and, after being paid off, to purchase a collection
of things which would be useful to the
farm, and come out again to join Glass. They
went home, and were paid off; and I have no
doubt fully intended laying out their money
in the laudable way they had planned at
Tristan d’Acunha; but, alas! the temptations
on shore were too strong for their resistance.
When all was gone, they determined to put
their resolutions into practice; and accordingly
these two men marched off to the Admiralty,
to consult “ The Lords’ on the
subject. When they arrived there, they requested
to be introduced; and as the Board
was then sitting, they were formally ushered
into their presence. They immediately informed
their Lordships that they had each
served upwards of twenty years in the navy,
and were entitled, by length of service, and
by their wounds, to a pension; that they
would willingly wave that right, and had
come to them to beg a passage to the island
of Tristan d’Acunha. Taylor used to describe
this interview with the Lords of the
Admiralty with a great deal of humour, and
the mirth they excited, and the numerous
questions put to them by Sir George Cock-
burn, who, to Taylor’s infinite delight, addressed
him by the title of shipmate; for he
had served under him some years befpre.
They told their Lordships all the particulars
of Glass’s establishment, the wish they had to
retire from the world, and the comfortable
prospect that island offered them of independence
; and that at a time of peace, when it was
almost impossible for the most prudent and
industrious to gain their bread. So humble,
so just a request, was instantly granted; and
all the gentlemen composing the Board cordially
wished them success, and assured them
that the first man-of-war bound round the
Cape should land them, and all thpir worldly
goods, on this island. Accordingly, they were
put on board “ The Satellite,” bound to India.
Thus were they added to Glass’s company ;
and though a little addicted to the characteristic
growling of old sailors, they jog on pretty
smoothly, their quarrels seldom going further
than swearing a little at each other. He and
his partner built themselves a decent dwell-
x 4