The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-21

HE weather Tor the past few days had bee
hot and sultry, CAUSING; audEr1
Uncers and men almost un.
epdurable. The occasional puts OF VINO
which came in hot breaths over the languld
ocean almost suffocated US, and nothing
could be done save to try and keep cool.
~JDuring the latter part Of the second dog
sEatcbn from 6 to Z. Nj. }, as the men were
7azily loungng aboutthe decks, and every
thing was quiet save the gentle ripple OF
the waves as they broke against the Prov
of the ship, suddenly there came loud
hail from over the bow, of "Shlp,
ahoy!" So unexpected was this cry
in the stiffness of the twilight that many
thought we were on the point OF COLL
ding with some vessel In the darkness
The officer Of the deck quickly answered the
hail, when the same voice replied, "HeaVe
fol I wish to come on board" "Aye,
aye!" said the officer, and soon the braces,
cleW.garnets, and buntlines were manned,
the mainsail was hauled up, the mizzen top
nall brsced aback, and the ship, coming up
10 the wind, laid motionless on the smooth
waters, AS many were conjectnring what
could be the cause of this sudden maneuyre,
the Sea King Neptune, accompanied by bis
oldest son "Gramrus," appeared over the
bow and stalked boldly aft through the
crowd of bewi|dered seamen. who readily
made way for his passage. He was met at
the mainmast by the officer of the deck, def
-erentially saluted, and welcomed on board.
Sc Where" said the monarch, IN tone OF Sc
we're dignity, "is the high official of this
ship? 1t is not compatible with our royai
prerogatiye to be received by subordinate.
Let the captain be summoned; with no other
can the courtesies belonging to my official
reception be interchaDged." Your royal
behests shall be obeyed," said the othcer.
bowing low, "and if your Majesty will walk
aft to the quarterback the captain himself
will receive you." So saying, the lieutenant
Ted the way aft to where the captain was
standipg on the poop-deck, surrounded by
xnapy Of the officers. After the usual inter-
change of courtesies had been extended his
Majesty informed the captain that, anticl-
pating his arrival, he had come on
board to inform him that the ship must
be prepared to receive himself and court on
board Tomorrow at P. NJ. on official bus-
ness" The Captain replied that he would
be most happy TO receive his Majesty, that
there were many youngsters on board who
yet had the hay-seed clinging to them, and
he doubted not his Majesty would reap o
rich reward. 81 hope your Majesty's health
has been good since last had the pleasure
of seeing you. How is Jour noble spouse,
Amphitrite? Why did she not honor us
with VISIT" SLOWS Amphitrite? Why,
she is pretty well. She is nursing her babe
down yonder-a sucking hurricane. May
you never feel its fnllgrown force"
After extending the usual civilities to the
other officers, many of whom he had me,
before, the Sea King disappeared as mysterl.
pusly as he had come. As the ship " hllee
away" bright beacon, which lighted uI
xhe waters for many yards around, drifteG
slowly aseern. 1t was the illuminated barg'
OF the Sea King, which soon disappeared II
the recedipg distance.
Nothing was now talked OF but the antics
----pated visit of bis Majesty, and the KNOWING
,Winks of the old ones indicated that liner
was fun ahead, whilst those who had neVe
crossed the cline were busliy conJeeturln
:, their fate on the morrow.
The next morning, after the regular ror
Rlne Of duties of the ship had been perform
ed. an attentive observer might have notice
rather unusual proceedings going on fol
ward Of the mainmast. A large tarpaulr
completely waterproof, was spread on tn
i mort side of the spaR-deck between the for
and mainmast, and being triced up ut til
sides formed an immense basin, which beipj
filled with water resembled miniature lake
This pool was made for the convenience an.
comfort of the Sea King and his attendants
as it was known that they could not renal
long out of their native element. In fron
! of this pool and somewhat elevated from tn
deck was an immense armchair made
coral rock that had, perhaps for centuries
been the foundation Of some mighty islam
long ago swallowed up In the depths
the sea. The chair was softly cushioned an
deliberately decorated with Gulf weed an
Yariegated fern only known to the denizeu
OF old OCEAN. Near by stood small tab
which, from its antique workmanship, mus
have formerly belonged to the flagship Of oil
Jason, and which was probably lost over
board during that old admiraPs wild cruis
In search OF the Golden Fleece. On th
table rested the implements used by the Sc
Kings barber, his Majesty's principal a
tendant during these official visits. To leay
this worthy behind would resemble the pia
OF Hamlet without the Prince Of Denmark
These instruments were Of curious and GU,
ming workmanship. The razors we're tire
feet 10 length, and were made from the 70
midable snout Of the sword. fish, TT
1haying-brush was composed Of lare
bunch Of sea bristles set in = gigant
whales tooth, embossed with coral an
pearls. The shell of q large sea turtl
whose back had bleached for years
abe rays Of tropical sun, contained Il
ather, the component parts Of which Her
only known 10 Neptune's prime physician
SSome OF this mixture was inadvertently lei
~ on deck after the departure Of the court, ant
upon an analysis found it to consist Of
vilialnous compound OF -four, slush, lnseel
oil, and molasses.) / will state here, that
with the exception Of the last item, / wa!
Indebted for the above n,inntia 10 the "Ma
rine Reporter" Of the Gulf Stream Caroni
Gle, who always attends the Sea King on his
official visits. and whose politcness and ur,
banity were characteristic Of those attached
50 the noble Fourth estate.
These arrangements having been all made,
and The hour Of p. N. being near at hand,
: the same hoarSe voice which had hailed the
ship the night before sounded under the lee
bow, and soon q singular aud grotesque.