Sketches From My Life | Page 8

me herself.
This was rather a disagreeable predicament, for I didn't, of course,
return the mother's affection a bit, while I was certainly dreadfully
spoony on the daughter.
To make a long story short, the girl and I, like two fools as we were,
decided to run away together, and run away we did. I should have been

married if the mother hadn't run after us. She didn't object to our being
married, but, in the meantime, she remained with us, and she managed
to make the country home we had escaped to, with the intention of
settling down there, so unbearable, that, luckily for me as regards my
future, I contrived to get away, and went as fast as I could on board my
ship for refuge, never landing again during our stay at Buenos Ayres.
Fortunately, shortly afterwards we were ordered away, and so ended
my first love affair.
I shall never forget the melancholy, woebegone faces of my captain and
brother officers on our re-assembling on board. It was really most
ludicrous. However, a sea voyage which included several sharp gales of
wind soon erased all sad memories; things gradually 'brightened,' and
ere many weeks had passed all on board H.M.S.---- resumed their usual
appearance.
CHAPTER III.
A TRAGICAL AFFAIR.
Whilst I was at Buenos Ayres I had the good luck to visit the
independent province of Paraguay, which my readers must have heard
spoken of, sometimes with admiration, sometimes with sneers, as the
hot-bed of Jesuitism. Those who sneer say that the Jesuit fathers who
left Spain under Martin Garcia formed this colony in the River Plate
entirely in accordance with the principles their egotism and love of
power dictated. It may be so; it is possible that the Jesuits were wrong
in the conclusions they came to as regards the governing or guiding of
human nature; all I can say is, that the perfect order reigning throughout
the colony they had formed, the respect for the clergy, the cheerful
obedience to laws, the industry and peaceful happiness one saw at
every step, made an impression on me I have never forgotten; and when
I compare it with the discord, the crime, and the hatred of all authority
which is now prevailing, alas! in most civilised countries, I look back
to what I saw in Paraguay with a sigh of regret that such things are of
the past. It was beautiful to see the respect paid to the Church (the

acknowledged ruler of the place), the cleanliness and comfort of the
farms and villages, the good-will and order that prevailed amongst the
natives. It was most interesting to visit the schools, where only so much
learning was introduced as was considered necessary for the minds of
the industrious population, without rendering them troublesome to the
colony or to themselves. Though the inhabitants were mostly of the
fiery and ungovernable Spanish race, who had mixed with the wild
aborigines, it is remarkable that they remained quiet and submissive.
To prevent pernicious influences reaching this 'happy valley,' the
strictest regulations were maintained as regards strangers visiting the
colony.
The River Plate, which, coming down from the Andes through
hundreds of miles of rich country, flows through Paraguay, was
unavailable to commerce owing to this law of exclusiveness, which
prevented even the water which washed the shores being utilised.
However, about the time I speak of the English government had
determined, in the general interests of trade, to oppose this monopoly,
and to open a way of communication up the river by force if necessary.
The Paraguayans refused to accept the propositions made by the
English, and prepared to fight for their so-called rights. They threw a
formidable barrier across the stream, and made a most gallant
resistance. It was on this occasion that Captain (now Admiral) H----
performed the courageous action which covered him with renown for
the rest of his life. The enemy had, amongst other defences, placed a
heavy iron chain across the river. This chain it was absolutely
necessary to remove, and the gallant officer I refer to, who commanded
the attack squadron, set a splendid example to us all by dashing
forward and cutting with a cold chisel the links of this chain. The whole
time he was thus at work he was exposed to a tremendous fire, having
two men killed and two wounded out of the six he took with him. This
deed, now almost forgotten by the public, can never be effaced from
the memory of those who saw it done. That the fight was a severe one
is evident from the fact that the vessel I belonged to had 107 shots in
her hull, and thirty-five out of seventy men killed and wounded.

It was after we had thus forced ourselves into intercourse