eight o'clock in the evening
Sailors , however , are so estranged from their families , when they have been long in their profession , and so accustomed to vicissitudes , that no grief for the loss of a relation lasts very long , and , in a week , O'Brien had recovered his usual spirits , when a vessel brought us the intelligence that a French squadron had been seen off St. Domingo . This put us all on the _ qui vive _ . O'Brien was sent for by the admiral , and ordered to hasten his brig for sea with all possible despatch , as he was to proceed with despatches to England forthwith . In three days we were reported ready , received our orders , and at eight o'clock in the evening made sail from Carlisle Bay . `` Well , Mr Swinburne , '' said I , `` how do you like your new situation ? '' `` Why , Mr Simple , I like it well enough , and it 's not disagreeable to be an officer , and sit in your own cabin ; but still , I feel that I should get on better , if I were in another ship . I 've been hail fellow well met with the ship 's company so long , that I ca n't top the officer over them , and we ca n't get the duty done as smart as I could wish ; and then , at night , I find it very lonely , stuck up in my cabin like a parson 's clerk , and nobody to talk to ; for the other warrants are particular , and say that I 'm only acting , and may not be confirmed , so they hold aloof .