Richard Carvel — Complete

by Winston Churchill

  CHAPTER III. CAUGHT BY THE TIDE

  It is a nigh impossible task on the memory to trace those influences bywhich a lad is led to form his life's opinions, and for my part I holdthat such things are bred into the bone, and that events only serve tostrengthen them. In this way only can I account for my bitterness, ata very early age, against that King whom my seeming environment shouldhave made me love. For my grandfather was as stanch a royalist as everheld a cup to majesty's health. And children are most apt before theycan reason for themselves to take the note from those of their elderswho surround them. It is true that many of Mr. Carvel's guests were ofthe opposite persuasion from him: Mr. Chase and Mr. Carroll, Mr.Lloyd and Mr. Bordley, and many others, including our friend CaptainClapsaddle. And these gentlemen were frequently in argument, butpolitical discussion is Greek to a lad.

  Mr. Carvel, as I have said, was most of his life a member of theCouncil, a man from whom both Governor Sharpe and Governor Eden wereglad to take advice because of his temperate judgment and deep knowledgeof the people of the province. At times, when his Council was scattered,Governor Sharpe would consult Mr. Carvel alone, and often have I knownmy grandfather to embark in haste from the Hall in response to a callfrom his Excellency.

  'Twas in the latter part of August, in the year 1765, made memorable bythe Stamp Act, that I first came in touch with the deep-set feelings ofthe times then beginning, and I count from that year the awakening ofthe sympathy which determined my career. One sultry day I was wading inthe shallows after crabs, when the Governor's messenger came driftingin, all impatience at the lack of wind. He ran to the house to seek Mr.Carvel, and I after him, with all a boy's curiosity, as fast as my smalllegs would carry me. My grandfather hurried out to order his barge tobe got ready at once, so that I knew something important was at hand. Atfirst he refused me permission to go, but afterwards relented, and abouteleven in the morning we pulled away strongly, the ten blacks bending tothe oars as if their lives were at stake.

  A wind arose before we sighted Greensbury Point, and I saw a barksailing in, but thought nothing of this until Mr. Carvel, who had beensilent and preoccupied, called for his glass and swept her decks. Shesoon shortened sail, and went so leisurely that presently our lightbarge drew alongside, and I perceived Mr. Zachariah Hood, a merchantof the town, returning from London, hanging over her rail. Mr. Hood wasvery pale in spite of his sea-voyage; he flung up his cap at our boat,but Mr. Carvel's salute in return was colder than he looked for. Aswe came in view of the dock, a fine rain was setting in, and to myastonishment I beheld such a mass of people assembled as I had neverseen, and scarce standing-room on the wharves. We were to have goneto the Governor's wharf in the Severn, but my grandfather changed hisintention at once. Many of the crowd greeted him as we drew near them,and, having landed, respectfully made room for him to pass through. Ifollowed him a-tremble with excitement and delight over such an unwontedexperience. We had barely gone ten paces, however, before Mr. Carvelstopped abreast of Mr. Claude, mine host of the Coffee House, who cried:

  "Hast seen his Majesty's newest representative, Mr. Carvel?"

  "Mr. Hood is on board the bark, sir," replied my grandfather. "I take ityou mean Mr. Hood."

  "Ay, that I do; Mr. Zachariah Hood, come to lick stamps for hisbrother-colonists."

  "After licking his Majesty's boots," says a wag near by, which brings alaugh from those about us. I remembered that I had heard some talk asto how Mr. Hood had sought and obtained from King George the office ofStamp Distributor for the province. Now, my grandfather, God rest him!was as doughty an old gentleman as might well be, and would not listenwithout protest to remarks which bordered sedition. He had little fearof things below, and none of a mob.

  "My masters," he shouted, with a flourish of his stick, so stoutly thatpeople fell back from him, "know that ye are met against the law, andendanger the peace of his Lordship's government."

  "Good enough, Mr. Carvel," said Claude, who seemed to be the spokesman."But how if we are stamped against law and his Lordship's government?How then, sir? Your honour well knows we have naught against either, andare as peaceful a mob as ever assembled."

  This brought on a great laugh, and they shouted from all sides, "Howthen, Mr. Carvel?" And my grandfather, perceiving that he would losedignity by argument, and having done his duty by a protest, was wiselycontent with that. They opened wider the lane for him to pass through,and he made his way, erect and somewhat defiant, to Mr. Pryse's, thecoachmaker opposite, holding me by the hand. The second storey ofPryse's shop had a little balcony standing out in front, and here weestablished ourselves, that we might watch what was going forward.

  The crowd below grew strangely silent as the bark came nearer andnearer, until Mr. Hood showed himself on the poop, when there rose astorm of hisses, mingled with shouts of derision. "How goes it at St.James, Mr. Hood?" and "Have you tasted his Majesty's barley?" And someasked him if he was come as their member of Parliament. Mr. Hood droppeda bow, though what he said was drowned. The bark came in prettilyenough, men in the crowd even catching her lines and making them fastto the piles. A gang-plank was thrown over. "Come out, Mr. Hood," theycried; "we are here to do you honour, and to welcome you home again."There were leather breeches with staves a-plenty around that plank, andfaces that meant no trifling. "McNeir, the rogue," exclaimed Mr. Carvel,"and that hulk of a tanner, Brown. And I would know those smith'sshoulders in a thousand." "Right, sir," says Pryse, "and 'twill servethem proper. when the King's troops come among them for quartering."Pryse being the gentry's patron, shaped his politics according to thecompany he was in: he could ill be expected to seize one of his own ashspokes and join the resistance. Just then I caught a glimpse of CaptainClapsaddle on the skirts of the crowd, and with him Mr. Swain and someof the dissenting gentry. And my boyish wrath burst forth against thatman smirking and smiling on the decks of the bark, so that I shoutedshrilly: "Mr. Hood will be cudgelled and tarred as he deserves," andshook my little fist at him, so that many under us laughed and cheeredme. Mr. Carvel pushed me back into the window and out of their sight.

  The crew of the bark had assembled on the quarterdeck, stout Englishtars every man of them, armed with pikes and belaying-pins; and ata word from the mate they rushed in a body over the plank. Some werethrust off into the water, but so fierce was their onset that othersgained the wharf, laying sharply about them in all directions, butgetting full as many knocks as they gave. For a space there was avery bedlam of cries and broken heads, those behind in the mob surgingforward to reach the scrimmage, forcing their own comrades over theedge. McNeir had his thigh broken by a pike, and was dragged back afterthe first rush was over; and the mate of the bark was near to drowning,being rescued, indeed, by Graham, the tanner. Mr. Hood stood white inthe gangway, dodging a missile now and then, waiting his chance, whichnever came. For many of the sailors were captured and carried bodilyto the "Rose and Crown" and the "Three Blue Balls," where they becameproperly drunk on Jamaica rum; others made good their escape on board.And at length the bark cast off again, amidst jeers and threats, andone-third of her crew missing, and drifted slowly back to the roads.

  From the dock, after all was quiet, Mr. Carvel stepped into his bargeand rowed to the Governor's, whose house was prettily situated nearHanover Street, with ground running down to the Severn. His Excellencyappeared much relieved to see my grandfather; Mr. Daniel Dulany waswith him, and the three gentlemen at once repaired to the Governor'swriting-closet for consultation.

  Mr. Carvel's town house being closed, we stopped with his Excellency.There were, indeed, scarce any of the gentry in town at that season savea few of the Whig persuasion. Excitement ran very high; farmersflocked in every day from the country round about to take part in thedemonstration against the Act. Mr. Hood's storehouse was burned to theground. Mr. Hood getting ashore by stealth, came, however, unmolested toAnnapolis and offered at a low price the goods he had brought out in thebark, thinking thus to propitiate his enemies. This step but inflamedthem the mo
re.

  My grandfather having much business to look to, I was left to my owndevices, and the devices of an impetuous lad of twelve are not alwayssuch as his elders would choose for him. I was continually burning witha desire to see what was proceeding in the town, and hearing one day agreat clamour and tolling of bells, I ran out of the Governor's gate anddown Northwest Street to the Circle, where a strange sight met my eyes.A crowd like that I had seen on the dock had collected there, Mr. Swainand Mr. Hammond and other barristers holding them in check. Mounted ona one-horse cart was a stuffed figure of the detested Mr. Hood. Mr.Hammond made a speech, but for the laughter and cheering I could notcatch a word of it. I pushed through the people, as a boy will, divingbetween legs to get a better view, when I felt a hand upon my shoulder,bringing me up suddenly. And I recognized Mr. Matthias Tilghman, andwith him was Mr. Samuel Chase.

  "Does your grandfather know you are here, lad?" said Mr. Tilghman.

  I paused a moment for breath before I answered: "He attended the rallyat the dock himself, sir, and I believe enjoyed it."

  Both gentlemen smiled, and Mr. Chase remarked that if all the otherparty were like Mr. Carvel, troubles would soon cease. "I mean notGrafton," says he, with a wink at Mr. Tilghman.

  "I'll warrant, Richard, your uncle would be but ill pleased to see youin such company."

  "Nay, sir," I replied, for I never feared to speak up, "there are youwrong. I think it would please my uncle mightily."

  "The lad hath indifferent penetration," said Mr, Tilghman, laughing, andadding more soberly: "If you never do worse than this, Richard, Marylandmay some day be proud of you."

  Mr. Hammond having finished his speech, a paper was placed in the handof the effigy, and the crowd bore it shouting and singing to the hill,where Mr. John Shaw, the city carpenter, had made a gibbet. There nineand thirty lashes were bestowed on the unfortunate image, the peoplecrying out that this was the Mosaic Law. And I cried as loud as any,though I knew not the meaning of the words. They hung Mr. Hood to thegibbet and set fire to a tar barrel under him, and so left him.

  The town wore a holiday look that day, and I was loth to go back tothe Governor's house. Good patriots' shops were closed, their ownersparading as on Sunday in their best, pausing in knots at every cornerto discuss the affair with which the town simmered. I encountered oldFarris, the clockmaker, in his brown coat besprinkled behind with powderfrom his queue. "How now, Master Richard?" says he, merrily. "This is noplace for young gentlemen of your persuasion."

  Next I came upon young Dr. Courtenay, the wit of the Tuesday Club, ofwhom I shall have more to say hereafter. He was taking the air with Mr.James Fotheringay, Will's eldest brother, but lately back from Oxfordand the Temple.

  The doctor wore five-pound ruffles and a ten-pound wig, was dressed incherry silk, and carried a long, clouded cane. His hat had the latestcock, for he was our macaroni of Annapolis.

  "Egad, Richard," he cries, "you are the only other loyalist I have seenabroad to-day."

  I remember swelling with indignation at the affront. "I call themTories, sir," I flashed back, "and I am none such." "No Tory!" says he,nudging Mr. Fotheringay, who was with him; "I had as lief believe yourgrandfather hated King George." I astonished them both by retorting thatMr. Carvel might think as he pleased, that being every man's right; butthat I chose to be a Whig. "I would tell you as a friend, young man,"replied the doctor, "that thy politics are not over politic." And theyleft me puzzling, laughing with much relish over some catch in thedoctor's words. As for me, I could perceive no humour in them.

  It was now near six of the clock, but instead of going direct to theGovernor's I made my way down Church Street toward the water. Near thedock I saw many people gathered in the street in front of the "Ship"tavern, a time-honoured resort much patronized by sailors. My curiosityled me to halt there also. The "Ship" had stood in that place nigh onto three-score years, it was said. Its latticed windows were swung open,and from within came snatches of "Tom Bowling," "Rule Britannia," andmany songs scarce fit for a child to hear. Now and anon some one in thestreet would throw back a taunt to these British sentiments, which wentunheeded. "They be drunk as lords," said Weld, the butcher's apprentice,"and when they comes out we'll hev more than one broken head in thisstreet." The songs continuing, he cried again, "Come out, d-n ye." Weldhad had more than his own portion of rum that day. Spying me seated onthe gate-post opposite, he shouted: "So ho, Master Carvel, the streetsare not for his Majesty's supporters to-day." Other artisans who werethere bade him leave me in peace, saying that my grandfather was a goodfriend of the people. The matter might have ended there had I been olderand wiser, but the excitement of the day had gone to my head like wine."I am as stout a patriot as you, Weld," I shouted back, and flushed atthe cheering that followed. And Weld ran up to me, and though I was agood piece of a lad, swung me lightly onto his shoulder. "Harkee, MasterRichard," he said, "I can get nothing out of the poltroons by shouting.Do you go in and say that Weld will fight any mother's son of themsingle-handed."

  "For shame, to send a lad into a tavern," said old Bobbins, who hadknown my grandfather these many years. But the desire for a row was sogreat among the rest that they silenced him. Weld set me down, and I,nothing loth, ran through the open door.

  I had never before been in the "Ship," nor, indeed, in any tavern savethat of Master Dingley, near Carvel Hall. The "Ship" was a bare placeenough, with low black beams and sanded floor, and rough tables andchairs set about. On that September evening it was stifling hot; and theodours from the men, and the spilled rum and tobacco smoke, well-nighoverpowered me. The room was filled with a motley gang of sailors,mostly from the bark Mr. Hood had come on, and some from H.M.S. Hawk,then lying in the harbour.

  A strapping man-o'-war's-man sat near the door, his jacket thrown openand his great chest bared, and when he perceived me he was in the act ofproposing a catch; 'twas "The Great Bell o' Lincoln," I believe; andhe held a brimming cup of bumbo in his hand. In his surprise he set itawkwardly down again, thereby spilling full half of it. "Avast," sayshe, with an oath, "what's this come among us?" and he looked me overwith a comical eye. "A d-d provincial," he went on scornfully, "but agentleman's son, or Jack Ball's a liar." Whereupon his companions rosefrom their seats and crowded round me. More than one reeled againstme. And though I was somewhat awed by the strangeness of that dark,ill-smelling room, and by the rough company in which I found myself, Iheld my ground, and spoke up as strongly as I might.

  "Weld, the butcher's apprentice, bids me say he will fight any man amongyou single-handed."

  "So ho, my little gamecock, my little schooner with a swivel," said hewho had called himself Jack Ball, "and where can this valiant butcher befound?"

  "He waits in the street," I answered more boldly.

  "Split me fore and aft if he waits long," said Jack, draining the restof his rum. And picking me up as easily as did Weld he rushed out ofthe door, and after him as many of his mates as could walk or staggerthither.

  In the meantime the news had got abroad in the street that the butcher'sapprentice was to fight one of the Hawk's men, and when I emerged fromthe tavern the crowd had doubled, and people were running hither in allhaste from both directions. But that fight was never to be. Big JackBall had scarce set me down and shouted a loud defiance, shaking hisfist at Weld, who stood out opposite, when a soldierly man on a greathorse turned the corner and wheeled between the combatants. I knew ata glance it was Captain Clapsaddle, and guiltily wished myself at theGovernor's. The townspeople knew him likewise, and many were slinkingaway even before he spoke, as his charger stood pawing the ground.

  "What's this I hear, you villain," said he to Weld, in his deep, ringingvoice, "that you have not only provoked a row with one of the King'ssailors, but have dared send a child into that tavern with your fool'smessage?"

  Weld was awkward and sullen enough, and no words came to him.

  "Your tongue, you sot," the captain went on, drawing his sword in hisanger, "is it true you have
made use of a gentleman's son for your lowpurposes?"

  But Weld was still silent, and not a sound came from either side untilold Robbins spoke up.

  "There are many here can say I warned him, your honour," he said.

  "Warned him!" cried the captain. "Mr. Carvel has just given you twentypounds for your wife, and you warned him!"

  Robbins said no more; and the butcher's apprentice, hanging his head,as well he might before the captain, I was much moved to pity for him,seeing that my forwardness had in some sense led him on.

  "Twas in truth my fault, captain," I cried out. The captain looked atme, and said nothing. After that the butcher made bold to take up hisman's defence.

  "Master Carvel was indeed somewhat to blame, sir," said he, "and Weld isin liquor."

  "And I'll have him to pay for his drunkenness," said Captain Clapsaddle,hotly. "Get to your homes," he cried. "Ye are a lot of idle hounds, whowould make liberty the excuse for riot." He waved his sword at the packof them, and they scattered like sheep until none but Weld was left."And as for you, Weld," he continued, "you'll rue this pretty business,or Daniel Clapsaddle never punished a cut-throat." And turning to JackBall, he bade him lift me to the saddle, and so I rode with him to theGovernor's without a word; for I knew better than to talk when he was inthat mood.

  The captain was made to tarry and sup with his Excellency and mygrandfather, and I sat perforce a fourth at the table, scarce daring toconjecture as to the outcome of my escapade. But as luck would haveit, the Governor had been that day in such worry and perplexity, and mygrandfather also, that my absence had passed unnoticed. Nor did my goodfriend the captain utter a word to them of what he knew. But afterwardshe called me to him and set me upon his knee. How big, and kind, andstrong he was, and how I loved his bluff soldier's face and blunt ways.And when at last he spoke, his words burnt deep in my memory, so thateven now I can repeat them.

  "Richard," he said, "I perceive you are like your father. I love yourspirit greatly, but you have been overrash to-day. Remember this, lad,that you are a gentleman, the son of the bravest and truest gentlemanI have ever known, save one; and he is destined to high things." I knownow that he spoke of Colonel Washington. "And that your mother," herehis voice trembled,--"your mother was a lady, every inch of her, and toogood for this world. Remember, and seek no company, therefore, beyondthat circle in which you were born. Fear not to be kind and generous, asI know you ever will be, but choose not intimates from the tavern." Herethe captain cleared his throat, and seemed to seek for words. "I fearthere are times coming, my lad," he went on presently, "when every manmust choose his side, and stand arrayed in his own colours. It is notfor me to shape your way of thinking. Decide in your own mind that whichis right, and when you have so decided,"--he drew his sword, as was hishabit when greatly moved, and placed his broad hand upon my head,--"knowthen that God is with you, and swerve not from thy course the width ofthis blade for any man."

  We sat upon a little bench in the Governor's garden, in front of us thewide Severn merging into the bay, and glowing like molten gold in thesetting sun. And I was thrilled with a strange reverence such as I havesometimes since felt in the presence of heroes.