er well remembered faces presented themselves to my view. It brought a crowd of recollections across my mind, and recalled those scenes which shone so cloudlessly and passed away so soon. It was one of those hasty snatches of thought that embodies years in the space of minutes: but the noise soon dispelled the vision, and it vanished amid the cries of "Fast sailing Poll,—Countess,—-good accommodations,-King George Mail,--Queen Charlotte, go for the tide,”—and a hundred other sounds, all equally harmonious. I followed the general plan of great travellers, to keep all in suspense and promise none; so that every time I showed my head out at the inn door I was again surrounded, and made another collection of cards. How delightful to walk upon the cool margin of the purple wave, and contemplate the weather-beaten face of the hardy Hoveller,-to watch his stolen and suspicious glances while pretending to look through his glass at the distant sail; and when the roaring billows are dashing their white foam upon the beach, to see him launch through the raging surge to aid the vessel in distress. A more stigmatized, yet useful, body of men never existed. What, though they may dabble a little now and then in a few contrabrand articles, (as which of us has not ?)—but there-there-that's a forbidden subject and the least said about it the better. Who ever has mounted to the height of that famed cliff where Shakspeare wooed the tragic Muse, without feeling some portion of Parnassian elevation? To listen to the whispering of the little azure wave as it chafes the yellow strand below-to taste the only unadulterated thing we can now enjoy, the pure clear air of heaven-to look with shuddering instinct over the steep precipice, and then turn to the green slope descending to the valley-But let us get to the Pier heads, and that rendezvous for pilots and for news-the Cross Wall. Of

all characters these are the most readily known; and it is remarkable, that though but a few miles separate the towns, the Deal and Dover pilots are peculiarly distinguished from each other. The former, with their long-tail, broad-flapped coats, apparently cut from the same piece of cloth and cast by the same manufacturer; then they have an indolent slouch in their gait, as if they had nothing to do and fifty to help them, wrangling together all day long, but in the evening assembling at the Star, or elsewhere, over their glass of grog, as amicable as ever. The Dover pilots are more improved in their manners and appearance (probably the effects of steam ;) the fashionable cut is superseding the old style of dress, and the honest bluntness of the "aunciente pilote," is refined into modern politeness and genteel deportment. But, take them for all in all, when we consider the extent of property and number of lives committed to their charge, and the comparative few cases of loss, we must acknowledge them to be a valuable and respectable class of the community. Their wives-but we must not meddle with them-besides the flag is up, and I shall barely have time to clear my baggage and get on board-"When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.” Scarcely had my trunk undergone examination, than they were handled by men belonging to the various packets, and we bid fair to go to Calais in different vessels, till I determined to take my passage with my worthy old friend in the Countess; but as from ladder to ladder* may make the subject of another communication, I shall shove off from the Pier and close the present, with a hope that it will find a corner in your Gazette, in which case you shall again hear from Yours, &c. &c.

HUMPHREY FElt,

Currier and Tanner.

*The ladders by which the Packets are boarded at Dover and Calais.

At Yarmouth, the Wrestlers' Inn is more celebrated for the jeu d'esprit of the immortal Nelson than any thing else; who, when the landlord requested permission to call it Nelson's Hotel, and place his Lordship's

arms over the door, gave him full permission to do the former, suggesting at the same time the omission of the latter ceremony, on the ground that he had no arms to spare.

AFTER many months of anxious and painful expectancy, I at length succeeded in obtaining my appointment to the situation I had so ardently wished for. Despairing at my apparent want of success, I had given up all hopes, and had engaged to go servant in the Clydesdale to the East Indies, when the favourable result of my friend's exertions changed the aspect of my affairs. My instructions set forth the necessity of my being at Surinam by a certain day, otherwise I should be too late to join the corps to which I was appointed, which, on the ceding up of the place to the Dutch, was to proceed to Canada. As it wanted only two months of that period, it became necessary to inquire for some vessel without loss of time. Giving up my engagement with the Clydesdale, I proceeded to the harbour, and after a toilsome search, succeeded in discovering a ship chartered by a Glasgow company lying ready at the west quay, and to sail with that evening's tide. While I stood examining the vessel from the pier, two sailors, who seemed to be roaming idly about, stopped, and began to converse by my side.

"Has the old Dart got all her hands, Tom!" said the one, "that she has her ensign up for sailing? They say she is sold to the lubberly Dutchmen now what cheer to lend her a hand out, and get our sailing-penny for a glass of grog?" "No, no; bad cheer!" replied the other; "mayhap I didn't tell you that I made a trip in her four years ago; and a cleaner or a livelier thing is not on the water! But there is a limb of the big devil in her ̧ that is enough to cause her to sink to the bottom. It was in our voyage out that he did for Bill Burnet with the pump sounding-rod, because the little fellow snivelled a bit, and was not handy to jump when he was ordered aloft to set the fore-royal. It was his first voyage, and the boy was mortal afraid to venture; but the Captain swore he

would make him, and in his passion took him a rap with the iron-rod, and killed him. When he saw what he had done, he lifted, and hove him over the side; and many a long day the men wondered what had become of little Bill, for they were all below at dinner, and none but myself saw the transaction. It was needless for me to complain, and get him overhauled, as there were no witnesses; but I left the ship, and births would be scarce before I would sail with him again."

Knowing what tyrants shipmasters are in general, and how much their passengers' comfort depends on them, I was somewhat startled by this piece of information respecting the temper of the man I purposed to sail with. But necessity has no law! The circumstance probably was much misrepresented, and, from a simple act of discipline, exaggerated to an act of wanton cruelty. But be that as it might— my affairs were urgent. There was no other vessel for the same port-I must either take my passage, or run the risk of being superseded. The thing was not be thought of; so I went and secured my birth. As my preparations were few and trifling, I had every thing arranged, and on board, just as the vessel was unmooring from the quay. During the night we got down to the Clock light-house, and stood off and on, waiting for the Captain, who had remained behind to get the ship cleared out at the Custom House. Soon afterwards he joined us, and the pilot leaving us in the return-boat, we stood down the Forth under all our canvass.

For four weeks we had a quick and pleasant passage. The Dart did not belie her name; for, being Americanbuilt, and originally a privateer, she sailed uncommonly fast, generally running at the rate of twelve knots an hour.

As I had expected, Captain Mahone proved to be, in point of acquirements, not at all above the common run of

shipmasters. He was haughty and overbearing, and domineered over the crew with a high hand; in return for which, he was evidently feared and detested by them all. He had been many years in the West Indies; part of which time he had ranged as commander of a privateer, and had, between the fervid sons of such high latitudes and the copious use of grog, become of a rich mahogany colour, or something between vermillion and the tint of a sheet of new copper. He was a middle-sized man; square built, with a powerful muscular frame. His aspect naturally harsh and forbidding, was rendered more so by the sinister expression of his left eye, which had been nearly forced out by some accident-and the lineaments of his countenance expressed plainly that he was passionate and furious in the extreme. In consequence of this, I kept rather distant and aloof; and, except at meals, we seldom exchanged more than ordinary civilities.

By our reckoning, our ship had now got into the latitude of the Bermudas, when one evening, at sun-set, the wind, which had hitherto been favourable, fell at once into a dead calm. The day had been clear and bright; but now, liuge masses of dark and conicalshaped clouds began to tower over each other in the western horizon, which, being tinged with the rays of the sun, displayed that lurid and deep brassy tint so well known to mariners as the token of an approaching storm. All the sailors were of opinion that we should have a coarse night; and every precaution that good seamanship could suggest was taken to make the vessel snug before the gale came on. The oldest boys were sent up to hand and send down the royal and top-gallant sails, and strike the masts, while the top-sails and stays were close-reefed. These preparations were hardly accomplished, when the wind shifted, and took us a-back with such violence as nearly to capsize the vessel. The ship was put round as soon as possible, and brought-to till the gale should fall: while all hands remained on deck in case of any emergency. About ten, in the interval of a squail, we heard a

gun fired as a signal of distress. The night was as black as pitch; but the flash showed us that the stranger was not far to leeward: so, to avoid drifting on the wreck during the darkness, the main-top-sail was braced round, and filled, and the ship hauled to windward. In this manner we kept alternately beating and heaving-to as the gale rose or fell till the morning broke, when, through the haze, we perceived a small vessel with her masts carried away. As the wind had taken off, the Captain had gone to bed: so it was the mate's watch on deck. The steersman, an old grey-headed seaman, named James Gemmel, proposed to bear down and save the people, saying he had been twice wrecked himself, and knew what it was to be in such a situation. As the Captain was below, the mate was irresolute what to do; being aware that the success of the speculation depended on their getting to Surinam before it was given up: however, he was at length persuadedthe helm was put up, and the ship bore away.

As we neared the wreck, and were standing by the mizen shrouds with our glasses, the Captain came up from the cabin. He looked up with astonishment to the sails, and the direction of the vessel's head, and, in a voice of suppressed passion, said, as he turned to the mate, "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Wyllie? Who has dared to alter the ship's course without my leave-when you know very well that we shall hardly be in time for the market, use what expedition we may?" The young man was confused by this unexpected challenge, and stammered out something about Gemmel having persuaded him. "It was me, Sir!" respectfully interfered the old sailor, wishing to avert the storm from the mate; "I thought you wouldn't have the heart to leave the wreck and these people to perish, without lending a hand to save them! We should be neither Christians nor true seamen to desert her, and ""Damn you and the wreck, you old canting rascal! do you pretend to stand there and preach to me?" thundered the Captain, his fury breaking out, "I'll teach

and injured his spine beyond remedy. All that could now be done was to afford a little temporary relief from pain, which I did; and leaving him to the care of the young lady and the priest, I left the cabin.

On deck I found all bustle and confusion. The ship was still lying-to, and the boats employed in bringing the goods out of the felucca, both of which were the property of the wounded gentleman. The body of the old man, Gemmel, had been removed somewhere out of sight; no trace of blood was visible, and Captain Mahone seemed desirous to banish all recollections both of our quarrel and its origin.

As the invalid was lying in the cabin, and my state-room occupied by the lady and her female attendant, I got a temporary birth in the steerage made up for myself for the night. I had not long thrown myself down on my cot, which was only divided from the main-cabin by a bulk-head, when I was awakened by the deep groans of the Spaniard. The violence of his pain had again returned, and between the spasms I heard the weeping and gentle voice of the lady soothing his agony, and trying to impart hopes and prospects to him, which her own hys terical sobs told plainly she did not herself feel. The priest also frequently joined, and urged him to confess. To this advice he remained silent for awhile; but at length he addressed the lady: "The Padre says true, Isabella! Time wears apace, and I feel that I shall soon be beyond its limits, and above its concerns! But ere I go, I would say that which it would impart peace to my mind to disclose-I would seek to leave you at least one human being to befriend and protect you in your utter helplessness. Alas! that Diego di Montaldo's daughter should ever be thus destitute! Go! my love! I would be alone a little while with the father." An agony of tears and sobs was the only return made by the poor girl, while the priest with gentle violence led her into the state-room. "Now," continued the dying man, "listen to me while I have strength. You have only known me as a merchant in Cuba; but such I have not

were

been always. Mine is an ancient and noble family in Catalonia; though I unhappily disgraced it, and have been estranged from it long. I had the misfortune to have weak and indulgent parents, who idolized me as the heir of their house, and did not possess resolution enough to thwart me in any of my wishes or desires, however unreasonable. My boyhood being thus spoiled, it is no matter of wonder that my youth should have proved wild and dissolute. My companions were as dissipated as myself, and much of our time was spent in gambling and other extravagances. One evening at play I quarrelled with a young nobleman of high rank and influence; we both of us hot and passionate, so we drew on the spot and fought, and I had the misfortune to run him through the heart and leave him dead. Not daring to remain longer at home, I fled in disguise to Barcelona, where I procured a passage in a vessel for the Spanish Main. On our voyage we were taken by buccaneers; and, the roving and venturous mode of life of these bold and daring men suiting both my inclination and finances, I agreed to make one of their number. For many months we were successful in our enterprises: we ranged the whole of these seas, and made a number of prizes, some of which were rich ships of our own colonies. In course of time we amassed such a quantity of specie as to make us unwilling to venture it in one bottom; so we agreed to hide it ashore, and divide it on our return from our next expedition. But our good fortune forsook us this time. During a calm the boats of the Guarda-costa came on us, overpowered the ship, and made all the crew, except myself and two others, prisoners. We escaped with our boat, and succeeded in gaining the island of Cuba, where both of my comrades died of their wounds. Subsequent events induced me to settle at St. Juan de Buenavista, where I married, and as a merchant prospered and became a rich man. But my happiness lasted not! My wife caught the yellow fever and died, leaving me only this one child. I now loathed the scene of my departed happiness, and felt all the longings