Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-17


sketch, but is an apt sequence to our Ia
weeks paper, on the case of the Naval Asst
tant-Surgeons. This is the scene to whiC
the orders of the Admiralty persist in inductir
the members of learned profession.
1t was little after noon, when, having pc
formed the ceremony of reporting myself O
deck, descended to see my mess, and max
acquaintance with my new messmates. III
gun-room door was open and even II lands
man might have known from the noise this
there dwelt the ''mids.n Two deal tables, yer
old, very shaky, though originally built by me
who knew midshipmen we'll, and cut with de
vices that would puzzle an antiquary, wer
placed on either side. The space left cea
instruction of a famous fancy man, were mil
ling like mad Beer abounded in large jugs
admiring fighters sat round drinking the same
in the ports men of milder mood were solacin,
themselves with pipes and cigars. One o
two, fresh from quieter scenes, were perseve
ringly trying to read or write. Desks, books
the gifts Of tender mothers, perhaps, or o
fathers who hoped for clever sons, were piled
in the corners, together with boat-gear, sword.
sticks, heaps of other things past mentioning
From such beginning you may judge what
our life was to be. None liked it then more
than your humble servant and | actually I'M
derwent a course of lessons in boxing-which
seems to consist in standing up and paying n
man to lick you most completely; rather a
work of supererogation, as in our nightly
rambles at Portsmouth we found people who
did it as well for nothing.
| Such are the scenes by day. The following
pictures the sleeping accommodation.
the lieutenants, lucky fellows have their
own cabins, (cupboards seven feet long by
eight or nine wide,) with hole three inches
round, to admit light and air. This let's in a
CLEAN big enough to shave by, if properly
used. The mids sleep in two large low places
called the fore and after cock-pits, in large
pits, in large bags hung up at either end
Sounder however, is their sleep there than
that of many prince beneath a silken quilt
These hammocks are dashed up, and taken on
deck every morning at half-past six so there
is no compulson TO turn out, only you must.
Here, in action, is the surgeons PARADISE legs
and arms are taken off, men sowed together,
and men to cut to pieces. In such place as
this Lord Nelson and thousands of Others
have breathed their last All the mids wash
and dress in public and a noisy, skylarking
scene it is, till time has cooled the love of
practical jokes then it tires.
This sketch of the albatross, also from the
voyage out, is as picturesque as any we have
met with.
The albatross is more wary, aud affords bet
ter sport Its bill is very peculiar large and
fiat and terminating in formidable hooked |
point. It is a curious fact that his bones are |
quite hollow and empty; beautiful provision.
His enormous wings mark his vocation to be |
wandcrer of the trackess ocean, no part of !
which is too distant for his inspection be
where you will there, like n guardian, he is
with you. In the heaviest gales he seems per-
fectIy at home, swooping about, now up to
now going down on the very
now high above, without motion,
save turn of his head as he surveys youwith
his fixed impertnrable eye anon he walks up
N the very teeth of the blast, and disappears.
u seems odd, but really am half inclined to
hink they return to land every night; they al
ways flew that way at sunset, and even OH the
dearest nights never saw one. In the morn
ing, also, they always rejoin the ship short
,eriod after daylight, When you mark the
short time they take to reach You
rom the verge of the horizon, this seems more
probable than at the first mention of it. Well,
tut spite of his riding the tempest and not ca
ing for the blast, he has loved, not wisely but
90 well, small bit of pork so WE'LL in fact,
IS not to notice cookbook and line attached
o it. But repentance comes too late; but
With an attempt to better himself as the line is
gathered in, lie puts his huge web feet and
normous wings out; so the odds are even he
freaks away. Slack the line, however; sud
Ienly mans cunning overcomes brute strength,
md, falling head over heels, heis on board be-
ore he knows anything more about it. And
Iow freed from the hook see what poor fig
ire he cuts in the lee-scuppcrs not being
BILE to stand, the wind catches him under the
all and throws him nearly over: there he sits,
ike great BOBBY, swapping this way and that
n impotent rage "Fe sutor ultra crepidam.n
Ilbatrosses may be fine fellows in the air, but
hey have not good sea-legs.
The different places visited along the South
american coast, from Valparaiso to Monterey !
xhibit sketches equally smart and clever
nth those we have quoted. The account of !.
hill is Of fuller and more informing nature !,
'esides his sojourns at the port and the capt.
ll our author made excursions in various di- ,,
ectons, sometimes to pay visits, sometimes to !,
he smaller towns, and sometimes in search of !, .
port or the picturesque. The following is a
icture of country life among the Weather !
lillian landowners.
The courtyard was very large. On two !
des of it were the apartments Of the family.
he sitting-rooms alone had glass in the win
ows the other rooms had merely wooden lat
ces but the weather was so delightful, who 9
'ould have required more2 Huge trunks of i !
,ees hewn square, served for seats under the
eradah, the large roof, affording ample shade.
In the other two sides were granares and of !.
ces of all sorts; being farfrom any resources, !.
ach house must be complete in itself. All
ores are brought in wagons from the capital.
bout forty horses were picketed round, many
,ady saddled there were also yeloches, all !.
usty as If fresh from the road. Though il \
as but eight in the morning the young la Y
les were up and dressed, and looked as fresh y
nd handsome as fine country air, early hours, u
nd health could make them. had luckily a
erformed an elaborate toilette by the river SO r
felt quite fit to join them at once. Besides u
,e family which was large, there were seye- Z