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what must I expect to suffer in a whole year? It appears to be very unwise to attempt making further converts, for people on shore seem determined not to listen to reason or argument. But it has occurred to me, that although the whole earth has been so nefariously divided among the few, that the waters at least are the property of all. No man claims his share of the sea—every one may there plough as he pleases, without being taken up for a trespasser. Even war makes no difference; every one may go on as he pleases, and if they meet, it is nothing but a neutral ground on which the parties contend. It is, then, only upon the ocean that I am likely to find that equality and rights of man, which we are so anxious to establish on shore; and therefore I have resolved not to go to school again, which I detest, but to go to sea, and propagate our opinions as much as I can.”
    â€œI cannot listen to that, Jack. In the first place, you must return to school; in the next place, you shall not go to sea.”
    â€œThen, father, all I have to say is, that I swear by the rights of man I will not go back to school, and that I will go to sea. Who and what is to prevent me? Was not I born my own master?—has any one a right to dictate to me as if I were not his equal? Have I not as much right to my share of the sea as any other mortal? I stand upon perfect equality,” continued Jack, stamping his right foot on the floor.
    What had Mr Easy to offer in reply? He must either, as a philosopher, have sacrificed his hypothesis, or, as a father, have sacrificed his son. Like all philosophers, he preferred what he considered as the less important of the two, he sacrificed his son, but—we will do him justice—he did it with a sigh.
    â€œJack, you shall, if you wish it, go to sea.”
    â€œThat, of course,” replied Jack, with the air of a conqueror; “but the question is, with whom? Now it has occurred to me, that Captain Wilson has just been appointed to a ship, and I should like to sail with him.”
    â€œI will write to him,” said Mr Easy, mournfully, “but I should have liked to have felt his head first;” and thus was the matter arranged.
    The answer from Captain Wilson was, of course, in the affirmative, and he promised that he would treat Jack as his own son.
    Our hero mounted his father’s horse, and rode off to Mr Bonnycastle.
    â€œI am going to sea, Mr Bonnycastle.”
    â€œThe very best thing for you,” replied Mr Bonnycastle.
    Our hero met Dr Middleton.
    â€œI am going to sea, Dr Middleton.”
    â€œThe very best thing for you,” replied the Doctor.
    â€œI am going to sea, mother,” said John.
    â€œTo sea, John, to sea? no, no, dear John, you are not going to sea,” replied Mrs Easy, with horror.
    â€œYes, I am; father has agreed, and says he will obtain your consent.”
    â€œMy consent! Oh, my dear, dear boy!”—and Mrs Easy wept bitterly, as Rachel mourning for her children.

CHAPTER VIII
In which Mr Easy has his first lesson as to zeal in his Majesty’s service.
    AS THERE was no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to his paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to Portsmouth. As Jack had plenty of money and was very much pleazed at finding himself his own master, he was in no hurry to join his ship, and five or six companions, not very creditable, whom either Jack had picked up, or had picked up Jack, and who lived upon him, strongly advised him to put it off until the very last moment. As this advice happened to coincide with Jack’s opinion, our hero was three weeks at Portsmouth before any one knew of his arrival, but at last Captain Wilson received a letter from Mr Easy, by which he found that Jack had left home at the period we have mentioned, and he desired the first lieutenant to make inquiries, as he was afraid that some accident might have happened to him. As Mr Sawbridge, the first