Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-23

rom Lonuon. IL dean win tho co,Iru |
martial and was accompanied by a news. |
paper containing report Of tho proceed |
lnBs. the annts had been In desperate
nutter ut the tdon Of their nephew being
tried and would not be comfortod at Sir
Beyils repeated explanations that 1t WINS
mere iorriality. lie, Of course had no
apprehension as to the result He expect
Ell praise rathur than blame, but he WAS
hardly prepared for what awaited his son.
Tho fact was that the French prlvateers
in the channel wore becoming scandal
to the service Slipping over from Calais
or st. Malo in che night the adventurous
spirits who manned them, having every
thing TO gain and little to lose, were able
to play havoc In the English anchoragos
To their reckless daring tho governments
had nothing TO oppose but the dregs OF the
navy men grown old in the service, who
without ability or interest 10 win thom
better employ, were condemned TO what
they regarded as n miserable police service
where there was no hope of promotion or
prize money TO stir their energy. Their In
ertness and Incompetence woro beginning
to arouse sharp complaints against tho
government and the government was very
nervous just then on such matters.
Curtis smart action with the two pri-
vateers, with whom he bad fallen In while
proceeding to Join his squadron, was pleas
ant news. True ho had not captured them,
but he had fought the two OF them all tho
way TO Brest and when at lust the frlgate
had put out to the rescue they We're no
better than wrecks, with little chance of
getting rohttod for many a day. Hecertain-
ly had boon rash in pushing the chase
crippled us hu himself was by the long
flght--into the very Jaws Of the great ma
val port, but rashness was Just the last
thing In the world he was likely 10 be
blamed for.
There had been skulking on the glorious
LIST Of June. Every one who knew any
thing knew that II was openly avowud
In naval circles that a seasoning of rash
| ness would have done no harm in several
quarters thnt could ba mentioned. People
whispered that three or fOur Of Lord
Howe's captains deserved court martial
and would have had 1t, too, II the govern
ment had not been afraid Of inarring the
| brlliance OF the victory in the reflected
| glory of which they were 0nskinp.
"1his, sir, " wroto Curtis Il found-so
soon Us ] came TO Pnrtsmouth--was the
common gossip Of tho wardrooms, and you
may be sure wasn't long in having it all
at my nuRer ends. was therefore TO some
extent prepared for an indulgent recep-
ton from the court What did surprise
me was tho familiarity II displayed with
the details Of tho action since j myself
was the only eyewitness present. The mys-
terry was cleared mp by the appearance OF
our friend, the American colonel, at tho
call OF the prosecution, and that was as
great o surprise MS tho other. He was still
In his French uniform when he appeared,
l could see, too, he was In his most elo-
waited mood and bont upon making per
sonal impression on the court. The result
was "a grnndiloquent outpour Of rhetoric,
In which he painted the whole affair will
a depth OF colorina that made me fee
downright foolish. One or two of tho cap
tains began 10 fdget before he was hall
through, but the president seemed to have
no mind to stop him ur oven to tone him
down SO tho colonel bore on large In al
his glory, grander and grandor, till ut last
he brought up in triumph with the perora
ton plunginR ont of him for all tint
world like a line OF battle ship dropping
anchor.
NDo you accept that account says th'
president, with bit of n grin
a. Ills not So sir, says l. that shoult
have given it, For could see they wer'
fit to die OF laughing at the way had ha'
my trumpet blown.
81 bclioyo you, says the president
but think 1t will serve
And, egad, sir, he was right, Ihe yer!
first morning ! awoko with the din OF TN
city In my oars--for they bustlod me Oh
10 Iondon almost before / could get m.
sword In Its sheath again, let alone WRIT
IN you-the papers were fun OF 10, AM
mona Of tho Americans coloring left out
Every one in tho Inn seems ready to ncl
NV shoes. The walters will hardly speal
To their ordinary acquaintance and tn
boots, they say has got quite position
because he found a stain ON one OF my up
pers, which he vows Ia blood
Tho next letter was an occasion OF grea
reio,oinp at Gitlandn. II contained an nc
oouut OF his reception MT the admiralty
which had proved as pleasant as the Inn
II seems hs had boon regaied there VIII
oxnressIons OF extraordinary civility Una
md concluded with an intlmation OF tn
, kings intention to recognize ms terNieu
with tho rank Of master and commander
$50 hare 1 am, he wrote I'm fuli pos
.ossion Of the rank with which tire goo
tolt in Sussex have brovetted me eve
sInce I got my cutter. You may guess m
delight, and that was not all either i"
,roat Gentleman who roceiYeu me hpVhV
sno,Jy employment and was pleased 70 as
. what would like. told HIM ussire
, notbina so much as TO serve the KIN
: again at the frst possible moment an
. Nth the greatest number of guns his ma
esty would trust me with, whsreat u
grcat man smiled communication ana pe'
I sed my company to dinner. .
: "And by the bye, tine letter continued
q "there is a curious request from me we
y donortment that don't quito understand
u If ss,ns | am TO 10 kept at hand 10
days. you appear to be more hnpof'''
Il rorson than you think just now, Sap.a "a,
), Curtis snys the great man as w,
no".Iblo. sir. says l. Just So says NJ
laughing again. and / an, airai ,C. 70" ~,
haya 20 stand on aud on bit inc gei
Y tIeman seems fond Of dressing MS S9 W',
y, sa'Ion 10 Tho part he hos TO play. you on,
q Gnd II dull, i doubt, says no. 'a.te ,, 70, ,
!, raccnt ndynntures, aud you won.e o"'
"a sor = cruise to Windsor to SEQ the XIII ,s
should be glad OF your company 'h''"'
I, tomorrow .oco,,nt
,, So. In due course, came an hooo 'i,',
"a .,r ,bo 'front.' man had carried MN
I'd wv T who're, MS the custom was, :,
or ,,.as In ken to the terrace nj tho hour VI "