Chapter LXIII
Peter looks upon his loss as something gained--Goes on board the_Rattlesnake_ to pack up, and is ordered to pack off--Politeleave-taking between relations. Mrs Trotter better and better--Goes toLondon, and afterwards falls into all manner of misfortunes by the handsof robbers, and of his own uncle.
I hardly knew whether I felt glad or sorry at this sentence. On the onehand, it was almost a deathblow to my future advancement or employmentin the service; on the other, the recommendation very much softened downthe sentence, and I was quite happy to be quit of Captain Hawkins, andfree to hasten to my poor sister. I bowed respectfully to the court,which immediately adjourned. Captain Hawkins followed the captains onthe quarter-deck, but none of them would speak to him--so much to hisdisadvantage had come out during the trial.
About ten minutes afterwards, one of the elder captains composing thecourt called me into the cabin. "Mr Simple," said he, "we are all verysorry for you. Our sentence could not be more lenient, under thecircumstances: it was that conversation with the gunner at the taffrailwhich floored you. It must be a warning to you to be more careful infuture, how you permit any one to speak of the conduct of your superiorson the quarter-deck. I am desired by the president to let you know thatit is our intention to express ourselves very strongly to the admiral inyour behalf; so much so, that if another captain applies for you, youwill have no difficulty in being appointed to a ship; and as for leavingyour present ship, under any other circumstances I should consider it amatter of congratulation."
I returned my sincere thanks, and soon afterwards quitted theguard-ship, and went on board of the brig to pack up my clothes, andtake leave of my messmates. On my arrival, I found that Captain Hawkinshad preceded me, and he was on deck when I came up the side. I hasteneddown into the gun-room, where I received the condolements of mymessmates.
"Simple, I wish you joy," cried Thompson, loud enough for the captain tohear on deck. "I wish I had your luck; I wish somebody would try me by acourt-martial."
"As it has turned out," replied I, in a loud voice, "and after thecommunication made to me by the captains composing the court, of whatthey intend to say to the Admiralty, I agree with you, Thompson, that itis a very kind act on the part of Captain Hawkins, and I feel quitegrateful to them."
"Steward, come--glasses," cried Thompson, "and let us drink success toMr Simple."
All this was very annoying to Captain Hawkins, who overheard every word.When our glasses were filled--"Simple, your good health, and may I meetwith as good a messmate," said Thompson.
At this moment, the sergeant of marines put his head in at the gun-roomdoor, and said, in a most insolent tone, that I was to leave the shipimmediately. I was so irritated, that I threw my glass of grog in hisface, and he ran up to the captain to make the complaint; but I did notbelong to the ship, and even if I had, I would have resented suchimpertinence.
Captain Hawkins was in a great rage, and I believe would have writtenfor another court-martial, but he had had enough of them. He inquiredvery particularly of the sergeant whether he had told me that I was toleave the ship directly, or whether, that Captain Hawkins desired that Ishould leave the ship immediately; and finding that he had not given thelatter message (which I was aware of, for had he given it, I dare nothave acted as I did); he then sent down again by one of the midshipmen,desiring me to leave the ship immediately. My reply was, that I shouldcertainly obey his orders with the greatest pleasure. I hastened to packup my clothes, reported myself ready to the second lieutenant, who wentup for permission to man a boat, which was refused by Captain Hawkins,who said I might go on shore in a shore-boat. I called one alongside,shook hands with all my messmates, and when I arrived on thequarter-deck, with Swinburne, and some of the best men, who cameforward; Captain Hawkins stood by the binnacle, bursting with rage. As Iwent over the planeshear, I took my hat off to him, and wished himgood-morning very respectfully, adding, "If you have any commands for my_uncle_, Captain Hawkins, I shall be glad to execute them."
This observation, which showed him that I knew the connection andcorrespondence between them, made him gasp with emotion. "Leave theship, sir, or by God I'll put you in irons for mutiny," cried he. Iagain took off my hat, and went down the side, and shoved off.
As soon as I was a few yards distant, the men jumped on the carronadesand cheered, and I perceived Captain Hawkins order them down, and beforeI was a cable's length from her, the pipe "all hands to punishment;" soI presume some of the poor fellows suffered for their insubordination inshowing their good will. I acknowledge that I might have left the shipin a more dignified manner, and that my conduct was not altogethercorrect; but still, I state what I really did do, and some allowancemust be made for my feelings. This is certain, that my conduct after thecourt-martial, was more deserving of punishment, than that for which Ihad been tried. But I was in a state of feverish excitement, and hardlyknew what I did.
When I arrived at Sally Port, I had my effects wheeled up to the BluePosts, and packing up those which I most required, I threw off myuniform, and was once more a gentleman at large. I took my place in themail for that evening, sent a letter of thanks, with a few bank notes,to my counsel, and then sat down and wrote a long letter to O'Brien,acquainting him with the events which had taken place.
I had just finished, and sealed it up, when in came Mrs Trotter. "Oh mydear Mr Simple! I'm so sorry, and I have come to console you. There'snothing like women when men are in affliction, as poor Trotter used tosay, as he laid his head in my lap. When do you go to town?"
"This evening, Mrs Trotter."
"I hope I am to continue to attend the ship?"
"I hope so too, Mrs Trotter, I have no doubt but you will."
"Now, Mr Simple, how are you off for money? Do you want a little? Youcan pay me by-and-by. Don't be afraid. I'm not quite so poor as I waswhen you came down to mess with Trotter and me, and when you gave me thedozen pair of stockings. I know what it is to want money, and what it isto want friends."
"Many thanks to you, Mrs Trotter," replied I; "but I have sufficient totake me home, and then I can obtain more."
"Well, I'm glad of it, but it was offered in earnest. Good-bye, Godbless you! Come, Mr Simple, give me a kiss; it won't be the first time."
I kissed her, for I felt grateful for her kindness; and with a littlesmirking and ogling she quitted the room. I could not help thinking,after she was gone, how little we know the hearts of others. If I hadbeen asked if Mrs Trotter was a person to have done a generous action,from what I had seen of her in adversity, I should have decidedly said,No. Yet in this offer she was disinterested, for she knew the servicewell enough to be aware that I had little chance of being a firstlieutenant again, and of being of service to her. And how often does italso occur, that those who ought, from gratitude or long friendship, todo all they can to assist you, turn from you in your necessity, andprove false and treacherous! It is God alone who knows our hearts. Isent my letter to O'Brien to the admiral's office, sat down to a dinnerwhich I could not taste, and at seven o'clock got into the mail.
When I arrived in town I was much worse, but I did not wait more than anhour. I took my place in a coach which did not go to the town near whichwe resided; for I had inquired and found that coach was full, and I didnot choose to wait another day. The coach in which I took my place wentwithin forty miles of the vicarage, and I intended to post across thecountry. The next evening I arrived at the point of separation, andtaking out my portmanteau, ordered a chaise, and set off for what hadonce been my home. I could hardly hold my head up, I was so ill, and Ilay in a corner of the chaise in a sort of dream, kept from sleepingfrom intense pain in the forehead and temples. It was about nine o'clockat night, when we were in a dreadful jolting road, the shocks proceedingfrom which gave me agonizing pain, that the chaise was stopped by twomen, who dragged me out on the grass. One stood over me, while the otherrifled the chaise. The post-boy, who appeared a party to thetransaction, remained quietly on his horse, and as
soon as they hadtaken my effects, turned round and drove off. They then rifled myperson, taking away everything that I had, leaving me nothing but mytrousers and shirt. After a short consultation, they ordered me to walkon in the direction in which we had been proceeding in the chaise, andto hasten as fast as I could, or they would blow my brains out. Icomplied with their request, thinking myself fortunate to have escapedso well. I knew that I was still thirty miles at least from thevicarage; but ill as I was, I hoped to be able to reach it on foot. Iwalked during the remainder of the night, but I got on but slowly. Ireeled from one side of the road to the other, and occasionally sat downto rest. Morning dawned, and I perceived habitations not far from me. Istaggered on in my course.
The fever now raged in me, my head was splitting with agony, and Itottered to a bank near a small neat cottage, on the side of the road. Ihave a faint recollection of some one coming to me and taking my hand,but nothing further; and it was not till many months afterwards, that Ibecame acquainted with the circumstances which I now relate. It appearsthat the owner of the cottage was a half-pay lieutenant in the army, whohad sold-out on account of his wounds. I was humanely taken into hishouse, laid on a bed, and a surgeon requested to come to me immediately.I had now lost all recollection, and who I was they could not ascertain.My pockets were empty, and it was only by the mark on my linen that theyfound that my name was Simple. For three weeks I remained in a state ofalternate stupor and delirium. When the latter came on, I raved of LordPrivilege, O'Brien, and Celeste. Mr Selwin, the officer who had sokindly assisted me, knew that Simple was the patronymic name of LordPrivilege, and he immediately wrote to his lordship, stating that ayoung man of the name of Simple, who, in his delirium called upon himand Captain O'Brien, was lying in a most dangerous state in his house,and, that as he presumed I was a relative of his lordship's he haddeemed it right to apprise him of the fact.
My uncle, who knew that it must be me, thought this too favourable anopportunity, provided I should live, not to have me in his power. Hewrote to say that he would be there in a day or two; at the same timethanking Mr Selwin for his kind attention to his poor nephew, andrequesting that no expense might be spared. When my uncle arrived, whichhe did in his own chariot, the crisis of the fever was over, but I wasstill in a state of stupor, arising from extreme debility. He thanked MrSelwin for his attention, which he said he was afraid was of littleavail, as I was every year becoming more deranged; and he expressed hisfears that it would terminate in chronic lunacy. "His poor father diedin the same state," continued my uncle, passing his hand across hiseyes, as if much affected. "I have brought my physician with me, to seeif he can be moved. I shall not be satisfied unless I am with him nightand day."
The physician (who was my uncle's valet) took me by the hand, felt mypulse, examined my eyes, and pronounced that it would be very easy tomove me, and that I should recover sooner in a more airy room. Ofcourse, Mr Selwin raised no objections, putting down all to my uncle'sregard for me; and my clothes were put on me, as I lay in a state ofinsensibility, and I was lifted into the chariot. It is most wonderfulthat I did not die from being thus taken out of my bed in such a state,but it pleased Heaven that it should be otherwise. Had such an eventtaken place, it would probably have pleased my uncle much better than mysurviving. When I was in the carriage, supported by thepseudo-physician, my uncle again thanked Mr Selwin, begged that he wouldcommand his interest, wrote a handsome cheque for the surgeon who hadattended me, and getting into the carriage, drove off with me still in astate of insensibility--that is, I was not so insensible, but I think Ifelt I had been removed, and I heard the rattling of the wheels; but mymind was so uncollected, and I was in a state of such weakness, that Icould not feel assured of it for a minute.
For some days afterwards, for I recollect nothing about the journey, Ifound myself in bed in a dark room and my arms confined. I recalled mysenses, and by degrees was able to recollect all that had occurred,until I laid down by the roadside. Where was I? The room was dark, Icould distinguish nothing; that I had attempted to do myself someinjury, I took for granted, or my arms would not have been secured. Ihad been in a fever and delirious, I supposed, and had now recovered. Ihad been in a reverie for more than an hour, wondering why I was leftalone, when the door of the apartment opened. "Who is there?" inquiredI.
"Oh! you've come to yourself again," said a gruff voice; "then I'll giveyou a little daylight."
He took down a shutter which covered the whole of the window, and aflood of light poured in, which blinded me. I shut my eyes, and bydegrees admitted the light until I could bear it. I looked at theapartment: the walls were bare and whitewashed. I was on a truckle-bed.I looked at the window--it was closed up with iron bars.--"Why, where amI?" inquired I of the man, with alarm.
"Where are you?" replied he; "why, in Bedlam!"