Part 12 (1/1)

”'I say, while you are about it, Admiral,' rejoined the Yankee, with a sort of half flirtish, half earnest air--while you are about to coood folks with you--and don't forget the ladies; bring the like plenty of fair faces when a strong battle is to be fought!' This was a right good say on the part of Commodore Shubrick (such was the Yankee skipper's nah The gallant Britisher's face, too, brightened up with good-nature, the boatswain sounded his whistle, the savage guns disappeared in their ports; the yards were manned with jolly tars, and away streaked the ad the sullen water, towards the Yankee, under a heavy cannonade of grape The ladies, loving and affectionate souls! couldn't stand it another minute, and, with a Joan of Arc heroisallant ad that their sweethearts and husbands were not seriously wounded by the Coain loud reports were heard--pop! pop! pop!--ziz! ziz! ziz! went the shots of ordinary an to be poured into the belligerents in grand style After a few hours' cannonading, all was again bustle and confusion; woundedover the sides of the shi+p, fair ladies becausted with the cowardice of their husbands and sweethearts, allant officers After the whole affair was over, a great many wounded husbands, whose cases were extremely doubtful, were conveyed to their homes; others dreaded the application of Caudle lecturepreceded them to their doreat affair in the following graphicat the side, Co on the quarter-deck, let drive a fish-ball, which he held in his hand, and struck the Ad daunted, ran up the steps, his officers following close behind, and seized the Co asthe 'poop,' was grossly insulted by the first lieutenant of the Princeton, who, in the most cool and deliberate ive hi to eat'

”The General, in reply, said he would like to catch hie he went belohen one of the middies at the foot of the cone bottle, and let drive the contents into the General's glass The Mayor of Halifax, and ot into a skirent asked the boatswain, in a sneering sort of way, if they had any turtle on board The ansas, 'No--but we've got turtle soup, if that will do for you' The Mayor stepped up, and said he would rather have turtle soup than _fish_ any day The boatswain answered that he was tired of hearing soin fish to fight about If it was mutton, he was on hand for anybody One word led on to another--by this tith there was a general row; every ht good will

”The ladies got snappish on account of their husbands, and in turn pitched into the officers of the Princeton with their--eyes The sailors were piped to quarters Pistols were freely used The 'big guns' were charged and fired, doing s of the coreatest battle ever fought in Halifax harbor, real or _shaht o'clock in the evening, and destroying all the eatables that could be found on board the Princeton, the invaders retired, and left the Commodore and officers to their reflections The retreat was effected in _gallant_ style--so say the ladies It is said that the Co the authorities of the insult received We earnestly entreat that our American contemporaries will fully discuss this serious matter, on account of the honor of the 'stars and stripes,' to say nothing of the 'fish story'

”'Now, Mr Pierce, in this rave question--the fish question, in whichdiploh a course of settlehtened nations of the earth devise some plan of mutual compromise, by which the interests of their subjectsto pedantic diploitation, which can only give out food for the very sues? We cannot and ht, our freedoy, our kindred institutions, and the interests of our coer the bonds of peace We must, in defiance of that pitiable ambition of political tools, who so interrupt the harmony that should exist between nations kindred in spirit and interests, continue our friendly relations Let England lay aside her restrictions on commerce; let her apply to a better purpose those millions spent in useless attempts to enforce the observance of lahich only serve to cripple her energies; and let a policy mutually liberal serve to elevate that international forbearance which is the father of the greatest good,'

thought I At this juncture, Mr Pierce's black pig, always found where he was not wanted, was discovered in the after cabin, which he disputed with every one who atteth it was voted that I should capture hiton:--which, be it understood, was done, though not without a struggle”

THE END