Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/213

, who was second in command; and [| thought, under these circumstances, the best thing I could do would be to "clean myself," as the phrase used to be in those days, and go on board and present them. I went accordingly, and saw the flag captain, who took my letters in to the admiral, and brought out a verbal, and not a very civil message, saying, I might join the ship, if I pleased, until my own returned to the station. As it happened to suit my convenience, I did please; and the manner in which the favour was conferred disburthened my mind of any incumbrance of gratitude. 'The reception was not such as I might have expected: had the letters not been from people of distinction, and friends of the rear-admiral, I should much have preferred remaining in the frigate, whose captain. also wished it, but that was not allowed.

To the flag-ship, therefore, I came; and why I was brought here I never could discover, unless it was for the purpose of completing a