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A CULPRIT EXECUTED.

having robbed and murdered a respectable citizen near the town in open day. When he was apprehended, he insulted the governor of the town, and when imprisoned he attempted the life of the jailor. For all this, it was with some difficulty, and no little reluctance on the part of the authorities, that he was condemned to suffer death. The man, with the most palpable effrontery, asserted his innocence, from which it would appear the difficulty arose; for the law requires either a confession of the crime, or proof by witness, not admitting the strongest circumstantial evidence. But the well-known baseness of the prisoner led his judges to pronounce the sentence of death against him, in the hopes that a confession of his guilt might be extorted from him, when he saw that his situation was hopeless.

The reverend fathers of the Church ministered to him, and, as the object of their mission, begged for his confession in vain. Days passed on in avowing his innocence on the altar; nor was it until the hopes of pardon and that he might live were held out to him, that he unfolded the catalogue of his crimes. Horrorstruck at the enormity of his offences, the priest

A CULPRIT EXECUTED.

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left him, recommending penitence and prayer. The confession was sufficient; it was communicated to the authorities; and on the following day he was led to the great square, amidst a cavalcade of soldiers and priests. Arrived at the place of execution, he was seated apparently in an arm-chair, his head and neck resting against an upright post, his arms and legs were well secured, and a small iron collar was placed round his neck. Everything being ready, a turn or two was taken with a small winch, and the next moment he was suffocated. It appeared to be a quiet and sedate mode of death; not only were no convulsive throes observed, but it really seemed divested of all horror. Indeed it appeared to be considered quite an amusement to the numerous spectators, who chiefly consisted of women; for all of them were gaily attired to witness the spectacle.

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DEPARTURE FOR THE SOUTHWARD.

CHAPTER V.

Bad Depart for the southward.-Make Staten Island. weather. Excellence of Frazer's stove. Anchor off Cape St. John.-Meet an American sealer.-Moored in North Port Hatchett of Staten Island.- Description of the island.-Account of the Seal.-Various kinds, their nature and habits.-Penguins.-Albatross.-Scarcity of fish.-Teredo Navalis.-Remarkable Medusa. - Reflections. Climate.- Prevailing winds. Harbours of the island.

A

THE pendulum experiments and other observations having been completed, and the Chanticleer having received provisions enough for ten months' use, we prepared for sea, and sailed from Monte Video on the 5th of October. light breeze from the eastward favoured our departure; and although the water was tolerably smooth, the little brig, from being overladen with provisions, became very uneasy. In fact she was twelve inches deeper in the water than ever she had been, which obliged us to reduce sail, and to arrange the provisions on deck

amidships, clear from the sides of the vessel. This being done, she was considerably easier. On the 10th we were put on short allowance of water, as we had a long voyage before us towards the south pole, and it was uncertain when we might be able to renew our stock. On the 17th we experienced a severe gale of wind near the Falkland Islands, which obliged us to lie-to. On the 18th we saw the bleak and snowy hills of Staten Island, but there was too much wind for us to approach it, as we were ignorant of its harbours. We accordingly stood off, having sounded in one hundred and five fathoms.

The gale continued with unabated fury, accompanied with frequent showers of hail and snow, and the most terrific sea I ever witnessed in my life. This was Sunday the 19th, a day that I shall never forget. In the evening the wind shifted several points, which caused some uneasiness about the position of the shore, to which we were all entire strangers. The brig, however, was much relieved from the new arrangement of the stores, and behaved remarkably well, lying-to" like a duck," as the sailors termed it. In spite of their good opinions of

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EXCELLENCE OF FRAZER'S STOVE.

her, the night which followed was the most uncomfortable I had ever passed; for owing to the combined effects of excessive motion, the noise of the sea lashing the sides of the vessel, the howling of the storm, and a leak in my cabin over my bed, neither rest nor sleep could I get. The same weather continued throughout the following day, and it was not until the 24th that we again made Staten Island and stood in for Cape St. John.

It is in weather such as we had just experienced that the great advantage of Frazer's stove is found. The hatches had been battened down fore and aft; and yet in this condition, with a most furious sea running, no inconvenience from smoke was found, and our dinners were cooked to perfection. Certainly Mr. Frazer deserves the blessing of every sailor, for it is in situations where such comforts are most needed that they are most appreciated.

On Saturday the 25th of October, having kept pretty well in with the land during the previous night, we made sail before a gentle breeze, and anchored off Deadman's Island, on the north side of Staten Land; for though an island in itself, and not of very large dimensions either, it