The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-06-22
1nti0cnts nll0 Sketches.
Aneodote of Sir Sidney Smith.

In Howard's memoirs of this distin-
gushed British naval officer. we find the
following characteristic anecdote of lis
boyhood
"Among the other accessories to the
beauty Of the place was large pccc Of
dead water, which Immediately attract.
ed the almost undivided attention of the
embryo admiral almost we say, for even
then he showed symptoms of that refn-
ed and graceful gallantry to the softer
sex that has always marked his charac-
ter In fact, he divided his attention
with tolerablc impartiality between a
young lady Of his own age, (eleven years }
and this piece ofwater and large wash.
ing tub. 1t was the custom of Captain
Smith to summon all his household to
prayer every evening, and they were
called together, in kind of patriarehal
fashion, by the sounding ola horn. Que
summers evening the horn was blown
the usual number Of times, but to the
customary blast no William Sidney ap.
peared
The father grew alarmed, and, MS his
fears arose, so did the echoes Of the horn
upon the evening breeze. The young
absentee heard the holy summons plainly
enough. but he did not obey it, solely
because he could not His non-appear-
ancc had caused great alarm. and the
evening dcvotions were postponed in or
der that the household might search for
the lost and beloved son He was at length
found in situation extremely nautical,
but agreeable only TO himself He had
embarked in the large washing tub his
youthful proiegec, and taking long
pole, he had contrived by its means to
place his circular ship. with himself and
passenger. in the very centre of the large
and deep water. We know very well
upon the best authority. which is that OF
the nursery. that when seven wise men
went to sea in bowel they made very
foolish expedition of it we must not
therefore, greatly blanc young Smith
when we relate by some inadvertance
probably a slight attention 10 uie young
iady the companion of his danger, he
lost his pole Unfortunately. just as
his alarmed father arrived, it fell calm
and the only motion the tub had was
that unpleasant one of the pillory, 60
ing slowly round and round. There
stood the future hero of many fights
with his arms folded in a manner thai
= reminds one now of tho prints Of Ma
! poleon on the Islagd of St Helena.
Those on shore were totally at loss
! how safely to bring tue frail vessel will
its precious charge on. shore, for very
: little shifting or tottering would have
S overturned it. None of the spectator
could swim, aud night was drawing OF
: apace, when to add to the dismal mature
s Of the scene, William Sidney's compan
I ION began 10. wall most bitterly, In
: deed, the situation of the children be
= came critical if not dangerous. 1t fei
a however, to the lot of hin. who had ere
!. ated, TO unrival the difficulty. HavinI
d sufficiently enjoyed the glory of his sit
uation, (he was always little fond o
d disdlay ) he hailed those on shore, an
+ told them to fasteu the string Of hi
}. kite to a favorite dog that belonged
G him This icing donc, be called him to th
q tub, and thus conveyed n towing line o
4 board tine FIRST craft he had the honor (
If commanding When the tub va
n brought to the bank of the lake, so ME
If ly fitted was the cargo the tonnage
n tub, that the children were nearl
1. drowned because the one was attempts
S. 10 be taken out little before the othe
The father and one Of the servants
length snatched them both out STINT
taneously, and flung them on the gras
: Captain Smith was at first so much
= fected that he could not speak, No
a. father, we will go TO prayers, said q