THE SIGNAL-MAN OF TRAFALGAR.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 682, 27 October 1852, Page 4

THE SIGNAL-MAN OF TRAFALGAR.

[From Chamber's Jomn.ii.] [For the following little historical fact, which will be admitted to possess some interest, we are indebted to a medical officer of respectability now in Indi.i.] While residing in London, in 1846-7, the attention of my father — who had served as surgeon of the'lonnant at Trafalgar — was directed to an old and broken-down man who made a scanty livelihood by crying watercresses and red herrings through the street. It was this man's practice to resort to Covent Garden Market every morning in the season at or before sunrise, to purchase bis stock of cresses, and then for four weary uours bis cracked voice never ceased to Found through the foggy air, except when a suffocating fit of coughing obliged him to pause and cling to the area railings for support. He appeared to be a quick, sharp-witted old rann, and had a great reputation for sagacity among the lower class of neighbours. In the winter of 1846 his cough was so severe that we fpared his occupation was gone. I endeavoured to persuade him to take refuge at Guy's, but he would not hear of this, preferring, he said, to die at home. The next spring, however, brought him out again. It was then we discovered that he was an old sailor named John Roome, and that he bad served with Nelson at Trafalgar — in fact, that he was then a signal-man on board the " Victory." My father having formerly been acquainted with Captain Pa&co, who was signal-lieutenant of the Victory at Trafalgar, purposed to write to that excellent officer, requesting his interest in favour of Roome ; but death came upon my parent while fiis intention was still unfulfilled, and some months elapsed before I could again direct my attention to the affairs of John Roome. lat length took an opportunity of calling the man in, and then seating him before me, asked him, " Who was the signal-officer on board the Victory at Trafalgar V' He replied, '' Mr. Pasco, sir." " Did you serve under him V • " Yes." u Who then hoisted the signal, England expects every man to da las duty ?" " I did." I bad felt somewhat prepared for this answer; •till as it was uttered, I could scarcely refrain fiom a demonstration of reverence towards the old, embarrassed, squalid man who sat uneasily before m< j . Upon further inquiry, I found that he was sixty-eight years old, and had been a seaman from his youth. He was not more than three or four years altogether in th c ting's service ; but his intelligence and previously acquired knowledge, had doubtless qualified him for the rating ot A. B. soon after he entered the navy. After Trafalgar he deseited, and the R. (run) against his name had disqualified him for a pension. His life h«d been one of trial and privation ever since. I enquiied of him whether he would like a berth at Greenwich. lie replied in the affirmative, but did not appear to pay ra'jvh attention to the question. It ' doubtless seemed t j him useless to think about a matter so far beyond nis reach. I desired him, however, to bung me all his papers in a day or two, and promised to send copies of them, with an account of his present necessities, to Captain Pasco, then commanding his old flag-ship, the " Victory," at Portbmoutb. Roome assented to this.; but for some time I feared I should not succeed in obtaining another interview with him. One day be called five hours after his appointment: on another he did not come at all, saying afterwards that he had "ovei slept h'mself." Mi&ery and hard usage had evidently made him suspicious, and unused him to kindness; and certain indefinite terrors with regard to the R. against his name in the Admirality books it appeared to haunt him. At length, however, he was caught ; Ins papers — even than with the damnatory note of desertion scrawled across it — were copied out, and enclosed with a few lines to Captnin Pasco, giving an account of Roome's alleged service at Trafalgar, and requesting that the captain would exert his influence in procuring the man a refuge at Greenwich. As quickly as the post would allow I received a letter from Captain Pasco, thanking me for the interest I bad t^ken in the cause of ''his old ship-mate Roome," but "referring me to the enclosure a* evidence that his intercession bad been unsuccessful. The accompanying letter was from a high government official, to the eftect that John Roome could not be admitted to Greenwich, as tbeie were many other more deserving candidates still unprorided for. Roome was again summoned j and as this disheartening news was lead to him, tbe old man's lip quivered, his eyes filled with teais, and bis cbeek grew ashy white. 1 then knew how strongly the new hope had fixed itself in his mind. He could only stammer that he supposed it was no use troubling the gentlemen any more ; lie bnd the R. against his name, it was true, but that an act of indemnity for all deserters who might sunender ihemselves had been issued (I think in 1813); he and many others had surrendered accordingly, and he had hoped to be "whilewashed," as he termed it. The only course remaining appeared to be, to write to Capuiin Pasco, thanking him for his humane kindness, and mentioning that Roome had anticipated forgiveness under the government order in question. This was done ; but bolore my letter could have reached its destination, 1 recuived ■a note from Caplain Paaco, saying that if Roome would present himself either at Somerset House or the Admiralty on a certain day he would be admitted to Green, wich. And all this came to pass. A short time afterwards I receired a vu'a Itoin a smartly diessed Gieenwich pensioner, ivlio careful y deposited a basket of water-

cress in the passage. I found this edition of John Roome to be a wonderful improvement upon the tattered unfortunate of a few months back. He looked stout and contented ; declared that Greenwich was a caj ital place for a poor man ; and certainly presented an unquestionable evidence of the fact in his own person, for bis cheeks were ruddy, and the tearing cough was gone. He wished to make me a present of a little frigate which he had built and n'gged himself. I told him that I was about to embark for India, and there I feared I could not take bis present with me. He then said he bad himself been.at Calcutta. India was a fine country; and that "if I would write him a 'chit' before I embarlied, he would come and sling my hammock for me in a style that no s°aman in bpr Majesty's service could beat. It was not every man," lie assured me, *'as could sling a hammock propeily; and there was more in slinging a bammock than gentlemen who had never been to sea would suppose." He then went away, talcing his well-laden basket of water-cresses with him. I do not believe that he disgracpd his uniform by crying "Watercress, O!" It seemed that he earned the basket merely as a sign by which Ins old acquaintances might lecogniae the lately ragged itinerant in the now well-clothed and substantial looking Greenwich pensioner. I cannot tell whether Rooroe is living still. The snug wards of Greenwich have doubtless not been proof against the chilling gusts of the last four winters; but should he still survive, few of the readers of this nawtive will, I am confident, defer the opportunity of seeking out one whose name must hereafter stand beside that of Nelson in the page of history.

The Established Church of Scotland. — The General Assembly of the Established Church of Scotland met at Edinburgh on the 20th May, the Earl of Mansfield being the Lord High Commissioner. Dr. M'Leod, of Morven, Moderator of the past year, preached the annual seimon, and proposed the Rev. Dr. Forbps as his successor. 'J he Royal letter, being read by the Commissioner, a committee was appointed to prepare the reply. The assembly was occupied on the fol lowed d»y entirely with routine business. It appears that the incomes of the Scottish ministers in all the country parishes have been seriously diminmshed by the alteration in the corn duties; and it is only after intervals of twenty years that an augmentation of stipend can be legally obtained, and even the heritors and courts of law tnake much opposition. An address to the Government on the subject is resolved on. It is expeoted that both from the assemblies of the Established and Free churches petitions will be adopted against the continuance of the Maynooth grant. The Free Church of Scotland. — A general Assem» bly of the Free Church commenced its annual meetings at Edinburgh on Thursday, the 20th instant. Br. Duff, of Calcutta, the Moderator of the past year, preached the opening sermon. Aft6r the house was constituted, Dr. Duff proposed as his successor the Rev. Dr. Mackellar, which was unanimously agreed to. The new Moderator having addressed the Court, an address to the Queen was moved by Dr. Duff, and seconded by the Earl of Panmure, expressive of loyalty and attachment, on the occasion of her Majesty's birthday. The annual report of the contributions to the schemes of the church was then read, from which it appeared that the sum collected for missionary and educational purposes was £53,876 48. Bd. This is independent of the sum colleoted for the support of the Free Church in Scotland, from the central fund of which nearly 700 ministers received a dividend of £130, which is supplemented by local funds in the more important congregations. At the meeting on Friday the house heard the report of the Jewish Mission Committee, and addresses were deliveied by Messrs. Wingate, Smith, and Edwards, the missionaries lately expelled from the Austrian territories. The assembly resolved to memorialize her Majesty's Government on the subject.

Lola Months and heii " Pilot." — The dispute betwepn Lola Montes and M. Roux, theatrical agent, was formnlly submitted to tbe Civil Tribunal. M. Roux's advocate stated, that by an agreement between them, Mdlle. Lola undertook to accept M. Roux as her pdote intermediare in a professional journey she proposed making as a dameiise to different cities of Europe, and to various parts of America, and to allow him 25 per cent, on her receipts ; he, on his part, engaging to negotiate for her appparance at different theatres, and to superintend all the business operations. Tbe penalty fixed for the breach of the agreement by either party wat> 100,000f. In virtue of the agreement, M. Roux accompanied Mdlle. Lola to several towns in France, Belgium, and Germany, and caused her to dance at the respective tbeatres. He had also arranged for her appearance in some of the theatres of Prussia, but the authorities compelled her and him to leave the country. They arrived at Paris, and M. Roux, in his capacity of" pilot," applied to tbe Vaudeville, tbe Cirque, and otber theatres, for engagements for her. While occupied in the necessary negotiations he learnt to his surprise that Mdlle. Lola was about to leave for America without him, in company with a Mr. Willis. Tbe departure was even announced in tbe newspapers. On this he gave her notice that he expected her to execute her agreement, and she at first professed herself ready to do so, but afterwards refused. He bad since procured her engagements at tbe Vaudeville and the Opera National, and, on account of her neglect to fulfil them, he now demanded B,ooof. as damages. The advocate of Mdlle. Montes said, that the fact was that M. Roux himself wanted to get rid of tbe agreement, and had inrented tiie charge of a breach of it by Lola as a convenient means of doing so. In taking him as her "pilot,'' she had expected that he would be a travelling companion who would watoh over her interests, and she had engaged to dance six times a week. But be treated her as bis, 'emporary property, out of which he was to get as much as he could, and as quickly as possible. He had made her dance every day and even several times a day. He bad so fatigued her that more than once she fell exhausted on tbe stage. — Yet, the next morning, as early as 4 o'clock, he had presented himself at her bediide, and compelled her to depart. In addition to this he had failed in the respect due to her dignity as a woman. She was accustomed to receive visits after her performance, and on such occasions he pompously presented her to her guests as his enfant terrible, and invented ridiculous anecdotes and circumstances concerning her. Moreover, he had written an absurd biography of her, and liad bad it distributed during the performances. In this notable production he represented that she did not pass herself off as a firut-rate dnnseuse, but as damense defantasia. He stated that she was born at Seville in 1824, and at tbe age of five went with her father to India " where she spent 11 years in visiting the different cities of Hindostan, China, and Persia, the language of which countries she speaks fluently j" and where, also, "she learnt drawing, history and geography." Still, he continued, dancing was always her passion. Her wit, too, even at an early age, was so extraordinarily great that it attracted the attention of the highest personages, of governors, of rajahs, and of his Majesty the King of Nepaul. Her education, he proceeded, had been of the most brilliant kind. Some journalists whom she had declined to receive had written ignoble tales about her, but she despised them. Apart from her eccentricity, she possessed, he assured his readers, kindness of heart, charity, and affability. " At the age of 16 she weut to London, where several lords, to whom Bhe was recommended, caused her to appear at Her Majesty's TrTAtre. Her beauty and love for dancing drew her to J'tms ; but tbe unfortunate Dujareier affair caused her to sign an engagement for Russia, where she was well received." She afterwards went to Munich. " History," continued the biographer, "would record her other doings. But he might say that the great power of which she had possessed herself, and her political views as to the reform of the Jesuits (here a shout of laughter broke from the auditory) occasioned j her departure from Bavaria. She went to London, where a great lord married her. In 1850 they found that their characters could not sympathise, and she returned to the dreams of her spring." And the biography concluded with this profound sentence.—" Explain who can, but no one can, her burning brain and eccentric character, which have rendered her so celebrated ; she has yet only run tbe half of her career, for she leavts in November for America, and God knows the rest ?" As long (the advocate continued) as Madame de Landsfelt saw herself treated aa a wild animal shown at a fair, she contented herself with shrugging her shoulders with disgust ; but when she saw tbe veil which covered her private acts raised she expressed loud indignation, and said to Roux, " It is lucky for you, Sir, that my husband is not here, for he would break your head.' On this Roux declared himself insulted, and took to flight. She enrae to Paris on the 6th. Her intention was to dance, if Roux found her any engagement, and to leave for Amencaon the 20th. This he knew, but he did nothing, and bhe heard nothing of him before the 10th, when he notified to her that she would have to execute her engagement. But he did not say where, on what day, or on what conditions. On the 12th he summoned her to name an arbitrator to decide on tbe differences which had arisen between them, bat when she had done so ho commenced an action. She then notified to him that she intended to send oflTher costumes on the 15tb and to embark on the 20th. It wa* then that by means of a fah.e declaration he had, obtained authority to seize her

costumes and other effects. That seizure had, however, been set aside. He now pretended that he had got an engagement for her, but be could not piove it, and, at all events, had not communicated the conditions to her. It was clear, therefore, that Ins demand ought to be rejected. The Tribunal decided that, as Roux Lad not proved that he had entered into any serious treaty with any theatres of Pans, unless it were with the Opera National, and as he had not notified any treaty to Mdlle. Lola Monti's she could not be bound to execute any. It accordingly rejected Ins demand, and condemned him to the costs. — Galignunt'b Messenger. Ri forming ihl CoFrcc Poi. — Loid Derby will inteipose to prevent the public from being served with chicory when they desire to be supplied with coffee. 'I he intimation was made by his lordship on the occasion of the presention of u petition by V it-count Tornngton from the coffee merchants and o'hers of London and Westminister, complaining of the operation of the Treasury minute of 1840, with respect to ihe sale ol coffee mixed with chicory, that during the last four years there had been a progressive diminution in the sale of coffee, and tint they had thereby undergone a serious loss. They pointed out the seiious evils aiisng from the adoption of the Treasury minute of 1840, which they desi ied to see rescinded, wishing at the same time, a slight alteiation of that of 1832. Lord Derby, without going the length of rescinding the Treasury minute altogether, promised, nevertheless, that the desired relief should be granted. He would not subject grocers to heavy penalties lor having ai tides that might be used for adulteiating coffee upon their premises, which would-be the effect of rescinding the order of the Treasury. "I am quite leady to say (observed the Piemiei). though there may be many difficulties in the way of rescinding this minute, that I do think it a subject winch calls for the attention of Government; and that their attention will be directed to the best method of restoring a due supervision not over that which may well be permitted — the avowed admixture of innocent materials — but for the purpose of preventing, and of supporting a law which was intended to prevent the fraudulent admixtuie of spurious and offensive materials with coffee, and thereby of protecting the,humbler classes of consumers, and of affording no inconsiderable advantage to the fair dealer. " We believe that the public have no dislike to chicory. In fact they rather admire the flavour. Giocers tell us that customers whom they have supplied with coffee pure and undefiled have complained oF its poorness; and when a good dash of the English root has been thrown in, they have expiessed their satisfaction at the improvement. Every one to his liking. We would not withdraw the Chicoieans' gratification ; but we have always thought it hard that people were not permitted to mix for themselves. There are some persons, we know, who do not like to be undeceived. •' Ignorance is bliss" to them, and if nobody else were inteiested, it would be unnecessary to enlighten "them. We have heard of a respectable gentleman shedding tears on being informed that the "choice old port" which be bought at the sale of a nobleman's effects, had been really brought to the nobleman' cellars before daybreak on the morning of sale ; and we daresry that profound admire of genuine Mocha — enthusiasts about the delicious twang of the beverage they have been luxuriating upon for years, would greive to be told that the twang they so admire is the twang of chicory. But the public at large are not enthusiasts. And it is very necessary too that a stop should be put to the adulteration of chicory itself, which he said to be proceeding extensively. Very shocking things are put into the coffee-pot; and Lord Derby assuies us that even the eye may be deceived in the coffee berry itself. The rogues have made an imitation of that. By forbidding adulteration, a less quantity ot ostensible' coffee will be sold ; but there will be an increase in the consumption of the genuine article. An Indian Princess. — The ceremony of the baptism of the Princess Gauromma, daughter of his Highness Prince Vere Bajunder, ex-Rajab of Coorg, took place lately in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace. The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canteibury. The princess was named by her (Majesty, '• Victoria." The Princess Gauromma has, by an agreement between the ex-Rajah of Coorg on the one hand, and the Board of Control and the Board of Dnectors on the other, being placed under her Majesty's protection, to be educated in the punciples of the Church of England in this country ; and her Majesty has appointed Mrs. Drummond to take charge ol her. Melancholy Stouy.— A short time since William Crawloid, at the advanced Age of ninety, travelled on foot from the village of Bedlmgton, situated in the north of England, five or six miles from the town of Morpeth, to Nantwich, a journey of about 200 miles, carrying a bag on his back, containing wh-it is called by shoemakers a kit, weighing not less than between 30 lbs. or 40 lbs., which he accomplished in thr^e wt< eks. The undertaking and its completion is not calculated to excite surprize until the circumstances connected with it are taken into consideration. He left Bedlington with but a few pence in his possession, without u change of raiment of any descii|/tion. How he subsisted by the way appears a mystery. By night he slept m outhouses, or beneath the more spacious canopy of the skies. He entertained the notion that he might labour in conjunction with his brother at lii 9 trade of sl>oemaking, in the place of his birth. He at lengih reached the long looked for place, weary, dusty, and care-worn No friend was there to give him gieeting ; he leaned against the old church lails, and gazed upon the faces of the passers by, but none to him were known. He stood a stranger in the town ot his birth, an out-cast in the home of his fathers — the companions of his boyhood bad ended life, and were sleeping ° the sleep that knows no waking" beneath him in the green churchyard. He seemed what in truth he was the last of his name. An old lady, as she parsed on from church, looked upon and recognised him, when the following dialogue took place :•— " Bless me," said she, " are you not William Crawford?" " Ay," replied the waj farer. " Tis a long time since you were in town before." '* Forty years." " And what have you returned for?" uTo see my brother Peter, and to die amongst you." " Sony am I to tell you that your brother and his son are both dead." " How?" " They died of cholera !" These words, uttered at such a time, quite overpowered the old man, wbo ejaculated "O God, and I have travelled all these miles for this?" He passed on to the house of the widow of his late brother, where he was taken with violent diarrhosa ; was conveyed thence to the poor-house, where he expired on Satuiday, Oct. 27, 1851. — Chester Chronicle. Singular Accident. — As an omnibus was passing along the place de la Bastille, volumes of smoke suddenly issued from it, and the passengers were observed to descend in tenible confusion. In the interior was rf man who was rolling about in horrible suffering. This man, it appeared, had imprudently placed a bottle of nitric acid in his coat pocket, a jolt of the vehicle caused the bottle to break. In a moment bis clothes were reduced to cinders, and his flesh was horribly burned. A lady seated next to him had her Bilk gown entirely destroyed, and was besides, slightly injured. One person had a bundle of chemical matches, which caught fire. The flames extended to the vehicle and did considerable damage to it. The man who had the nitric acid was conveyed to the hospital Saint Antoine in a deplorable state, bis flesh falling from him. Curious Calculations --A' newspaper of Lisbon (Portugal,) publishes the following singular facts : — " In Portugal there are 872,634 married people, who may be classified as follows : — Wives who bavp abandoned their husbands to follow their lovers, i.,2.52 ; husbands who have abandoned their wives, 2,331 ; married people who have separated voluntarily, 33,120 ; married people who live in a state of continual warfare under the same roof, 132,053 ; cases where the husband and -wife reciprocally detest each other, but conceal their aversion under appearancea of love, 162,138 ; cases in which a complete indifference reigns, 610,132; mariied*people who pass with the world for happy, 132 ; truly happy, 9. The condition of bache lordom must be a very felicitous one in Portugal. Anothlii Yankee Pull. — "Do ye think ye make there things mighty sharp?" said a visitor in the West to a cutler in New York. " 1 do," was the answer; "none bettei or shaiper in the States." " We make them far sharper i i Kentuck, I guess,' 1 rejoined the interrogator; "Why, man, my father mad? a scythe there, so tarnation sharp, that when be hung it up un a tree, it's ihadow cut ajettow's leg off ; and if it had not been taken down with great difficulty, there would not have been a limb left in our parts!" The game of chesfc between England and Belgium, which has excite* so much interest and attention, has been gained by theßiitish chitmf.ioo, Sir John Deacon, who beat hi» adversary, M. Michaels, the Belgian champion, by 7 to 3. There were five Sundays in February last. A similar event will occur after twenty-five years, viz., in ItWO. Aftei wards there vmII be no Miuilar occuience for lort^ yean viz, 1920; becausp the year l{)()0 will not be leap year, owing to the dropping oi the day on the completion of each century. We vi derstund that about £120 have been subset ibed for the purpose of presenting a silver cradle to the mayoresa of Liverpool, Mrs. Littledato,

Making Casks by Machinery.— A patent has been taken out by Mr. Rosenborg. the inventor, for machine) y, wbicb is worked by steam power at the paten! cooperage works in Wenlock-road, City-road, London. Every day the extraordinary number of 400 casks is produced, the number of men and boys on the premises employed in the operalion not being more than 25. 'I ins will afford some idea of the rapidity ofthe process. Memel planks are cut inio shapes by the circular saw and rendered into perfect staves by a most ingenious and novel machine, by which they are formed with the greatest accuracy. They are then placed in a circu ar machine, called a trussing machine, by which they are brought together and formed into a cask, and the hoops being immediately fixed, the work is complete. The rapidity of the process is perfectly astounding, and is a fresh proof of what the ingenuity of a practical as well as a scientific man can produce Mixed Goveiinment. — ''I guess," said Jonathan Downing, writing from Canton to his uncle in America, " I guess there really be but two sorts of good government in the nature of things — bamboo, as in China ; and bamboozle, as in the old country; but we in the United States, use 'em both, and ours is the grandest government in the universe — bamboo for the niggers, and bamboozle for ourselves." American Wit. — A windy orator in the New York Legislature, after a lengthy effort, stopped for a drink of wnter. "I rise," said Bloss, "to a point of ordnr." Everybody started, wondering what the point of order was. *• What is it?** asked the speaker. "I think sir," said Blosa, ''it is out of order for a windmill to go by water!" Christopher North says it is no wonder that women love cats, for both are graceful, and both domestic, not to mention that they both scratch. The Three Losses.— lt is a Spanish maxim that "he that loseth wealth, loseth much ; be who losetb a friend, loseth more ; and be who loseth bis spirit, loseth all." So keep up your spirits, and fig for care ! The Man of Wealth. — Feaiful are his responsibilities. He has bad committed to his care by the Almighty a trust wbicb requires all human wisdom to manage wisply and discreetly. He is looked upon by his fellows as one who has been highly favoured, but I cannot view him in that light alone. I remember bis cares, his responsibilities, and his dutie3. Fellow mortals, I would caution you not to look upon wealth as a | great panacea for your earthly woes. Let your language be like him of old, " Give me neither poverty nor riches." This is what you should aim at. The posi session of wealth brings with it other thiogi than the luxuries of the world. — Dr. Chalmers.