Now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree—
If your soul isn’t fettered to an office-stool
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule—
Stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be rulers of the Queen’s Navee.
(Between ourselves, I think this last suggestion was rather silly, for he was addressing people who had already gone to sea, and consequently could not possibly act on his advice. But I’m afraid that Sir Joseph, though a very distinguished man, was, like a good many other very distinguished men, a bit of a goose.)
“You’ve a remarkably fine crew, Captain Corcoran,” said Sir Joseph when he had finished his song, and was quite sure that they didn’t want him to sing it again.
“It is a fine crew,” said Captain Corcoran.
“I hope you treat them kindly, Captain Corcoran?”