habit of assuming, for no apparent reason, unless it might be to give
greater freedom to his arms, in a particularly sweeping swing, that
they constantly practised when their master was in motion. His face
was long, of a fair complexion, burnt to a fiery red; with a snub
nose, cocked into an inveterate pug; a mouth of enormous dimensions,
filled with fine teeth; and a pair of blue eyes, that seemed to look
about them on surrounding objects with habitual contempt. His head
composed full one-fourth of his whole length, and the cue that
depended from its rear occupied another. He wore a coat of very light
drab cloth, with buttons as large as dollars, bearing the impression
of a “foul anchor.” The skirts were extremely long, reaching quite to
the calf, and were broad in proportion. Beneath, there were a vest
and breeches of red plush, somewhat worn and soiled. He had shoes
with large buckles, and stockings of blue and white stripes.

This odd-looking figure reported himself to be a native of the county
of Cornwall, in the island of Great Britain. His boyhood had passed
in the neighborhood of the tin mines, and his youth as the cabin-boy
of a smuggler, between Falmouth and Guernsey. From this trade he had
been impressed into the service of his king, and, for the want of a
better, had been taken into the cabin, first as a servant, and finally
as steward to the captain. Here he acquired the art of making
chowder, lobster, and one or two other sea-dishes, and, as he was fond
of saying, had an opportunity of seeing the world. With the exception
of one or two outports in France, and an occasional visit to
Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Deal, he had in reality seen no more of
mankind, however, than if he had been riding a donkey in one of his
native mines. But, being discharged from the navy at the peace of
‘83, he declared that, as he had seen all the civilized parts of the
earth, he was inclined to make a trip to the wilds of America We will