21(Page 18) by Patrick O'Brian
This is page 18 extended and page 19 of the untyped pages in the 21 manuscript. I have decoded it the best I could but there are errors in there, his handwriting is appalling.
" the first Lord of the Admiralty could not turn Maturin from his set course, perverse though it may be. But here is my reefer and the barge is alongside: I thank you very heartily indeed for your hospitality, and I shall most willingly carry your nephew to the Cape. Good day to you my lord. Come Stephen.
An Admiral's barge, though spacious, is still a public place and they said little as they returned to the ship:
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Page 19 Untyped
'in a bear of the largest cure could not deter Maturin from what he thinks right. And I do assure you lord that we have some people in the sick-list in a very parlous state.'
'How do you mean parlous?'
'Well my lord, nip and tuck, as you might say, or touch and go and it is my impression that as soon as his assistant Dr Jacob comes aboard, he means to operate on a strangled hernia.'
' A twisting of the guts, my lord. The poor soul, swelling above because his shipmates feed him twice at every meal: and he structured below: The patient is a sailman's mate.'
'Well I am sorry for him, but I am sure to have nothing to recommend but a double handful of small - she followed by a pint of castor oil. Yet it is really a medico's business and I shall certainly leave it to him. Would it be a very bloody affair?'
'Shockingly so, I fear: though with clips and swabs we shall try to diminish the flow. '
'I might mention of Capt Miller. He walked miles to see the castration of lambs and stallions - geldings for that matter.' The Admiral gazed out at the taut sails with unbridled pleasure. 'Now that it is getting something like the full trades, clear of the land and its turbulence', said the Admiral and presently he formed the whole South African squadron into the sailing order, sending his guests back to their ships in the kindest manner.
Truly, once they had sunk the land it was the purest sailing: nearly 300 miles in the first day, never touching tack nor sheet, and the the Suffolk kept in splendidly, though this miffed the keenest navigators Hanson and Daniel, who would so have loved
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