Newton Forster

by Frederick Marryat

  Chapter XXII

  "Mercy on us! a bairn, a very pretty bairn, A boy, a child." SHAKESPEARE.

  When Newton was landed from the cartel at Jamaica, he found theadvantage of not being clad in the garb of a sailor, as all those whowere in such costume were immediately handed over to the admiral of thestation, to celebrate their restoration to liberty on board of aman-of-war; but the clothes supplied to him by the generosity of M. deFontanges had anything but a maritime appearance, and Newton was landedwith his portmanteaus by one of the man-of-war's boats, whose crew hadlittle idea of his being a person so peculiarly suited to their views,possessing as he did the necessary qualifications of youth, activity,and a thorough knowledge of his profession. Newton was so anxious toreturn home, that after a few days' expensive sojourn at an hotel,frequented chiefly by the officers of the man-of-war in port, heresolved to apply to the captain of a frigate ordered home withdespatches, to permit him to take a passage. He had formed a slightintimacy with some of the officers, who assured him that he wouldexperience no difficulty in obtaining his request. His application wasmade in person; and after his statement that he had been released in thelast cartel which had come from Guadaloupe, his request was immediatelygranted, without any further questions being put relative to hisprofession, or the manner in which he had been captured. The captainvery civilly gave him to understand that he might mess with thegun-room officers, if he could arrange with them, and that he expectedto sail on the evening of the ensuing day. Newton immediately repairedon board of the frigate, to ascertain if the officers would receive himas a messmate; and further, whether the amount of his mess-money wouldbe more than he could in prudence afford. At the bottom of one of theportmanteaus he had found a bag of two hundred dollars, supplied by hisgenerous host, and in the same bag there was also deposited a small notefrom Madame de Fontanges, wishing him success, and enclosing (as a_souvenir_) a ring, which he had often perceived on her finger; but,adequate as was this supply to his own wants, Newton did not forget thathis father was, in all probability, in great distress, and would requirehis assistance on his return. He was, therefore, naturally anxious notto expend more than was absolutely necessary in defraying his passage.The old first lieutenant, to whom, upon his arrival on board, he wasintroduced as commanding officer, received him with much urbanity; and,when Newton stated that he had obtained the captain's permission to makethe application, immediately acceded to his wishes on the part of hismessmates as well as of himself, when Newton followed up hisapplication, by requesting to know the expense which he would incur, as,in case of its being greater than his finances could meet, he wouldrequest permission to choose a less expensive mess.

  "I am aware," replied the veteran, "that those who have beenshipwrecked, and in a French prison, are not likely to be very flush ofcash. It is, however, a point on which I must consult my messmates.Excuse me one moment, and I will bring you an answer: I have no doubtbut that it will be satisfactorily arranged; but there is nothing likesettling these points at once. Mr Webster, see that the lighter shovesoff the moment that she is clear," continued the first lieutenant to oneof the midshipmen as he descended the quarter-deck ladder, leavingNewton to walk the quarter-deck.

  In a few minutes the first lieutenant reappeared, with one or twoofficers of the gun-room mess, who greeted him most cordially.

  "I have seen all that are requisite," said he to Newton. "Two I have notspoken to, the master and the purser; they are both poor men withfamilies. If, therefore, you will not be too proud to accept it, I amrequested to offer you a free passage from the other officers of themess, as we feel convinced that your company will more than repay us.The proportion of the expense of your passage to the other two will bebut one or two pounds; a trifle, indeed, but still of consequence tothem; and that is the only expense which you will incur. If you canafford to pay that, any time after your arrival in England, we shall bemost happy to receive you, and make the passage as comfortable andpleasant as circumstances will permit."

  To this most liberal proposition Newton most gladly acceded. Theofficers who had come on deck with the first lieutenant invited Newtonbelow, where he was introduced to the remainder of the mess, who weremost of them fine young men, as happy and careless as if youth was tolast for ever. Having pledged each other in a glass of grog, Newtonreturned on shore. The next morning he made his arrangements, paid hisbill at the hotel, and before twelve o'clock was again on board of thefrigate, which lay with the Blue Peter hoisted, and her fore-topsailloose, waiting for her captain, who was still detained on shore whilethe admiral and governor made up their despatches.

  When Newton had applied to the captain of the frigate for a passagehome, he could hardly believe it possible that the person to whom he wasintroduced could be entrusted with the command of so fine a vessel. Hewas a slight-made, fair complexioned lad, of nineteen or twenty years atthe most, without an incipient mark of manhood on his chin. He appearedlively, active, and good-natured; but what were the other qualificationshe possessed, to discover such a mark of confidence, were to Newton anenigma requiring solution.

  It was, however, to be explained in very few words. He was the son ofthe admiral of the station, and (as at that period there was noregulation with respect to age, to check the most rapid promotion),after he had served his time as midshipman, in less than two months hehad been raised through the different ranks of lieutenant, commander,and post-captain. On receiving the latter step, he was at the same timeappointed to the frigate in question,--one of the finest which belongedto his Majesty's service. In order, however, that he should to a certaindegree be in leading-strings, a very old and efficient officer had beenselected by the admiral as his first lieutenant. Whether, in commonjustice, the captain and his subordinate ought not to have changedplaces, I leave the reader to guess; and it was the more unfair towardsthe worthy old first lieutenant, as, if the admiral had not entertainedsuch a high opinion of his abilities and judgment as to confide to himthe charge of his son, he would long before have been promoted himselfto one of the many vacancies which so repeatedly occurred.

  Captain Carrington had all the faults which, if no inherent, willnaturally be acquired by those who are too early entrusted with power.He was self-sufficient, arbitrary, and passionate. His good qualitiesconsisted in a generous disposition, a kindness of heart when notirritated, a manly courage, and a frank acknowledgment of his errors.Had he been allowed to serve a proper time in the various grades of hisprofession--had he been taught to obey before he had been permitted to_command_--he had within him all the materials for a good officer: as itwas, he was neither officer, sailor, nor anything else, except a_spoiled boy_. He would often attempt to carry on the duty as captain,and as often fail from want of knowledge. He would commence manoeuvringthe ship, but find himself unable to proceed. At these unfortunate_break downs_, he would be obliged to resign the speaking-trumpet to thefirst lieutenant; and if, as sometimes happened, the latter (either fromaccident, or perhaps from a pardonable pique at having the duty takenout of his hands), was not at his elbow to prompt him when at fault--atthese times the cant phrase of the officers, taken from some farce, usedto be, "_York, you're wanted_."

  About an hour before sunset the juvenile captain made his appearance onboard, rather _fresh_ from taking leave of his companions andacquaintances on shore. The frigate was got under weigh by the firstlieutenant, and, before the sun had disappeared, was bounding over thefoaming seas in the direction of the country which had nurtured tomaturity the gnarled oak selected for her beautiful frame. Newton joinedhis new messmates in drinking a prosperous passage to old England; and,with a heart grateful for his improved prospects, retired to the hammockwhich had been prepared for him.

  When Newton rose in the morning, he found that the wind had shiftedcontrary during the night, and that the frigate was close hauled,darting through the smooth water with her royals set. At ten o'clock themaster proposed tacking the ship, and the first lieutenant went down toreport his wish to the captain.<
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  "Very well, Mr Nourse," replied the captain; "turn the hands up."

  "Ay, ay, sir," replied the first lieutenant, leaving the cabin.

  "Call the boatswain, quarter-master--all hands 'bout ship."

  "All hands 'bout ship," was now bellowed out by the boatswain, andre-echoed by his mates at the several hatchways, with a due proportionof whistling from their pipes.

  "Tumble up, there--tumble up smartly, my lads."

  In a minute every man was on deck, and at his station; many of them,however, _tumbling down_ in their laudable hurry to _tumble up_.

  "Silence there, fore and aft--every man to his station," cried the firstlieutenant through his speaking-trumpet. "All ready, sir," reported thefirst lieutenant to the captain, who had followed him on deck. "Shall weput the helm down?"

  "If you please, Mr Nourse."

  "Down with the helm."

  When the master reported it down, "The helm's a-lee," roared the firstlieutenant.

  But Captain Carrington, who thought light winds and smooth water a goodopportunity for practice, interrupted him as he was walking towards theweather gangway "Mr Nourse, Mr Nourse, if you please, I'll work theship."

  "Very good, sir," replied the first lieutenant, handing him thespeaking-trumpet. "Rise tacks and sheets, if you please, sir," continuedthe first lieutenant (_sotto voce_), "the sails are lifting."

  "Tacks and sheets!" cried the captain.

  "Gather in on the lee main-tack, my lads," said the first lieutenant,going to the lee gangway to see the duty performed.

  Now, Captain Carrington did know that "mainsail haul" was the next wordof command; but as this order requires a degree of precision as to theexact time at which it is given, he looked over his shoulder for thefirst lieutenant, who usually prompted him in this exigence. Not seeinghim there, he became disconcerted; and during the few seconds that hecast his anxious eyes about the deck, to discover where the firstlieutenant was, the ship had passed head to wind.

  "Mainsail haul!" at last cried the captain; but it was too late; theyards would not swing round; everything went wrong; and the ship was _inirons_.

  "You hauled a little too late, sir," observed the first lieutenant whohad joined him. "You must box her off, sir, if you please."

  But Captain Carrington, although he could put the ship in irons, did notknow how to take her out.

  "The ship is certainly most cursedly out of trim," observed he; "she'llneither wear nor stay. Try her yourself, Mr Nourse," continued thecaptain, "I'm sick of her!"--and with a heightened colour, he handed thespeaking-trumpet over to the first lieutenant.

  "York, you're wanted," observed the lieutenant abaft to the marineofficer, dropping down the corners of his mouth.

  "York, you're wanted," tittered the midshipmen, in whispers, as theypassed each other.

  "Well, I've won your grog, Jim," cried one of the marines, who wasstanding at the forebrace; "I knew he'd never do it."

  "He's like me," observed another, in a low tone; "he left school too'arly, and lost his edication."

  Such were the results of injudicious patronage. A fine ship entrusted toa boy, ignorant of his duty; laughed at, not only by the officers, buteven by the men; and the honour of the country at stake, and running nosmall risk of being tarnished, if the frigate met with a vigorousopponent.[1] Thank God, this is now over! Judicious regulations have puta stop to such selfish and short-sighted patronage. Selfish, becausethose who were guilty of it risked the honour of the nation to advancethe interests of their _proteges_; short-sighted, because it is oflittle use making a young man a captain if you cannot make him anofficer. I might here enter into a discussion which might be of someuse, but it would be out of place in a work intended more for amusementthan for instruction; nor would it in all probability be read. I alwaysmake it a rule myself, to skip over all those parts introduced in alight work which are of denser materials than the rest; and I cannotexpect but that others will do the same. There is a time and place forall things; and like the master of Ravenswood, "I bide my time."

  [Footnote 1: It is true that an officer must now serve a certain time inthe various grades before promotion, which time is supposed to besufficient for him to acquire a knowledge of his profession; but whetherthat knowledge is obtained depends, as before, upon the young officer'sprospects in life. If from family interest he is sure of promotion, heis not quite so sure of being a seaman.]

  The frigate dashed gallantly through the water, at one time careening toan adverse wind, at another rolling before a favouring gale: and, tojudge from her rapid motion, she was not in such very bad trim asCaptain Carrington had found out. Each day rapidly brought her nearer totheir cherished home, as "she walked the waters like a thing of life." Ican conceive no prouder situation in this world than being captain of afine frigate, with a well-disciplined crew; but d--n your_eight-and-twenties_!

  "We had better take in the royals, if you please, sir," said the firstlieutenant, as he came, with his hat in his hand, into the cabin, wherethe captain was at dinner with several of the officers, the tablecrowded with a variety of decanters and French green bottles.

  "Pho! nonsense! Mr Nourse; we'll carry them a little longer," repliedthe captain, who had been _carrying too much sail_ another way. "Sitdown and take a glass of wine with us. You always cry out before you'rehurt, Nourse."

  "I thank you, sir," replied the first lieutenant, seriously; "you willexcuse me: it is time to beat to quarters."

  "Well, then, do so; I had no idea it was so late. Mr Forster, you don'tpass the bottle."

  "I have taken enough, I thank you, sir."

  The officers present also made the same statement.

  "Well, then, if you won't, gentlemen--steward, let's have some coffee."

  The coffee appeared and disappeared; and the officers made their bowsand quitted the cabin as the first lieutenant entered it to report themuster at quarters.

  "All present and sober, sir. I am afraid, sir," continued he, "the mastswill be over the side if we do not clew up the royals."

  "Stop a moment, if you please, Mr Nourse, until I go up and judge formyself," replied the captain, who was inclined to be pertinacious.

  Captain Carrington went on deck. The men were still ranged round thedecks at their quarters; more than one pair of eyes were raised aloft towatch the masts, which were bending like coach-whips, and complainingbitterly.

  "Shall we beat a retreat, and pipe hands to shorten sail, sir? We hadbetter take in the third reefs, sir;--it looks very squally to-night,"observed the first lieutenant.

  "Really, Mr Nourse, I don't exactly perceive the necessity--"

  But at that moment the fore and main-top-gallant-masts went over theside; and the look-out man at the fore-top-gallant-mast head, who hadbeen called down by the first lieutenant, but did not hear theinjunction, was hurled into the sea to leeward.

  "Helm down!" cried the master.

  "Man overboard!--man overboard!" echoed round the decks; while some ofthe officers and men jumped into the quarter-boats, and hastily cast offthe gripes and lashings.

  Captain Carrington, who was immediately sobered by the catastrophe,which he felt had been occasioned by his own wilfulness, ran aft to thetaffrail; and when he saw the poor sailor struggling in the waves,impelled by his really fine nature, he darted overboard to save him; buthe was not by any means a powerful swimmer, and, encumbered with hisapparel, it was soon evident that he could do no more than keep himselfafloat.

  Newton, who perceived how matters stood, with great presence of mindcaught up two of the oars from the boat hanging astern, and darted overto the assistance of both. One oar he first carried to the seaman, whowas exhausted and sinking. Placing it under his arms, he then swam withthe other to Captain Carrington, who could not have remained above waterbut a few seconds more without the timely relief. He then quietly swamby the side of Captain Carrington, without any attempt at extraexertion.

  The boat was soon lowered down, and in a few minutes they were al
l threeagain on board, and in safety. Captain Carrington thanked Newton for hisassistance, and acknowledged his error to the first lieutenant. Theofficers and men looked upon Newton with respect and increasedgood-will; and the sailors declared that the captain was a prime littlefellow, although he hadn't had an "edication."

  Nothing worthy of remark occurred during the remainder of the passage.The ship arrived at Plymouth, and Newton took leave of his friendlyshipmates, Captain Carrington requesting that Newton would command anyinterest that he had, if ever it should be required. It was with athrobbing heart that Newton descended from the outside of the coachwhich conveyed him to Liverpool, and hastened towards the obscure streetin which he left his father residing. It was about four o'clock in theafternoon when Newton arrived at his father's door. To his delight, heperceived through the shop-window that his father was sitting at hisbench; but his joy was checked when he perceived his haggardcountenance. The old man appeared to be absorbed in deep thought, hischeek resting upon his hand, and his eyes cast down upon the littlebench, to which the vice used to be fixed, but from which it was nowremoved.

  The door was ajar, and Newton entered with his portmanteau in his hand;but whatever noise he might have made was not sufficient to rouseNicholas, who continued in the same position.

  With one glance round the shop, Newton perceived that it was bare ofeverything; even the glazed cases on the counter, which contained thespectacles, &c., had disappeared. All bespoke the same tale, as did theappearance of his father--misery and starvation.

  "My dearest father!" cried Newton, unable to contain himself any longer.

  "How!--what?" cried Nicholas, starting at the voice, but not lookinground. "Pho! nonsense!--he's dead," continued the old man, communingwith himself, as he again settled into his former position.

  "My dearest father, I'm not dead!--look round--'tis Newton! alive andwell."

  "Newton!" replied the old man, rising from his stool, and tottering tothe counter, which was between them, on which he laid both his hands tosupport himself, as he looked into his son's face. "'Tis Newton, sureenough! My dear, dear boy!--then you an't dead?"

  "No, indeed, father; I am alive and well, thank God!"

  "Thank God, too!" said Nicholas, dropping his face on the counter, andbursting into tears.

  Newton sprang over to the side where his father was, and embraced him.For some time they were locked in each other's arms; when Nicholas, whohad recovered his composure, looked at Newton, and said, "Are youhungry, my dear boy?"

  "Yes, indeed I am," replied Newton, smiling, as the tears coursed downhis cheeks; "for I have had nothing since breakfast."

  "And I have had nothing for these two days," replied Nicholas, leaningback to the wall in evident exhaustion.

  "Good God! you don't say so?" cried Newton; "where can I buy somethingready cooked?"

  "At the shop round the corner: there's a nice piece of boiled beefthere; I saw it yesterday. I offered my improvement on the duplex for aslice; but he would not trust me, even for that."

  Newton ran out, and in a few minutes reappeared with the beef inquestion, some bread, and a pot of porter, with two plates and knivesand forks, which the people had lent him, upon his putting down adeposit. He had laid them on the counter before his father, who, withoutsaying a word, commenced his repast: the beef disappeared--the breadvanished--the porter-pot was raised to his mouth, and in a moment it wasdry!

  "Never made a better dinner, Newton," observed Nicholas: "but I wishthere had been a little more of it."

  Newton, who had only been a spectator, immediately went out for anothersupply; and on his return assisted his father in its demolition.

  "Newton," said Nicholas, who for a few minutes had relinquished histask, "I've been thinking--that--I should like another slice of thatbeef! and Newton, as I said before--I'll trouble you for the porter!"