“There,” said he; “that belonged to your poor departed uncle; forty-five years ago he gave it to me as a mark of his regard; I now here present it to you as a proof of mine, and in memento of him, the only man on earth I’d give it to before I died. I don’t recommend you to snuff yourself generally,” added he, “but you’ll find a pinch in that,” and he smiled, “that’ll do you good sometimes, if used with discretion and sparingly, if you’re ever in want of a further supply, let me know; and now, if ye plase, we’ll rejoin the ladies.” I was deeply touched by the general’s kindness, and mentally promised that I would treasure up his counsel, and make it my future guide. I fear, however, his estimate, touching that extremely difficult operation of putting an old head on young shoulders, found little in my subsequent career at all calculated to invalidate its correctness. Well, I bade a long farewell to the general. Mrs. Capsicum softened as she bid me adieu, and the charming widow could scarcely conceal her emotion. How dreary—how blank are the first few moments which succeed the parting with friends! their voices still sounding in your ears, their persons still vividly before your eyes—sounds and pictures to be impressed on the sensorium, and carried with you through life, long long, perhaps, after the originals are departed!—undying echoes! and abiding shadows! I reached my room at about twelve o’clock, and prepared for rest. My first act, however, was to take a survey of my uncle’s snuff-box. It was a singular piece of antiquity, such as might have been handed round in its time at a meeting of wits at Button’s or Will’s, or tapped by some ruffled exquisite of the glorious reign of Queen Anne. The well-known arms of my family were engraven on the back, but almost obliterated by time and use. Now, thought I, for a peep at the inside, and a pinch of the general’s wonderful snuff. I opened the box, but instead of snuff, I found it to contain, to my great pleasure and astonishment, the following brief, but highly satisfactory document:— GENTLEMEN,— Please to pay to Ens. Gernon, or order, the sum of Rs. 500, on account of, Gentlemen, your obedient Servant, DOMINICK CAPSICUM, _Lieut.-General_. To Messrs. Princely & Co., _Agents_. “Generous old man!” I exclaimed, “such snuff as this is indeed useful at a pinch, though, unlike most snuff, by no means to be sneezed at!” The next day I devoted to hiring a _bolio_, and some other matters. A bolio, it may be necessary to inform the reader, is a boat constructed on a somewhat similar plan to the budgerow, but longer and narrower, and more confined in its accommodation. I was to pay Rs. 100, or about £10, for a journey of 700 miles. Tom also ordered his jewellery, visited his agents, and made sundry arrangements connected with the coming event.