The Poacher; Or, Joseph RushbrookMarryat, Frederick
General
The Poacher; Or, Joseph Rushbrook
Marryat, Frederick
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Fathers and sons -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction; Poachers -- Fiction
"`When all performed their duty in so exemplary a manner, it would be
unfair, and, indeed, invidious, to particularise, still, I cannot
refrain from mentioning the good conduct of Mr Smith, my first
lieutenant; Mr Bowles, my second lieutenant; Mr Chabb, my worthy
master; Mr Jones and Mr James, master's mates; Messrs. Hall, Small,
Ball, and Pall, midshipmen; and Messrs. Sweet and Sharp, volunteers.
I also received every assistance from Mr Grulf, the purser, who
offered his services, and I cannot omit the conduct of Mr Spikeman,
clerk. I am also highly indebted to the attention and care shown by
Mr Thorn, surgeon, who is so well supported in his duties by Mr
Green, assistant-surgeon, of this ship. The activity of Mr Bruce,
the boatswain, was deserving of the highest encomiums; and it would be
an act of injustice not to notice the zeal of Mr Bile, the carpenter,
and Mr Sponge, gunner of the ship. James Anderson, quarter-master,
received a severe contusion, but is now doing well; I trust I shall
not be considered presumptuous in recommending him to a boatswain's
warrant.
"`I am happy to say that our casualties, owing to the extreme panic of
the enemy, are very few. I have the honour to be, Sir, your very
obedient and humble servant, ALCIBIADES AJAX BOGGS.
"`Wounded--Very severely, James Anderson, quarter-master.
Contusions--John Peters, able seaman; James Morrison, marine; Thomas
Snowball, captain's cook.'
"There, now; that I consider a very capital letter; no Frenchman, not
even an American, could have made out a better case. The Admiralty were
satisfied that something very gallant had been done, although the fog
made it appear not quite so clear as it might have been; and the
consequence was, that my commander received his promotion. There, now,
write your letter, and tell your sister that she must answer it as soon
as possible, as you are going out with me for orders in three or four
days, and shall be absent for three months."
Joey wrote a long letter to Mary; he stated the adventure with the two
scoundrels who would have robbed him, his afterwards falling in with a
gentleman who dealt in cutlery, and his being taken into his service;
and, as Spikeman had told him, requested her to answer directly, as he
was about to set off on a circuit with his master, which would occasion
his absence for three months.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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