DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0025
HISTORY OF A SLEEP WALKER.
11
the white rag at the enemy’s mast-head was struck.”
Upon receiving this information, his resolution was in-
stantly taken, and he exclaimed,—“ O ! if that’s all, I’ll see
what I can do.” The hostile ships were now engaged
yard-arm and yard-arm, and completely enveloped in
smoke. This circumstance was favourable to the deter-
mination of the youthful hero, who mounting the shrouds
unobserved, gained the French Admiral’s main-yard,
ascended with agility to the main-top-gallant mast-head,
and carried off the French flag. The enemy’s colours
having disappeared, the British tars shouted 44 Victory!”
The French were thrown into confusion by the same cir-
cumstance, and ran from their guns ; the vessel was
boarded by the English and taken. At this moment
Hopson descended the shrouds with the French flag
wrapped round his arm, which he triumphantly displayed.
The sailors received the prize with astonishment; and
the Admiral, on hearing of the exploit, sent for and
thus addressed him: 44 My lad, I believe you to be a
brave youth—From this day I order you to walk the
quarter-deck; and if your future conduct is equally me-
ritorious, you shall obtain my patronage and protection.”
Hopson soon convinced his patron that the opinion he
had formed of him was not unfounded : he went rapidly
through the different ranks of the service, till at length
he attained that of an admiral.
EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY OF A SLEEP-WALKER.
The following Account of a Sleep-walker, is of such a singular and asto-
nishing nature, that some may perhaps be inclined to doubt the truth of
the circumstances detailed in it. We should certainly not have given
them a place in this collection had they not been attested by two gentle-
men of character and talents, Messrs. Reghelini and Pigatti, of Vicenza,
who drew up the following narrative from actual observations made by
them in the year 1745.
T- he Marquis Lewis Salle of Vicenza, had a domestic
named Negritti, who was the most singular sleep-walker
c 2 that
11
the white rag at the enemy’s mast-head was struck.”
Upon receiving this information, his resolution was in-
stantly taken, and he exclaimed,—“ O ! if that’s all, I’ll see
what I can do.” The hostile ships were now engaged
yard-arm and yard-arm, and completely enveloped in
smoke. This circumstance was favourable to the deter-
mination of the youthful hero, who mounting the shrouds
unobserved, gained the French Admiral’s main-yard,
ascended with agility to the main-top-gallant mast-head,
and carried off the French flag. The enemy’s colours
having disappeared, the British tars shouted 44 Victory!”
The French were thrown into confusion by the same cir-
cumstance, and ran from their guns ; the vessel was
boarded by the English and taken. At this moment
Hopson descended the shrouds with the French flag
wrapped round his arm, which he triumphantly displayed.
The sailors received the prize with astonishment; and
the Admiral, on hearing of the exploit, sent for and
thus addressed him: 44 My lad, I believe you to be a
brave youth—From this day I order you to walk the
quarter-deck; and if your future conduct is equally me-
ritorious, you shall obtain my patronage and protection.”
Hopson soon convinced his patron that the opinion he
had formed of him was not unfounded : he went rapidly
through the different ranks of the service, till at length
he attained that of an admiral.
EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY OF A SLEEP-WALKER.
The following Account of a Sleep-walker, is of such a singular and asto-
nishing nature, that some may perhaps be inclined to doubt the truth of
the circumstances detailed in it. We should certainly not have given
them a place in this collection had they not been attested by two gentle-
men of character and talents, Messrs. Reghelini and Pigatti, of Vicenza,
who drew up the following narrative from actual observations made by
them in the year 1745.
T- he Marquis Lewis Salle of Vicenza, had a domestic
named Negritti, who was the most singular sleep-walker
c 2 that