Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/80

 soon, therefore, as the ladies had retired from the dinner table, I asked my father to fill a bumper to their health; and, having swallowed mine in all the fervency of the most unbounded love, I popped the question to them both. Mr. Somerville and my father looked at each other, when the former said,

"You seem to be in a great hurry, Frank."

"Not greater, Sir," said I, "than the object deserves." He bowed, and my father began: "1 cannot say," observed the good old gentleman, " that I much approve of matrimony before you area commander. At least, till then, you are not your own master."

"Oh, if I am to wait for that, Sir," said I, "I may wait long enough; no man is ever his own master in our service, orin England. 'The captain is commanded by the admiral, the admiral by the Admiralty, the Admiralty by the Privy Council, the Privy Council by the Parliament, the Parliament by the people, and the people by printers and their devils."