And yet the only difference between the right of these very Plantagenets to the throne, and that of the reigning prince, is, that one produced a revolution by the strong hand, and the other was produced by a revolution that came from the nation. I do not know that your Plantagenets ever did any thing for a navy; the only real source of Englands power and glory. D e, Dick, if I think so much of your Plantagenets, after all!
And yet the name of Oakes is to be met with among their bravest knights, and most faithful followers.
The Oakes, like the pines, have been timbers in every ship that has floated, returned the vice-admiral, half-unconscious himself, of the pun he was making.
For more than a minute Sir Gervaise continued his walk, his head a little inclined forward, like a man who pondered deeply on some matter of interest. Then, suddenly stopping, he turned towards his friend, whom he regarded for near another minute, ere he resumed the discourse.
I wish I could fairly get you to exercise your excellent reason on this matter, Dick, he said, after the pause; then I should be certain of having secured you on the side of liberty.
Admiral Bluewater merely shook his head, but he continued silent, as if he deemed discussion altogether supererogatory. During this pause, a gentle tap at the door announced a visiter; and, at the request to enter, Atwood made his appearance. He held in his hand a large package, which bore on the envelope the usual stamp that indicated it was sent on public service.
I beg pardon, Sir Gervaise, commenced the secretary, who always proceeded at once to business, when business was to be done; but His Majestys service will not admit of delay. This packet has just come to hand, by the arrival of an express, which left the admiralty only yesterday noon.
And how the devil did he know where to find me! exclaimed the vice-admiral, holding out a hand to receive the communication.
It is all owing to this young lieutenants forethought in following up the Jacobite intelligence to a market-town. The courier was bound to Falmouth, as fast as post-horses could carry him, when he heard, luckily, that the fleet lay at anchor, under Wychecombe Head; and, quite as luckily, he is an officer who had the intelligence to know that you would sooner get the despatches, if he turned aside, and came hither by land, than if he went on to Falmouth, got aboard the sloop that was to sail with him, for the Bay of Biscay, and came round here by water.
Sir Gervaise smiled at this sally, which was one in keeping with all Atwoods feelings; for the secretary had matured a system of expresses, which, to his great mortification, his patron laughed at, and the admiralty entirely overlooked. No time was lost, however, in the way of business; the secretary having placed the candles on a table, where Sir Gervaise took a chair, and had already broken a seal. The process of reading, nevertheless, was suddenly interrupted by the vice-admirals looking up, and exclaiming
Why, you are not about to leave us, Bluewater?
You may have private business with Mr. Atwood, Sir Gervaise, and perhaps I had better retire.
Now, it so happened that while Sir Gervaise Oakes had never, by look or syllable, as he confidently believed, betrayed the secret of his friends Jacobite propensities, Atwood was perfectly aware of their existence. Nor had the latter obtained his knowledge by any unworthy means. He had been neither an eavesdropper, nor an inquirer into private communications, as so often happens around the persons of men in high trusts; all his knowledge having been obtained through native sagacity and unavoidable opportunities. On the present occasion, the secretary, with the tact of a man of experience, felt that his presence might be dispensed with; and he cut short the discussion between the two admirals, by a very timely remark of his own.
I have left the letters uncopied, Sir Gervaise, he said, and will go and finish them. A message by Locker this was Sir Gervaises body-servant will bring me back at a moments notice, should you need me again to-night.
That Atwood has a surprising instinct, for a Scotchman! exclaimed the vice-admiral, as soon as the door was closed on the secretary. He not only knows when he is wanted, but when he is not wanted. The last is an extraordinary attainment, for one of his nation.
And one that an Englishman may do well to emulate, returned Bluewater. It is possible my company may be dispensed with, also, just at this important moment.
You are not so much afraid of the Hanoverians, Dick, as to run away from their hand-writing, are ye? Ha whats this? As I live, a packet for yourself, and directed to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bluewater, K.B. By the Lord, my old boy, theyve given you the red riband at last! This is an honour well earned, and which may be fitly worn.
Tis rather unexpected, I must own. The letter, however, cannot be addressed to me, as I am not a Knight of the Bath.
This is rank nonsense. Open the packet, at once, or I will do it for you. Are there two Dick Bluewaters in the world, or another rear-admiral of the same name?
I would rather not receive a letter that does not strictly bear my address, returned the other, coldly.
As Ill be sworn this does. But hand it to me, since you are so scrupulous, and I will do that small service for you.
As this was said, Sir Gervaise tore aside the seals; and, as he proceeded rather summarily, a red riband was soon uncased and fell upon the carpet. The other usual insignia of the Bath made their appearance, and a letter was found among them, to explain the meaning of all. Every thing was in due form, and went to acquaint Rear-Admiral Bluewater, that His Majesty had been graciously pleased to confer on him one of the vacant red ribands of the day, as a reward for his eminent services on different occasions. There was even a short communication from the premier, expressing the great satisfaction of the ministry in thus being able to second the royal pleasure with hearty good will.
Well, what do you think of that, Richard Bluewater? asked Sir Gervaise, triumphantly. Did I not always tell you, that sooner or later, it must come?
It has come too late, then, coldly returned the other, laying the riband, jewels, and letters, quietly on the table. This is an honour, I can receive, now, only from my rightful prince. None other can legally create a knight of the Bath.
And pray, Mr. Richard Bluewater, who made you a captain, a commander, a rear-admiral? Do you believe me an impostor, because I wear this riband on authority no better than that of the house of Hanover? Am I, or am I not, in your judgment, a vice-admiral of the red?
I make a great distinction, Oakes, between rank in the navy, and a mere personal dignity. In the one case, you serve your country, and give quite as much as you receive; whereas, in the other, it is a grace to confer consideration on the person honoured, without such an equivalent as can find an apology for accepting a rank illegally conferred.
The devil take your distinctions, which would unsettle every thing, and render the service a Babel. If I am a vice-admiral of the red, I am a knight of the Bath; and, if you are a rear-admiral of the white, you are also a knight of that honourable order. All comes from the same source of authority, and the same fountain of honour.
I do not view it thus. Our commissions are from the admiralty, which represents the country; but dignities come from the prince who happens to reign, let his title be what it may.