direction.

After breakfast, an infernal yell was set up; one of the sails which had hid Neptune's car was withdrawn, and six of the ugliest men in the ship yoked to draw him, his family, and retinue up to the quarter-deck. There were Mr. and Mrs. Neptune, with two children in and about the car, together with his barber and barber's mate, constable, and other officers of his court. They were all naked, except trowsers and huge caps made of rope-yarn on their heads, while their faces and bodies were daubed over with pitch, black and other paints, grease and every kind of nuisance. This greasy gang proceeded to a part of the quarter-deck, related the latest news they had heard, and delivered several old newspapers to the Captain. While thus busily employed, those who understood the manœuvre kept at a respectful distance, while all those unacquainted with it crowded round these monsters. Instantly there were dashed down from the rigging tubs of water, which ducked the whole party most thoroughly./

Business now commenced. Neptune's Clerk called successively the names of those

who had not passed the line, and although each officer, in the gun-room, had, the preceding

night, assured the gang they would each give the party a quart of brandy, rather than be shaved, this process went on as if no such offer had been made. Those called went to the car, which was now filled with water, and those who took it easy got off with merely chalking the chin, which was shaved off with an iron hoop hacked like a saw, while those restive spirits who objected were tarred and feathered most plentifully, and had the skin nearly rasped from their chin. The Isat were generally also soused in the car full of water; and all of them on leaving the seat were saluted with a profusion of water from every direction. Those shaved, however, had the power to act on the offensive; and, recollecting how ill they relished it, laved bucket upon bucket full till all were completely drenched. The ceremony ended amidst hootings, hissings, and applauses, just as those who had been shaved roughly or otherwise felt inclined. }

On the 7th, it was eight days since we left Porto Santo, and we had in that time

had run full 1200 miles. It astonished me to find, that, at this distance across the Atlantic, the weather was not warmer. The climate is certainly delightful; but the thermometer of Farenheit in the shade, even at noon, did not stand higher than seventy.

On the 18th, we came in sight of Saint Bartholomew's, and, by sunset, we were within reach of the guns of the fort. We fired our guns, but no pilot came on board; and, after it was dark we hoisted a light on our foretop, but no notice was taken of it. We lay-to during the night, and came to anchor next morning about 8 A. M.

CHAP. III.

STAY IN THE WEST INDIES.

Patriot vessels which had touched at St. Bartholomew's, and desertion which had taken place from them;-Some account of the Island;-Unfavourable accounts of the Patriots there;--Sails from St. Bartholomew's, and arrives at Grenada ;-Still worse accounts of the Patriots at this Island;-The supercargoes refuse to proceed, and many men leave the ships;-Indolence of the people there;-Sails from Grenada and arrives at Trinidad;-Some account of Port of Spain;-Undergoes a medical examination with a view to settle there ;-Further account of Port of Spain; -Description of the Negro-dance;-Takes a passage for Angostura against the advice of friends.

HERE we found the Britannia and the Prince, the latter of which we had previously been taught to believe was foundered during the gales in which the Indian went down.

In consequence of the dreadful accounts from the Main, neither of these vessels had proceeded on their voyage, but had been at anchor here for about a month. The Emerald had also been here, but had sailed for Grenada about a week ago. Many of the

men and officers belonging to the Emerald, the Britannia, and Prince, had left these vessels, and we found them walking about the streets.

The inhabitants were uncommonly civil, which, from the extreme poverty of the place, we could scarcely have expected. Often for many months this island is not visited by one shower; and, when we reflect that rainwater is all they have for every culinary purpose, we cannot be surprised to find that they must frequently send to St. Martin's and St. Christopher's for water, and indeed for almost every thing they want. Fish here is the only staple article; and this, with salt provision and a scanty allowance of lean fresh meat, once a week, is all their sustenance.---I was asked over night to dine next day with Major G., and next day he assured me that he had to apologize for the poverty of the place, as he was unable to procure any thing but fish and wine.

We walked into the interior, and there we had an opportunity of seeing nature in the greatest possible state of wildness. The island is evidently of volcanic origin, and