thoughts of such dainties fluttering in their brains, it is not to be supposed that their usual morning repast of plain and somewhat unpalatable skillogalee detained them long at breakfast. That morning, indeed, the ship's cook might have saved himself the trouble of rousing out his unwilling and yawning dirty mate, long ere the first cock crew, in order to have this very primitive dish ready in all due time; it was fairly and truly labour in vain-completely disregarded by the great bulk of the crew-and discharged in whole pailfuls over the head, amid the curses of the messcooks, who doubtless, like their chums, had an eye to better things, as well as to the extra trouble they must now be at in rincing out their tin pannikins, and restoring them and the iron hoops of their now wet kids to their wonted burnish. Nothing, in fact, seemed to be thought of, and little else was spoke of, but the hourly expected beef and vegetable boat, and the aforesaid important personage, muckle Rob. The former, it must be owned, did arrive in proper time, for the purser dispatched it in person from the shore under the escort of his steward; and we can honestly affirm, that never went lady over a man-of-war's side with more safety, or more alacrity than did the huge side of beef, surmounted as it was with divers bags of greens, leeks, and other potherbs. But, for the latter, hour after hour stole awaydinner was gone through and the never a word of him. The question then became, what was to be thought of him?-was he drunk-was he dead? for although the said muckle Rob was well known to be a regular harbour pilot, to be otherwise disposed of was out of the question. He had never missed muster before, no, never-something of course must be the matter, and what the deuce could that be? The simple remark of a simple booby here chimed in-"Uh, d'ye no ken that Rob's awn several of the hands lots o' siller?"-finally put a stop to further inquiry. "Oh, d-n him, he'll be wanting to keep it, and has cut his stick mayhap until we sail."-So much for the fickleness of popular opinion. The self-same sun which arose amid the plaudits and praises of muckle Rob, sank behind the western moun

tains while the same voices were consigning him, body and boat, to the devil. "And now," roared Dennis Mahoney, entering the mess at the fag-end of this noisy debate," instead of your great muckle Rob that you've been prating and bothering your stomachs and wise pates about the whole of this cursed cowld day, if there isn't coming alongside of us, at this blessed moment, another large big ugly customer-but she happens to be a lighter, as large, by the hookey, almost as ourselves and what we are going to make of such a monster at this time of night, the devil fetch me if I can tell you; although there is little doubt, I may safely say, my grumbling beauties, but I'll warrant she'll be the mane of giving you small bits of moments to-morrow to think anything at all at all about either muckle Rob, or his mutton-boat.-But, soul of me, if I don't see more about her, and that directly, dears!" and, with this exquisite morsel of ghostly consolation, the volatile Dennis sprang upon deck, chanting one of his innumerable ditties in full glee.

The lighter proved to be one sent for the purpose of completely clearing the vessel's holds, preparatory to a formal survey of her by the proper officers of the dock-yard; and accordingly, the following morning commenced such a hurried scene of stowing and unstowing, scrubbing and cleaning, unreeving and reeving of rigging, shifting of sails, &c. &c., attended with all the usual hammering and bawling of carpenters, and caulkers, and coopers, that many days had not gone by ere muckle Rob and his bumboat were apparently quite forgotten. But muckle Rob was a shrewd fellow, and evidently knew what was going on. He therefore very patiently kept out of the way until the painters had finished, and matters began to assume a more orderly appearance, when he dashed across the Tottumfog's bows one morning, as if dropped from the clouds, roaring with the voice of a bull, his usual fisherman's carol, most excellently adapted, however, for the rousing an immediate attention:

"O, Alloa lads for me! Grangemouth callants for me! Their jackets and trowsers are blue, And they're a' a-courting o' me; A' a-courting o' me,

And aye rousing the blink o' my eeGod bless ye, my bonny Scotch callants, Ye're welcome back frae the sea!"

The tane he is lame o' a leg,

The tither is blind o' an e'e,
And the third has a tea-kettle back-
But they're a' a-courting o' me.

Then Alloa lads for me!" &c. &c.

"Now, callants," cried the thundering songster, "just fling me the end of a tow, and I'll mak auld Tibby fast before I come aboard to see what's wanted."

"Keep off your boat there!" cried the marine sentry.

"Uh, Lord! wha the deevil are you, that speaks sae michty ?-D'ye no ken me? I'm muckle Rob, man, frae Leith -wi' a boatfu' of sunkets to ye, that will mak a' your kites rejoice-Losh, I thocht a'body had kent muckle Rob -me that rins messages, forbye, to the very Admiral himsell."

"Keep off your boat, I tell you!" again menaced the sentry.

"Pshaw! never mind the sodger, Bob," cried the boatswain, at this moment mounting the gangway ladder; "make her fast there, and they'll throw you a sternhold to haul close alongside."

"Ay, just so nae, Mr Marlin," cried Rob, recovering his cheerfulness, "that's just said like yoursell, and as folk were kent folk, and no blackguards.-Poor chield, the sodger, as ye ca' him, who I never saw atween the een before, is ablins no just up a' thegither wha he speaks to, likely."

So saying, muckle Rob was now actively preparing to obey what he thought the most ample permission, when his ears were a third time astounded by the voice of the unbending sentry, ordering him still more sternly

to keep his boat off, otherwise it might fare worse with him.

66

By the by, you sir, who gave you these orders" said the boatswain, somewhat testily.

"The serjeant, sir," was the reply.

"D-n the serjeant and you in a lump, for a couple of meddling fools!" cried the angry boatswain." I say, Bob, haul up, and never mind the hear there, you Audley, jump up into booby; he knows no better. D'ye the mainchains there, that's a good fellow, and heave him a rope's end to make fast with."

"Sir," said the sentry, approaching the boatswain, and carrying his arms; "the serjeant told me, sir, when he put me on this here gangway, sir, that it was the first liftenant's positive orders, sir, that no boat whatever, sir, except she were a King's one, should be allowed to come alongside this here vessel, sir, without his permission asked and obtained. As soon as I have his orders, sir, I've got nothing to say; meantime, I must do my duty.-I say, you fellow there, keep off your boat, or, by G-, I'll make you repent it."

This elegant address, though it was hailed with a sneer at the this here's and sawrs with which it was so liberally adorned, had an evident effect upon the dignity of the boatswain."Oho! is it so indeed?" he cried, in a somewhat subdued tone; "why, then, that's a different guess-story altogether, ship-mate. But why didn't you say so before, and be hanged to you-D-n me, but I took it for some stuff of that swab of a serjeant of yours, and not the orders of the first lieutenant's. However, we'll see about that directly, my lad. D-d hard, indeed, if people an't to be allowed a little fresh grub now they're in harbour-pretty go, surely!-Harkye, my tall boy, have you got any letters with you for us?"

"I'se warrant hae 1, Mr Marlin," bawled muckle Rob, still hanging on his oars, and patiently awaiting the conclusion of this, to him, singular conference; " for ye ken I just gaed to the Post-office, as usual, and got a

they had for the veshels in the Roads here, ay, just i' the morning before I pushed aff. I'se warrant there will be some for you as well as the lave, or else it will be a marvel. Uh! there's sure to be some; for ye see I've been nae farther than the Admiral yet, and see, just look at that leather-bag there, what a lot I've by me yet. Nonsense! there's sure to be some; for whan was ye here that I hadna letters for yealthough I maun confess, Mr Marlin, I was in sic a hurry to be aff, that I ne'er examined to see how mony." “Ah, well-a-well, that will do, my brave fellow," cried the boatswain, suddenly assuming his usual dignity of voice and manner. "Harkye, you sir," addressing a by-stander, "jump down to the midshipman's birth, and tell either young Master Pinafore or Minikin, I want to speak with him directly-come, brush instantly."

The messenger immediately disappeared, and young Master Minikin speedily made his appearance.

Ah, Miny, my dear fellow," cried the boatswain, smiling, and taking the boy smartly by the hand; "what, up, and dressed already!-well, you're a clever lad, and will make a glorious sailor, as sure as my name's Dick Marlin. I say, Miny, come hither, my number one," continued he, in a confidential tone, "I want to speak with you. D-n it, man, there's a smart fellow, jump down to the gun-room, and tell Mr Fyke that here's his old friend muckle Rob, with a boat-load of good stuff, and letters-mind that -and letters from the post-house for the ship. Then tell him, you know, that he can't get alongside for the sentry, in consequence of his orders-then ask him slyly if he may come. Now be sure, there's a good boy, you knock it smartly into him that Bob has letters for the ship from the Post-house. -Oh, well-minded, egad-I say, my tall blade, hast got any newspapers with you?"

Plenty, Mr Marlin, plenty, sir,"

was the answer.

"Better and better still," cried the boatswain, rubbing his hands, "for Fyke's a devil of a politicler, and wouldn't give Steele's List, or a newspaper, for a dozen of Hamilton Moores newly out of the shop.-Then I'll tell you what, my dear fellow Miny, be sure and whistle in to him, that Bob has not only letters from the Post

house, but all the London, Edinburgh, English, Irish, devil knows what all, newspapers along with him, most heartily at his service-d-n me, I think that should hit.-Come, now, let me see you tip him the yarn properly and politely, like a brave young Jack, as you are. Fly, and success to you! I am the more anxious about all this, d'ye see, my dear little soul, because, you know, we'll need some fresh grub and all that there are you up, Miny? (laughing and chucking him under the chin,) ay, ay, devil doubt you, my young snake in the grass."

"Oh, I understand you perfectly, sir," cried the young gentleman, smiling; "just stay where you are, and I'll be with you again in a moment.'

He did soon appear with the wished-for permission, allowing muckle Rob to haul up alongside, and ordering him to come on board directly with his letters and newspapers.

Rob complied with the first part of the requisition cheerfully, but when urged by young Minikin to leave his boat and come on board directly with his letters, he flatly refused.

"What the wuddy !” he exclaimed, "d'ye think I'm daft outright!-Na,na, callant, I ken a trick worth twa o' that. Gang awa', think ye, and leave Tibby as fu' as she can pang to the merciment o' a'body-na, faith, I'll do nae sic a thing. I'se tell ye what I'll do though, and that's a' ane, ye ken-here, my man, here see, there's my Post-office wallet to ye, tak ye it down to Mr Fyke, with my compliments-tell him I'm no used to attend on gentlefolks, and standing haill half hours wi' my hat in my hand-but that I sent you wi' that, and he may tak his wull o't, and gie me it back whan he's dune,— alang with the siller for the postage, ye ken. And I say, laddie-heh, you

I say, tell him no to be in a hurry, for ye ken, (winking,) I've a gay deal to do here."

This sagacious proposal of Rob's being warmly seconded by the boatswain, the young gentleman received the packet with a smile, and retired with it to the gun-room.

Not a moment was now lost-all the curious in eating, who had cash, were on the alert and old Tibby was emptied of her cargo long ere there was a single inquiry made after him from the gun-room. This gave our friend Robert not only time to settle his ac