Such was the order of Captain Drawlock's dinner-sailing; as strictly adhered to as the memorandum of Commodore Bottlecock: the only communication permitted with the young ladies under his charge (unless married men) being to "request the honour of drinking a glass of wine with them." All this may appear very absurd; but a little reflection will convince the reader to the contrary.

There is a serious responsibility on a captain of an India man, who takes charge of perhaps a dozen young women, who are to be cooped up for months in the same ship with as many young men.

Love, powerful everywhere, has on the waters even more potent sway, hereditary, I presume, from his mother's nativity.

Idleness is the friend of Love; and passengers have little or nothing to do to while away the tedium of a voyage.

In another point, he has great advantage, from the limited number of the fair sex.