Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-03-13
A Good Natured Prince.
King William the Fourth in
His Youth.

his Outn.
Prince William Ilenry-Duke oi
Clarence, afterward William IN.-was
the third son Of George Ill, and ht
was doubtless sent to sea by his rOya1
father in Il spirit Of spite. The Duke
Of Cumberland, younger brother of
George III, had fixed his hopes upon
the Office of Lord High Admiral OF
England; Dut on a certain occasion.
when Admiral Keppel was on trial
Cumberland behaved in such a manner
that the king was bitterly incensed ,and
he declared, in his own thought, that
his brother shauld never hold the high
est office in navy one of the grandest
veterans of which lie had outraged. So
he sent his son William Henry-then
in his tenth year-to become Il mdship
man IN the navy, bidding him that he
should study hard and strive to excel.
MAKE of thyself Il complete sailor, m"
son, and thine uncle OF Cumber land
shall yet look up to thee!"
Very likely the boy-prince donned
his sea-going garb in high glee and
glowing aDticipatiOnS, but when he
had become rated rs midshIpman on
board fine frigate, and found himself
the youngest MILDLY in his mess, he dis
covered in a very short time, that no.
body cared anything about his title.
He must rough it with the rest, and
look out for Ntmber One. lie had not
been at sea a week before he contrived to
get into trouble. He unfortunately pnt
on airs at mess, aud really insulted one
of his mates. This mate was another
midshipman, only year older, but not
a whit larger than the prince. He call
ed the prince aside, and gave him a
sound drubbing, eXclaiming, as his an
tagonist cried aloud for mercy: There!
l doa't think you'll wag your impudent
tongue 1T me any more."
The prince blubbered, and said he
would tell his father. "I'll tell my
father, and yonll catch it! Now, see if
YOU don't :"
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 |
have seryed you! Just you remember
that"
This mates name was Dadmun.
When Prince William, as Duke Of Clar-
ence had become Lord High Admiral ,
he heard of Dadmun as having just
come in from the West Indies OH board
a sloop-of-war, with only the grade of
past mi iShipmln. He at once summon
ed his old shipmate to come up to tOwn
and call upon him. Dadmun came;
and as he entered the Lord High An
miral's presence, he was stricken with
a great fear.
"Oh, your royal highness!" he eX-
claimed, putting out his hand, ~ hope
you havn't laid up grudge against me.
am very sorry for what did"
"Oho! You are the man, then, who
gave me that drubbing?"
Eyes, my lord. but"
"Pshaw!' broke in the duke, with a
kindly smile and fervent hand-grasp,
"You need be sorry no more, for | have
never been sorry since came to know
how much good it did me. 1t opened
my eyes, dear friend, and gave me my
first valuable lesson in the real life Of Il
man-ot-war."
Dadmun took lunch with the duke,
and returned to Portsmouth with a
lieutenant's epaulette on his shoulder.
a few years later Lieutenant Dad
nun was sent for TO come to London
again this time by the king-William
IV.-and once more the two meSsmates
sat at the table together; and, when
PlYmton Dadmun next went to sea,
it was post captain, and in command
of fine frigate.
Such things are worth telling and
worth preserving. They are as CLEANS
of cherry, happifying light falling on
the highway Of life-always pleasant
and healthful to look upon.