Year: 1874

A SCRAP OF HISTORY.


fEfAhF $780,


Eciirscs, comets, and extraordinarily
high tides can be predicted with ac-
curacy; there even seems to be prob
ability that in time the weather will also
strike It's flag TO science, and that means
will be found Of disentangling the con-
hicting influences which sends an
aneroid up and down. But in the art of
foretelling the probable current of public
enthssiasfn there Is no sign Of progress.
The keenest observer of human nature can
no more guess whether the career Of any
particular suitor, warrior, explorer, or
criminal will simply appear in the news
papers and excite no more attention, or
will he generally taken up as matter of
national importance than the mercst
typo can. 1t was more than a million to
one that Robert Jeffrey's wrongs would
remain unnoticed, or raise but feeble
and passing interest. He became popu-
Jar idol, however-a representative vic
tim Of the press-gang system, and the
tyrannical customs which naturally grow
out ofit, and so a very curious story has
been handed down to us.


In 1907 privateer named the Lord
Nelson was fitted at Polperro in Corn
wall, aplace famous for il hardy race Of
smugglers, the entire population being
brought up to look upon coast guards
men Us natural enemies, who might be
killed with as good conscience as though
they were Frenchmen. The profits of
privateering were often greater even
than those of smuggling. and the Lord
Nelson had no difficulty in gathering to-
gether first-rate crew. Amongst them
was man who had been brought up as a
blacksmith, but had foand both excite
ment and profit in an occasional sea trip,
and indeed was as good at the tiller as at
the forge, perhaps a triie better.


The name Of this amphibious Cornish
man was Robert Jeffrey, and his career
as privateersman was short one for
the Lord Nelson, at the very commence
mcnt Of her cruise, was forced to put into
Falmouth, where she was boarded by a
press-gang. 1t was a perfectly illegal
proceeding; the press-gang had no more
right to take a man out Of the Lord Mel
son than ysu or | have to break into a
house and take the plate-basket. But at
the commencement of this century pri-
vate rights were very little respected
where the public service was concerned
unless the person whom it was proposed
to lnjure had plenty OF money or political
influence. Robert Jeffrey had neither,
and he was carried on ii. NJ. S. Recruit,
and converted into a man-ofwars man
quite against his will, and in defiance Of
his clear and undoubted protection.


The commander Of the Recruit was a
young officer at that time, well-known
in the navy as reckless, selfwilled,
passionate man, the foibles of whose ma
ture were forced and exaspe~ted by
despotic powers and drinking habits. As
II his normal Thirst was not enough, he
was now sent to cruise in the Caribbean


ea, where the heat of the sun whctted
IT 10 such an extent that he was seldom
or ever sober, the mildest potation that
he used To quench il being spruce beer, of
which he kepta cask always ON tap in
his private cabin.


Before he had been on board many
days Jefirey's proficiency as smith was
discovered, and he was made armorer's
mate. 30 that there was a fair chance of
of his making his enforced trip pretty
comfortably, and returning after few
months to his native place with pocket
full Of prize money after all. But an un-
fortunate group Of circumstances got in
the way. The captain was not the only
thirsty man in the ship; his armorer's 5
mate, for example, occasionally had a
drought upon him, which was consider
ably aggravated by the extremely hot
weather and the small allowance of water
served out daily, for the ship WAS run
ming short Of that treasure which we
never prize while we have 1t. During
this state of affairs Jeffrey was sent TO
execute some job in the captains cabin,
aud being left alone with the barrel OF
spruce beer, he began to ogle it, There
was drinking-cup, which had been used
lying very handy; the captain was on
deck no one could see him he was very
thirsty! He snatched up the cup, and
desisted from his work moment TO draw
of half pint and toss ii down. Very
good IL was, and very refreshing; II
stolen waters are sweet, what must pur-
loined spruce beer bes Presently another
drink was taken with equal success. A
third, however, was spoiled by the thick
and wrathful voice Of his captain, who
had come below unhesrd, unnoticed, in
time TO witness this outrageous act OF
daring presumption.


II would burn hole in the paper To
write down Captain Lakes remarks upon
the occasion. Seventy years ago all gen
tlemen swore little; naval officers swore
very musb increasing in yehemence AS
they rose n rank men in liquor swore,