noon
The India men being now left to protect themselves , the senior officer , Commodore Bottlecock , issued most elaborate memorandum , as to the order of sailing , exercise of the men at the great guns and small arms , and every other point which could tend to their security by due preparation . Nevertheless , the ladies continued to appear on deck . Mrs Ferguson sate in her majesty ; the young ladies tittered , and were reprimanded ; the young gentlemen were facetious , and were rebuked ; the old colonel talked of his adventure at Madeira , and compared everything to the spent ball in the battle of -- . Dr Plausible had become a most assiduous attendant upon Miss Tavistock , ever since he had satisfactorily ascertained that she had property of her own ; everybody had become intimate : everyone was becoming tired , when the bearings and distance at noon placed them about two hundred miles from Point de Galle , the southernmost extremity of Ceylon . The wind was fresh and fair , and they congratulated each other upon a speedy termination to their tedious voyage . Dinner was announced by the old tune of `` Oh ! the roast beef of Old England ; '' and during a long voyage the announcement of dinner is a very great relief every way .