Peter Simple

We had not been more than a week under the Danish island of St. Thomas, when we discovered a brig close in-shore. We made all sail in chase, and soon came within a mile and a ha...

CAPTAIN HORTON--GLOOMY NEWS FROM HOME--GET OVER HEAD AND EARS IN THE WATER, AND FIND MYSELF AFTERWARDS GROWING ONE WAY, AND MY CLOTHES ANOTHER--THOUGH NEITHER AS RICH AS A JEW,...

As the admiral was not one who would permit the ships under his command to lie idle in port, in a very few days after the dignity hall which I have described, all the squadron s...

A few days afterwards, a cutter joined us from Plymouth with orders for the frigate to proceed forthwith to Gibraltar, where we should learn our destination. We were all very gl...

The next morning at daylight we exchanged numbers, and saluted the flag, and by eight o'clock they all anchored. Mr Falcon went on board the admiral's ship with despatches, and...

We waited three days, at the expiration of which, we heard that Captain To was about to exchange with Captain Savage. We could not believe such good news to be true, and we coul...

The shock was too great--I fell back on my pillow insensible. How long I lay, I know not, but when I recovered, the keeper was gone, and I found a jug of water and some bread by...

IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD NEWS--I SUCCEED IN EVERYTHING, AND TO EVERYTHING, MY WIFE, MY TITLE, AND ESTATE--AND "ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL."

Before I proceed with my narrative, I wish to explain to the reader that my history was not written in after-life, when I had obtained a greater knowledge of the world. When I f...

As I have already mentioned sufficient of the captain and the first lieutenant to enable the reader to gain an insight into their characters, I shall now mention two very odd pe...

I GO ON SERVICE, AND AM MADE PRISONER BY AN OLD LADY, WHO, NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN MY HAND, TAKES PART OF MY FINGER AS A TOKEN--O'BRIEN RESCUES ME-- A LEE SHORE AND NARROW ESCAPE.

The ensuing morning we looked out anxiously for the promised assistance, for we were not very rich in provisions, although what we had were of a very good quality. It was not un...

WE ENCOUNTER A DUTCH BRIG OF WAR--CAPTAIN HAWKINS VERY CONTEMPLATIVE NEAR THE CAPSTAN--HARD KNOCKS, AND NO THANKS FOR IT--WHO'S AFRAID?--MEN WILL TALK--THE BRIG GOES ABOUT ON TH...

PETER TURNED OUT OF HIS COMMAND BY HIS VESSEL TURNING BOTTOM UP--A CRUISE ON A MAIN-BOOM, WITH SHARKS "EN ATTENDANT"--SELF AND CREW, WITH SEVERAL FLYING FISH, TAKEN ON BOARD A N...

POMPOUS OBSEQUIES--THE READING OF THE WILL, NOT EXACTLY AFTER WILKIE--I AM LEFT A LEGACY--WHAT BECOMES OF IT--MY FATHER, VERY WARM, WRITES A SERMON TO COOL HIMSELF--I JOIN O'BRI...

THE FIRST LIEUTENANT PRESCRIBES FOR ONE OF HIS PATIENTS, HIS PRESCRIPTIONS CONSISTING OF "DRAUGHTS" ONLY--O'BRIEN FINISHES THE HISTORY OF HIS LIFE, IN WHICH THE PROVERB OF "THE...

I immediately took leave of my family, and set off for Portsmouth, and in two days arrived at the Fountain Inn, where O'Brien was waiting to receive me. "Peter, my boy, I feel s...

The next morning, having hove-to part of the night, land was discovered on the bow, and was reported by the mast-head man at the same moment that the surgeon came up and announc...

A few days afterwards I left my card with my address with the First Lord, and the next day received a letter from his secretary, which, to my delight, informed me that my commis...

The next day the captain came on board with sealed orders, with directions not to open them until off Ushant. In the afternoon, we weighed and made sail. It was a fine northerly...

The second night after this, we had the middle watch, and I claimed Swinburne's promise that he would spin his yarn, relative to the battle of St. Vincent. "Well, Mr Simple, so...

The captain, as was his custom, went on shore, and took up his quarters at a friend's house; that is to say, the house of an acquaintance, or any polite gentleman who would ask...

During our stay at Yarmouth, we were not allowed to put our foot on shore, upon the plea that we must repair damages, and proceed immediately to our station; but the real fact w...

I followed the general into a handsomely-furnished apartment, where I found Celeste waiting to receive me. She ran to me as soon as I entered; and with what pleasure did I take...

PETER LOOKS UPON HIS LOSS AS SOMETHING GAINED--GOES ON BOARD THE "Rattlesnake" TO PACK UP, AND IS ORDERED TO PACK OFF--POLITE LEAVE-TAKING BETWEEN RELATIONS--MRS. TROTTER BETTER...

It was not until noon that I awoke, when I found that O'Brien had covered me more than a foot deep with leaves, to protect me from the weather. I felt quite warm and comfortable...

If I doubted the practicability of escape when I examined the exterior, when we were ushered into the interior of the fortress, I felt that it was impossible, and I stated my op...

And now I have to relate an event, which, young as I was at the time, will be found to have seriously affected me in after-life. How little do we know what to-morrow may bring f...

As soon as we were on the deck of the cutter, the lieutenant commanding her inquired of us in a consequential manner who we were. O'Brien replied that we were English prisoners...

As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I sent for a Plymouth paper, and cut out the paragraph which had been of such importance to me in my emergency, and the next morning returned...

O'BRIEN FIGHTS A DUEL WITH A FRENCH OFFICER, AND PROVES THAT THE GREAT ART OF FENCING IS KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT IT--WE ARRIVE AT OUR NEW QUARTERS, WHICH WE FIND VERY SECURE.

GOOD SENSE IN SWINBURNE--NO MAN A HERO TO HIS "VALET DE CHAMBRE," OR A PROPHET IN HIS OWN COUNTRY--O'BRIEN TAKES A STEP BY STRATEGY--O'BRIEN PARTS WITH HIS FRIEND, AND PETER'S S...

MONEY CAN PURCHASE ANYTHING IN THE NEW COUNTRY--AMERICAN INFORMATION NOT ALWAYS TO BE DEPENDED UPON--A NIGHT ATTACK; WE ARE BEATEN OFF--IT PROVES A "CUT UP," INSTEAD OF A "CUT O...

Now that I have been on board about a month, I find that my life is not disagreeable. I don't smell the pitch and tar, and I can get into my hammock without tumbling out on the...

The next day I was very unhappy. The brig was in the offing waiting for me to come on board. I pointed her out to Celeste as we were at the window, and her eyes met mine. An hou...

We were all delighted when our signal was hoisted to "part company," as we anticipated plenty of prize-money under such an enterprising captain. We steered for the French coast,...

We continued our cruise for a fortnight, and then made sail for Jamaica, where we found the admiral at anchor at Port Royal: but our signal was made to keep under weigh, and Cap...

WE POST UP TO PORTSDOWN FAIR--CONSEQUENCE OF DISTURBING A LADY AT SUPPER--SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION AT RANELAGH GARDENS--PASTRY versus PIETY--MANY ARE BID TO THE FEAST; BUT NOT THE...

I do not remember any circumstance in my life which, at that time, lay so heavily on my mind, as the loss of poor Mr Chucks, the boatswain, whom, of course, I took it for grante...

O'BRIEN TELLS HIS CREW THAT ONE ENGLISHMAN IS AS GOOD AS THREE FRENCHMEN ON SALT WATER--THEY PROVE IT--WE FALL IN WITH AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE, ALTHOUGH SHE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED...

NEWS FROM HOME NOT VERY AGREEABLE, ALTHOUGH THE READER MAY LAUGH--WE ARRIVE AT PORTSMOUTH, WHERE I FALL IN WITH MY OLD ACQUAINTANCE, MRS. TROTTER--WE SAIL WITH A CONVOY FOR THE...

In three weeks we were again ready for sea, and the admiral ordered us to our old station off Martinique. We had cruised about a fortnight off St. Pierre's, and, as I walked the...

We were very glad when the master attendant came on board to take us into the Sound; and still more glad to perceive that the brig, which had just been launched before O'Brien w...

The next day I commenced my defence: I preferred calling my own witnesses first, and, by the advice of my counsel, and at the request of Swinburne, I called him. I put the follo...

THE DEVASTATIONS OF THE HURRICANE--PETER MAKES FRIENDS--AT DESTROYING OR SAVING, NOTHING LIKE BRITISH SEAMEN--PETER MEETS WITH GENERAL O'BRIEN MUCH TO HIS SATISFACTION--HAS ANOT...

DESCRIPTION OF THE COAST OF MARTINIQUE--POPPED AT FOR PEEPING--NO HEROISM IN MAKING ONESELF A TARGET--BOARD A MINIATURE NOAH'S ARK, UNDER YANKEE COLOURS--CAPTURE A FRENCH SLAVER...

When I arrived at Portsmouth, I reported myself to the captain, who lived at the hotel. I was ushered into his room to wait for him, as he was dressing to dine with the admiral....

A PRESS-GANG BEATEN OFF BY ONE WOMAN--DANGERS AT "SPITHEAD" AND "POINT"--A TREAT FOR BOTH PARTIES, OF "PULLED CHICKEN," AT MY EXPENSE-- ALSO GIN FOR TWENTY--I AM MADE A PRISONER...

"Yes, you have," replied I, "and I thank Heaven that you have, for no one could stand such fatigue as you have much longer; and if you fall ill, what will become of me?" This wa...

We repeated it, and the captain descended to his cabin. We were then running about four miles an hour, the water very smooth, and Anholt lighthouse hardly visible on deck, beari...

I awoke the next morning at daylight with a noise over my head which sounded like thunder; I found it proceeded from holy-stoning and washing down the main-deck. I was very much...

No other event of consequence occurred until we joined the admiral, who only detained us three hours with the fleet, and then sent us home with his despatches. We arrived, after...

THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF BEING THE FOOL OF THE FAMILY--MY DESTINY IS DECIDED, AND I AM CONSIGNED TO A STOCKBROKER AS PART OF HIS MAJESTY'S SEA-STOCK--UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME MR. HAND...

I AM PLEASED WITH MY NEW CAPTAIN--OBTAIN LEAVE TO GO HOME--FIND MY FATHER AFFLICTED WITH A VERY STRANGE DISEASE, AND PROVE MYSELF A VERY GOOD DOCTOR, ALTHOUGH THE DISORDER ALWAY...

On our arrival on board, the coxswain gave a note from the captain to the first lieutenant, who happened to be on deck. He read the note, looked at me earnestly, and then I over...

An hour before day-break we started; the snow was thick on the ground, but the sky was clear, and without any difficulty or interruption was passed through the towns of Axel and...

SOME REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES TAKE PLACE IN THE LETTER OF MARQUE--OLD FRIENDS WITH IMPROVED FACES--THE CAPTOR A CAPTIVE; BUT NOT CARRIED AWAY, THOUGH THE CAPTIVE IS, BY THE SHIP'S...

O'BRIEN TAKES ME UNDER HIS PROTECTION--THE SHIP'S COMPANY ARE PAID, SO ARE THE BUMBOAT-WOMEN, THE JEWS, AND THE EMANCIPATIONIST AFTER A FASHION--WE GO TO SEA--"DOCTOR" O'BRIEN'S...

`SCANDALUM MAGNATUM' CLEARLY PROVED--I PROVE TO THE CAPTAIN THAT I CONSIDER HIM A GENTLEMAN, ALTHOUGH I HAD TOLD HIM THE CONTRARY, AND I PROVE TO THE MIDSHIPMEN THAT I AM A GENT...

As soon as I was well enough to attend to my little nurse, we became very intimate, as might be expected. In five weeks I was out of bed, and could limp about the room; and befo...

I AM TAUGHT ON A COLD MORNING, BEFORE BREAKFAST, HOW TO STAND FIRE, AND THUS PROVE MY COURAGE--AFTER BREAKFAST I ALSO PROVE MY GALLANTRY--MY PROOF MEETS REPROOF--WOMEN AT THE BO...

I AM MADE TO LOOK VERY BLUE AT THE BLUE POSTS--FIND WILD SPIRITS AROUND, AND, SOON AFTER, HOT SPIRITS WITHIN ME; AT LENGTH MY SPIRITS OVERCOME ME--CALL TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO THE...

AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW CASE--HEART OF OAK IN SWEDISH FIR--A MAN'S A MAN, ALL THE WORLD OVER, AND SOMETHING MORE IN MANY PARTS OF IT--PETER GETS REPRIMANDED FOR BEING DILATORY, B...

FITTING OUT ON THE SHORTEST NOTICE--FORTUNATELY FOR ME THIS DAY MR. HANDYCOCK IS NOT A BEAR, AND I FARE VERY WELL--I SET OFF FOR PORTSMOUTH--BEHIND THE COACH I MEET A MAN BEFORE...

THE DEAD MAN ATTENDS AT THE AUCTION OF HIS OWN EFFECTS, AND BIDS THE SALE TO STOP--ONE MORE THAN WAS WANTED--PETER STEPS INTO HIS OWN SHOES AGAIN--CAPTAIN HAWKINS TAKES A FRIEND...