"If you offend no mind but that," said I, being fresh from a sharp review of something I had written; "you will give small offence indeed; and to edit you will be a sinecure."

Both these predictions have proved correct; except indeed that a few kind readers of sadly unscientific mind have hankered for some explanation of parts which they failed to witness.

The reply is truly simple—"if you were not there the fault was yours; here are the facts as in evidence, better supported, and less strange, than those you accept without a wink; and perhaps your trouble in realising a case of specific levity proceeds from nothing but your own excessive specific gravity."

R. D. Blackmore.

1885.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTERPAGE
I. Signs of Eminence[1]
II. Itur ad Astra[10]
III. The Dawn of Science[16]
IV. The Pursuit of Science[25]
V. "Grip"[43]
VI. True Science[54]
VII. The Great Washed[65]
VIII. For Change of Air[75]
IX. Thalatta![86]
X. The New Admiral[96]
XI. Large Ideas[106]
XII. Twentifold Towers[119]
XIII. Whalebones[131]
XIV. A Silly Pair[145]
XV. Political Œconomy[156]
XVI. No Extras[166]
XVII. Self-defence[178]
XVIII. Ah Me![189]
XIX. Comfort[199]
XX. Boil no more[209]
XXI. The Seat of Learning[219]
XXII. Hereditary Laws[229]
XXIII. A County Meeting[237]
XXIV. Old Bones, and Young Ones[247]
XXV. On the Rocks[256]
XXVI. Beneath them[266]
XXVII. Pleasant, and Unpleasant Things[277]
XXVIII. The Welfare of the Family[286]
XXIX. Because he had no Pity[295]
XXX. Perfidy[303]
XXXI. Free Trade[314]
XXXII. A Pair of Blue Eyes[326]
XXXIII. Strong Intentions[338]
XXXIV. Fames Famæ[350]
XXXV. National Emergency[362]
XXXVI. Vote for Tommy![371]
XXXVII. Sunny Bay[379]
XXXVIII. Prepare[386]
XXXIX. For Public and Private Benefit[393]
XL. Fair Counsel[398]
XLI. The Right Way to Surrender[406]
XLII. Spars[415]
XLIII. The Battle, and the Breeze[421]
XLIV. The English Lion[435]