Milford chronicle., 1883-11-30
A GOOD.NATURED PRINCE.
King WIIIIam lhe Foarlh IN HIs YoalL.

lAing Whlinm the Fourth In His Youth.
Prince William Henry-Duke of Clar
ence, afterward William IV.-was th,
third son of George Ill, and he wai
doubtless sent to sea by his royal father
in a spirit of spite. The Duke of Cum
berland, younger brother of George III,
had fixed his hopes upon the Office Of
Lord High Admiral of England; but OF
a certain occasion, when Admiral Ken.
pei was on trial, Cumberland behaved
in such a manner that the king was bit
terly incensed, and he declared, in his
own thought, that his brother should
never hold the highest Office in navy
one Of the grandest veterans of which
he had outraged. So he sent his son
William Henry-then in his tenth year
to become a midshipman in the navy,
bidding him that he should study hard
and strive to excel. "AIake of thyself a
complete sailor. my son, and thine uncle
of Cumberland shall yet look up to
thee !"
Very likely the boy prince donned his
sea-going garb in high glee and glowing
anticipations, but when he had become
rated as a midshipman on board fine
frigate, and found himself the youngest
MILDLY in his mess, he discovered in
very short time, that nobody cared any
thing about his title. He must rough
it with the rest, and look out for Mum
Der One. He had not been at sea a week
before he contrived to get into trouble.
He unfortunately put on big airs at mess,
and really insulted one of his mates.
This mate was another midshipman, only
a year older. but not whit larger than
the prince. He called the prince aside,
and gave him a sound drubbing. ex.
claiming, as his antagonist cried aloud
for mercy: "There 1 don't think
you'll wag your impudent tongue at me
any more !"
The prince blubbered, and said he
would tell his father. ''I'll tell my
father, and you'll catch it Now, see if |
you don't I"
Said the mate in answer, "Let your
father come and act as unlike a gentle |
man as you did, and I'll serve him as 1 |
have served you'll just you remember
that p
This mates name was Dadmun. When |
Prince William, as Duke of Clarence,
had become Lord High Admiral, he
heard Of Dadmun as having just come
in from the West Indies on board a sloop-
of-war, with only the grade of past-mid-
shipman. He at once summoned his
old shipmate to come up to town and
call upon him. Dadmun came; and as
he entered, the Lord High Admiral's
presence he was stricken with a great
fear.
"Oh, your royal highness !" he ex-
claimed, putting out his hand, 81 hope
you haven't laid MP grudge against me !
I am very sorry for what I did"
soho! You are the man, then, who
gave me that drubbing ?"
"Yes, my lord But"
"Pshaw I" broke in the duke, with a
kindly smile and fervent hand-grasp.
you need be sorry no more, for I have
never been sorry since came to know
low much good it did me. 1t opened
ny eyes, dear friend, and gave me my
irst valuable lesson in the real life of a
nan-of-war." =
Dadmun took lunch with the duke.
nd returned to Portsmouth with a
ieutenants epaulette on his shoulder. =
A few years later Lieutenant Dadmun !
vas sent for to come to London again. a
his time by the king William Wand t
nee more the two messmates sat at
able together; and, when Plympton
)admun next went to sea, it was as post !
aptain, and in command Of fine ]
,igate. !,
Such things are worth telling and "
-orth preserving. They are as CLEANS p
CHEEKY, happifying light falling on the ?
ighway of life-always pleasant and
ealthful to look upon. =