I protest and I beg, that no word in this scrawl I regret that I should not have learnt too in July, Had I known but all this, I'd have made up my mind, Which could fix his own Ministry firm in their seat; And turn all our attention to keeping in place. None who knows how the Duke love or friendship could win, Or how I've ador'd him, since first I came in, Will think that, to render my own fame more bright, I mean to abuse him, whatever I write. Such a base vindication be sure I'm not planning. MRS MRS. CUNNING'S STATEMENT. Mr. Editor, TEPPING down Parliament Street the other day, I picked up the following fragment of a letter, signed Elizabeth Cunning; and, as it appears to be. full as explicit and interesting as some other letters. lately published and signed, by a name somewhat similar, I have conveyed it to your press. I am, Sir, yours, "TO MRS. PRATT. PETER PARODY. (part torn off)" and so, Madam Pratt, by way of explaining the matter, since folks make such a fuss about the rumpus between me and Bob Stewart, our cook, I will tell you the thing just as it happened. It is as far back as May last since I told Mr. Bentinck, our old butler, who is now dead and funct, that I did not like Bob Stewart, and I wished that master would employ him somewhere else than in the town-house : however, I did not wish him to know all this from me, but continued to give him his sop at noon, and his sleepy draft at night as usual; but to be sure I did. bargain that you and the old butter, rest his poor soul, would somehow and somehow give him a hint; for I wanted the privy emptied, and my plates and dishes put in new order.-Well, I was put off from time to time, until I threatened at last to give my master warning: Don't do that, says the old butler, and you shall have your way, Betty and so I agreed to stay, but at a month's end, the d- an inch of my way could I get so I said again, says I, I tell you what, Mr. Bentinck, I'll give my master warning directly; I'll not sleep another night under the roof with Bob Stewart, and that's flat ;-and so I axed you again to tell Bob so; but not from me, for I would not for the world have him know that I was at the bottom of it: The The fellow, says I, is not fit for his place, and I had plague enough whitewashing him last winter, when folks said that he had made away with the dripping and candle-ends. Well, upon this, you all said, Dear Betty-it was always Dear Betty when you wanted to gain your ends don't give your master warning now; you shall have every thing your own way--but consider, master has ordered great preparations for a grand dinner, and we can't do without Bob, says you.-Well, says I, if so be that be the case, I'll stay; and we had a great deal of more talk about it-and I am sure, though I want Bob out of the way, I behaved very good-natured-for I made this bargain with you all says I, Well I hate Bob; but for that reason I consent that he shall stay out the summer. We are to dress a great dinner for some foreign folks-and Bob can no more. dress a dinner than he can fly; and, for that reason, I consent that he shall dress the whole, and I will make believe that I am helping him; but mind this, says I, as soon as the dinner is over, be it well-dressed or ill-dressed, whether all the fat is in the fire, or just where it should be; whether the things be underdone or overdone; done to a T, or burnt to a coal; at the end of the business, Bob shall pack off.—I am sure this was very good-natured on my part, and acting like an honest servant, who prefers her master's interests to her own squabbles in the kitchen. And what have I got by it? Now you have forced me out of the house, and Bob has called me names, and I called him names, until we fit, and all the world laughs at us-and this is all your doing, and the old butler's ;. but, as I said, he is dead and funct, and so I'll lay the blame on you, Mrs. Pratt, and the whole set of you-I'll let master know what you all are, and so you may-(torn off here J ELIZABETH. CUNNING. LOSS ( 333 ) LOSS OF THE WARSPITE, OFF THE STRAITS OF WALCHEREN, COMMANDED BY THE HON. CAPTAIN GEORGE CG. [From the Morning Chronicle, Dec. 7.] THE following diary contains the account of her voyage from the day of her sailing, April 2, to her foundering at sea, on September 21: April 2.-Hazy weather. Sailed in company with Admiral Van Bentinck, in the Bergen-op-Zoom, an old Dutch three-decker; Vice-admiral Castlerag, in the Traffic (commander of the gun-boats); Commodore Cn, in the Ponderous; Captain in the Mysterious; with the following smaller vessels: the Charles Ellis, store-ship; Leverson, war brig; George Rose, King's cutter; Stu-ges Be, Hussk-n, and Dog-Dent, traders. 3 April 4 to 8.-Foggy. Found my ship did not sail well; wrote Admiral Van B.; represented state of fleet; said I wished to strike my flag (but had no intention of doing it); changes must be effected; Admiral a stupid old fellow wants more detailed explanation. Admiral upright and disinterested patriot, faithful, devoted, and affectionate subject, blameless man and noble-minded; keeps the best cook in town; is a good Protestant, an excellent Catholic, staunch Whig, and great Tory. April 16.-Light breeze. Admiral opened the subject to Captain, of the Mysterious. Alack! he never told his name. The Commodore knows it. Captain objects; won't have any alteration in affairs till after the decision respecting the Vice-admiral's sale of the store-keeper's office. April 25.-Squally. That question decided. April 28.-Severe gales. The Admiral spoke again Commodore C. Commodore agrees that his friend the Vice-admiral is a dd bad officer, and ought to be cashiered; but the Vice-admiral's feelings must be consulted. Captain admiral in a sloop. proposes to put the Vice May 5-A great swell. The Admiral determines to lay the whole before the Admiral of the Fleet, and go on board the Royal Sovereign. May 10.-Cloudy. Hauled my wind. Sounded. Admiral goes on board the Royal Sovereign; finds the Admiral of the Fleet very angry. He d-ns us all for a parcel of lubbers; swears he'll make his own attor. ney commander of the fleet. (Want to be so myself.) May 31-Very stormy. Took in three reefs. Lowered studding-sails. Went on board the Royal Sovereign; swore I'd strike my flag. D-ly frightened lest I should be taken at my word. June 8.-Light breeze. Write to Admiral Van B.; tell him his arrangement is a bad one; nevertheless am ready to hoist my flag in as many different ships as he pleases, and work double tides sooner than go out of office. Thought the Vice-admiral would not like it. Did not care about the public feeling. June 18.-Stormy. Admiral proposes new plan. Vice-admiral won't agree. June 21.-Wind blows from every point. Admiral says, new arrangements shall take place. June 27.-Foul wind. Dd angry with the Admiral, who had not communicated with the Viceadmiral. Wrote him a letter full of point and sarcasm; he can't understand it. Told him, old women should not command fleets and armies. June 28.-Lowered my sails. Went again on board the Royal Sovereign; said I would strike my flag if the Vice-admiral was not cashiered. Commodore C. is positively to tell the Vice-admiral of the intended arrangement. July 5.More squally than ever. New difficulties arise: Admiral goes on board Commodore's ship; |