Perfectly innocent!
Last night's innuendo laden quote, as nodbear correctly recognised, was Basil Hall writing of his examination for Lieutenant. Prior to his exam Mr Hall had been given a letter from a friendly Admiral with instructions to send it to the examining officers in advance.
"The letter being sealed, I knew not whether it were merely introductory, or if it contained any request in my favour. But as I thought I could get through my examination without extra favour or assistance from any one, I resolved to break the Admiral's orders, and keep the letter till all was over."
Hall did indeed get through his examination and passed with flying colours:
As soon as it was announced to me that I had passed, I produced my letter of introduction; upon which the gentleman to whom it was addressed exclaimed,-
" Hillo! young fellow, why did you not send this up to me, as you were desired, in the morning ? I have a great mind to turn you back for disobedience of orders! There, read it yourself."
The letter ran thus:-
" My dear_______ As the bearer of this, Mr. Hall,
who is to be examined to-morrow, will be accompanied by his father, Sir James Hall, who wishes, on account of business, to get away early, I shall be glad if you can take him soon, in order that he may be enabled to go at once. Yours, &c."
On my saying I had fancied it might contain some request to ease me off gently, he cried, " And so you fancy we old cocks job into one another's hands in that way, do you? However, never mind, we have passed you; and, for all your suspicions, we shall not reverse our decree."
There you go, all perfectly innocent and above board!
Those of you who have read Dean King's Every Man Will Do His Duty will remember Hall as the author of the tale of Shakings the midshipmen's unfortunate cur and also as the eyewitness to the land battle of Corunna. I was so charmed by Hall's writing that I tracked own a first edition of his midshipman's memoirs which I'll post some pics of at some stage.
In the meantime, for tonight's nautical nonsense, can anyone tell me who Horky Tercero is?
Hall, B., (1865), The Midshipman; being autobiographical sketches of hits own early career from fragments of voyages and travels by Captain Basil Hall, R.N., F.R.S, Bell and Daldy, London.
"The letter being sealed, I knew not whether it were merely introductory, or if it contained any request in my favour. But as I thought I could get through my examination without extra favour or assistance from any one, I resolved to break the Admiral's orders, and keep the letter till all was over."
Hall did indeed get through his examination and passed with flying colours:
As soon as it was announced to me that I had passed, I produced my letter of introduction; upon which the gentleman to whom it was addressed exclaimed,-
" Hillo! young fellow, why did you not send this up to me, as you were desired, in the morning ? I have a great mind to turn you back for disobedience of orders! There, read it yourself."
The letter ran thus:-
" My dear_______ As the bearer of this, Mr. Hall,
who is to be examined to-morrow, will be accompanied by his father, Sir James Hall, who wishes, on account of business, to get away early, I shall be glad if you can take him soon, in order that he may be enabled to go at once. Yours, &c."
On my saying I had fancied it might contain some request to ease me off gently, he cried, " And so you fancy we old cocks job into one another's hands in that way, do you? However, never mind, we have passed you; and, for all your suspicions, we shall not reverse our decree."
There you go, all perfectly innocent and above board!
Those of you who have read Dean King's Every Man Will Do His Duty will remember Hall as the author of the tale of Shakings the midshipmen's unfortunate cur and also as the eyewitness to the land battle of Corunna. I was so charmed by Hall's writing that I tracked own a first edition of his midshipman's memoirs which I'll post some pics of at some stage.
In the meantime, for tonight's nautical nonsense, can anyone tell me who Horky Tercero is?
Hall, B., (1865), The Midshipman; being autobiographical sketches of hits own early career from fragments of voyages and travels by Captain Basil Hall, R.N., F.R.S, Bell and Daldy, London.