His orders were to bring the fleet north, and in substance to do the very thing his own sagacity had dictated.

So far every thing was well; and he could not entertain a doubt about receiving the hearty approbation of his superiors, for the course he had taken.

But here his gratification ended; for, on looking at the dates of the different communications, it was evident that the red riband was bestowed after the intelligence of the Pretender's movement had reached London.

A private letter, from a friend at the Board of Admiralty, too, spoke of his own probable promotion to the rank of admiral of the blue; and mentioned several other similar preferments, in a way to show that the government was fortifying itself, in the present crisis, as much as possible, by favours.

This was a politic mode of procedure, with ordinary men, it is true; but with officers of the elevation of mind, and of the independence of character of our two admirals, it was most likely to produce disgust.
"D--n 'em, Dick," cried Sir Gervaise, as he threw down the last letter of the package, with no little sign of feeling; "you might take St.
Paul, or even Wychecombe's dead brother, St.James the Less, and put him at court, and he would come out a thorough blackguard, in a week!" "That is not the common opinion concerning a court education," quietly replied the friend; "most people fancying that the place gives refinement of manners, if not of sentiment." "Poh--poh--you and I have no need of a dictionary to understand each other.