but had only advanced a short way when I met Mr. Vaucrosson, the merchant to whom the Britannia had been consigned, who offered me the use of a waste room in one of his outhouses, of which I gladly accepted. A black woman, who also occupied part of the place of which I had now become a temporary tenant, appeared solicitous by every means in her power to render my situation comfortable; but swarms of musquitoes, which proceeded from a well of stagnant water under the floor, only covered by a few loose boards, prevented the possibility of repose, by their intolerable stinging.

The following day I spent in endeavouring to devise some means of relief from my present painful condition, but was unable to conceive any practicable plan. Monday was spent in a similar lonely state of fruitless anxiety, but my spirits were considerably cheered on the following morning by the return of my companion, who now likewise became a sharer in Mr. V.'s bounty, and a fellow lodger in the same ruinous abode; for such it may justly be

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designated, being merely composed of some old wainscot, which had by time become so disunited as to admit free ingress, in every direction, to the sun's rays.

Our thoughts were now wholly occupied in forming plans for returning to Europe, but every suggestion for attaining that object proved nugatory, in consequence of our pecuniary inability; a circumstance which even rendered the prospect of ultimate success extremely doubtful and uncertain. A week had now elapsed since the departure of the Britannia, during which short interval we contemplated with alarm the rapid decline of our finances; owing to the exorbitant price of every article composing the common necessaries of life.

From the Swedish inhabitants, whose hospitality and friendship were so conspicuous on our first arrival in the island, we no longer experienced either kindness or attention; they appeared wholly forgetful of their recent flattering professions, and their present conduct fully exemplified how difficult it is to form a just value of human sincerity, except through the medium

of adverse fortune. From some few of the original merchants of the island we still, however, occasionally received marks of sympathy and commiseration.

A number of officers having already proceeded to the United States, in consequence of the comparatively moderate rate of passage, we had likewise determined on pursuing a similar course, and, in order to provide ourselves with the requisite funds, and replenish our nearly exhausted resources, we immediately converted into cash every article of property we could possibly dispose of, (consisting of our swords, epaulets, books, &c.)... Having by this means collected what we calculated would be sufficient to secure us a conveyance to North America, we entered into a treaty with the captain of the brig, General Jackson, bound to Philadelphia, and had nearly agreed with him for a passage, with ship fare, at thirty dollars each, when our attention was diverted from this purpose by an occurrence at Saint Kitt's, which revived in our minds the nearly expired hope of again returning to our native country.

The circumstance to which I have just referred, was that of several English merchant vessels, (which had either through neglect or misconception of the navigation laws, been subjected to seizure ;) having been taken possession of by the admiral on that station.

Some of the merchants in Saint Bartholomew's hearing of this event, advised us, in the strongest manner, to proceed to Saint Kitt's; observing, that the above named ships must, in order to obtain new registers, unavoidably return to England in ballast; and would, in all probability, afford us a passage home at a moderate rate. We felt too much elated with even this distant prospect of returning to Europe, to hesitate one moment as to the course we should pursue. We at once relinquished our North American project; and having determined on proceeding to Saint Kitt's, made every preparation with the greatest despatch; obtained our passports, and in less than two hours had the satisfaction to find ourselves on board a small schooner, on the point of sailing for that island; to the

H

captain of which we each paid four dollars

for our passage.

We took our final leave of Saint Bartholomew's in the afternoon of the third of April; leaving behind us the ship Dowson, with Colonel Campbell and his remaining officers on board, as likewise Mr. Hudson, who having been altogether foiled in his original scheme, had, a short time previous to our departure, declared it to be his intention immediately to beat up for recruits throughout the island, and proceed with any number he could collect.

The Emerald, which proceeded to Saint Bartholomew's, after transferring Colonel Hippesley's party to the patriot schooner, Tiger, also continued at anchor after our departure...

Early on the following morning we were close in with Saint Kitt's, which island presented the most fertile and highly cultivated appearance. The minor hills exhibited the most lively and pleasing variety of shades, covered with verdure to their summits, occasionally interspersed with small timber and brush-wood.