were ushered on the scene. Mine host, after stifling his laughter the
best way he could, again sat down at the head of his table, sparkling with
crystal and wax lights, while a superb lamp hung overhead. The company was
composed chiefly of naval and military men, but there was also a sprinkling
of civilians, or Muftees, to use a West India expression. Most of them
rose as we entered, and after they had taken a glass of wine, and had their
laugh at our mishap, our landlord retired to one side with Mr Treenail,
while I, poor little middy as I was, remained standing at the end of the
room, close to the head of the stairs. The gentleman who sat at the foot
of the table had his back towards me, I and was not at first aware of my
presence. But the guest at his right hand, a happy--looking, red--faced,
well--dressed man, soon drew his attention towards me. The party to whom I
was thus indebted seemed a very jovial--looking personage, and appeared to
be well known to all hands, and indeed the life of the party, for, like
Falstaff, he was not only witty in himself, but the cause of wit in others.

The gentleman to whom he had pointed me out immediately rose, made his bow,
ordered a chair, and made room for me beside himself, where the moment it
was known that we were direct from home, such a volley of questions was
fired off at me, that I did not know which to answer first. At length,
after Treenail had taken a glass or two of wine, the agent started him off
to the admiral's pen in his own gig, and I was desired to stay where I was
until he returned.

The whole party seemed very happy, my boon ally was fun itself, and I was
much entertained with the mess he made when any of the foreigners at table
addressed him in French or Spanish. I was particularly struck with a small,
thin, dark Spaniard, who told very feelingly how the night before, on
returning home from a party to his own lodgings, on passing through the
piazza, he stumbled against something heavy that lay in his grass--hammock,