I hopes, as we are so well acquainted, Admiral Bluewater, no offence will be taken." "Where none is meant, none ought to be taken, my friend.

Now let us hear your bill-of-fare." "Well, sir, the very first dish I mentioned to Mrs.Larder, Sir Wycherly's cook, was lobscous; and, would you believe it, gentlemen, the poor woman had never heard of it! I began with a light hand, as it might be, just not to overwhelm her with knowledge, at a blow, as Sir Jarvy captivated the French frigate with the upper tier of guns, that he might take her alive, like." "And the lady knew nothing of a lobscous--neither of its essence, nor nature ?" "There's no essences as is ever put in a lobscous, besides potaties, Admiral Bluewater; thof we make 'em in the old Planter"-- _nautice_ for Plantagenet--"in so liquorish a fashion, you might well think they even had Jamaiky, in 'em.

No, potaties is the essence of lobscous; and a very good thing is a potatie, Sir Jarvy, when a ship's company has been on salted oakum for a few months." "Well, what was the next dish the good woman broke down under ?" asked the rear-admiral, fearful the master might order the servant to quit the room; while he, himself, was anxious to get rid of any further political discussion.
"Well, sir, she knowed no more of a chowder, than if the sea wern't in the neighbourhood, and there wern't such a thing as a fish in all England.

When I talked to her of a chowder, she gave in, like a Spaniard at the fourth or fifth broadside." "Such ignorance is disgraceful, and betokens a decline in civilization! But, you hoisted out more knowledge for her benefit, Galleygo--small doses of learning are poor things." "Yes, your honour; just like weak grog--burning the priming, without starting the shot.

To be sure, I did, Admiral Blue.