As a relative newcomer, sir, you can be forgiven for retreating into dry minutiae from historical tomes, but it will not aid your case. It is understandable that you never sailed upon the Mudcat Schooner, sang her songs, or watched her twenty finely trained gunnery teams leap to their guns, run out a broadside and reload in the twinkling of an eye, The Nudcat Schooner is as large as a frigate and fast as a tea clipper, handy as a virgin on a dance floor and as seaworthy as a killer whale. She eats fatboats like yon Shat for breakfast when riled, and is the essence of hospitality and sea-going style when befriended. Those who know her know she is better as a friend. But, as I say, much of this was long before your time.

Thanks for catching my typographical error. Why did you not end your rabid spate of italics? Over-emphasis kills the message, you know.


A