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8 with a shilling, which left the poor fellow in utter confusion at the unexpected increase to his fortune.

Hugh having completed his arrangements with the Agents, received the following note — "To Captain Blomeskull — Ship, 'Big Ann' Sir, be pleased to shew Mr. Hugh Raymond, who has paid the full amount of an intermediate passage, to the stern cabin below. (Signed,), Agents."

Armed with this missive, and having procured his luggage, Hugh drove to the Barbican, where he underwent the usual attempts at imposition, too palpable even for his inexperience. He succeeded at last in effecting an arrangement with the boat-men, by which those disinterested individuals contracted to carry him, his goods, and his chattels, to the "Big Ann" for only double the proper fare, mainly on account of his good looks. The boat was being pushed off, when a young man, whom Hugh had noticed at the Agents' office, ran hastily to the steps from a cab, and finding where the boat was going, desired a passage in her, proffering to pay a share; his request was readily granted, and his luggage being somewhat scanty, was soon disposed of, and he leaped lightly into the boat. Several drunken sailors made similar applications. Hugh, however, declined this inconvenient addition to his cargo, and pushing into deep water, received a volley of imprecations in return — none of your mincing, doubtful, half-joke, half-earnest curses, but such round oaths as only enter into a drunken sailor's or a sober convict's heart to conceive, and are uttered from no other lips with half the appearance of sincerity.

"I see," said the last arrival, after finishing a survey of Hugh's luggage, "you sail in the 'Big Ann' so do I. She looks a fine craft as far as paint will make her, but from all I hear, she don't act up to her looks, and she's got a rough lot aboard her. — Intermediate, I see, Sir," continued this