+ ~ -
 
Please report pronunciation problems here. Select and sample other voices. Options Pause Play
 
Report an Error
Go!
 
Go!
 
TOC
 

that injustice." Soon after this, the two medals
were transmitted to Collingwood by Lord
Spencer, with a civil apology for some delay in
sending that for the 1st of June. Nine captains
were made rear-admirals of the blue; Graves
and Hood were created barons; and Bowyer,
Gardner, and Pasley, baronets.

The nation was brimming over with joy,
pride, and gratitudethe king more than any
one. He was always fond of the Howes, and
claimed them as distant kinsmen. He wrote
the following autograph letter to the earl's
sister:

"Windsor, 11th of June, 1794.

"Mrs. Howe's zeal for the great cause in
which this country is engaged, added to her
becoming ardour for the glory of her family,
must make her feel with redoubled joy the
glorious news brought by Sir Roger Curtis;
she will, I hope, be satisfied now that Earl
Richard has, with twenty-five sail of the line,
attacked twenty-six of the enemy, taken six,
and sunk two: besides, it is not improbable
that some of the disabled ships of the enemy
may not be able to reach their own shore. I
own I could not refrain from expressing my
sentiments on the occasion, but will not detain
her by adding more.

(Signed) "George R."

Howe was promised a blue ribbon. He
received the order of the Garter, and declined a
marquisate. His sprightly daughter, writing
to her sister, Lady Altamont, says:

"It would amuse you to hear the titles which
the officers wish my father to have, as they
choose him to be a marquis; though some of
the sailors when disputing on this point the
other day, one of them was heard to say, ' A
marquis, you blockhead, the king must make
him one of the blood royal!'"

Howe received the freedom of the City and
of several of the companies in gold boxes, and
he obtained the thanks of both Houses of Parliament.
The men who did the real work got
their usual halfpenceabout three guineas each.
About ten thousand pounds was subscribed off-
hand at Lloyd's, for the widows, children, and
wounded sailors.

On the 20th of June, the king, queen, and
three princesses came to Portsmouth, and went
in a boat procession to dine on board the Queen
Charlotte. On the quarter-deck the king
presented Lord Howe with a sword set with
diamonds, and a gold chain and medal. Sir Roger
Curtis and Admirals Hood and Gardner also
received gold chains. All the sailors of the
Queen Charlotte requested to touch the sword,
and it was then sent round the whole fleet for
the crews to see it. At dinner the king
himself  proposed the toast:

"May the great admiral long command the
Queen Charlotte, and may she long be an
example to future fleets."

The old admiral did not keep much longer at
sea. He lived to praise Nelson, Duncan, Bridport,
and Jervis, to rejoice at the battle of the Nile,
and by good sense and kindness to suppress
the dangerous mutinies of 1797. He died of
gout in 1799.

MABEL'S PROGRESS.

By the Author of  "AUNT MARGARET'S TROUBLE."

CHAPTER VIII. EXPLANATORY.

Jack's unremitting exertions, guided by the
practical common sense and single-mindedness
which he inherited from his mother, had
succeeded in discoveiing Walter Charlewood's
whereabouts. The clue afforded by poor
Corda's letter, which led to the detection of
her brother's anonymous calumnies, had set
Jack thinking of Alfred Trescott. It had not
been difficult to discover, on inquiry, that
Alfred had been a frequent associate and
companion of Walter during a great part of the
time that the Charlewoods had passed in
London.

"The idea of seeking any information about
my brother from young Trescott never entered
my head," said Clement, when Jack uttered his
opinion that it might be well to set a watch on
Alfred, as a means of tracing the missing
Walter. " I did not even know that they had
met since we came to town."

"No; I dare say not," said Jack, " but that
is not hard to account for, is it? Your brother
knew pretty well, I suppose, that that double-
distilled young scoundrel was not exactly the
sort of companion you would approve of for
him."

"True. And I had often warned Walter
against associating with him in days gone by.
My brother is so easily influenced by those
around him."

"Exactly so. And you may depend that
Trescott impressed upon your brother the
desirableness of not mentioning his name to you.
But I have a strong notion that if anybody in
London knows where your brother is at this
minute, Alfred Trescott is the man; and as it
clearly would be of no use to question that very
amiable young gentleman, I think the best way
will be to watch where he goes to, and whom
he sees. We shall find out something so,
depend on it."

In the pursuance of this line of conduct,
Jack found an invaluable ally in old Jerry Shaw,
who threw himself into the business with great
zeal. By his assistance, and that of Lingo,
with whom Jerry said the whole credit of the
discovery ought rightfully to rest, Jack soon
found out that young Trescott had been seen
with a gentleman answering to Walter Charlewood's
description in a tavern not far from
the neighbourhood inhabited by the fair Mrs.
Hutchins. That lady, with a rat-like instinct,
began to divine that misfortune and disgrace
were hanging over the head of her "poetical"
and high-minded young friend, Alfred Trescott,
and she consequently became very pliant in
Jack's hands, imparting a great deal that she