On Sunday, the 15th of June, 1806, I sailed, at about eleven at noon, from Montego Bay, the vessel having previously stood out a little way to sea. and tacked in again, with the view of putting ashore some gentlemen who had breakfasted on board with our Captain. A smart breeze sprung up; the sails were soon set, and the ship dashed away before the wind, at the rate of eight knots an hour, steering a west and by northerly course. The spot we had left receded fast from our view, and was at length lost in the deep mist of a heavy rain, which hovered along the coast, and enveloped the adjacent mountains. By two o'clock P.M. the weather, however, cleared up, and we had a charming view of the coast of Hanover. We particularly noticed the Dolphin-head, a high ridge, so called from its supposed resemblance, from a certain point of view, to the head of that animal: all the eminences and acclivities wore the appearance of a lively and refreshing verdure, owing to the recent rains, which had given a spring to vegetation. By two o'clock we were opposite to Lucca, a safe and tolerably capacious barbour, but disgraced by a wretched town standing on its western peninsula. By the dusk of the evening we had reached the west end of the island; the land now appeared faint and distant, and in a short time totally faded from the view, and mingled with the shades of night. We now bade adieu to Jamaica! My feelings on the occasion were various-my mind seemed agitated and divided between hope, fear, regret, and expectationa crowd of thoughts rushed into it. I had quitted a country (perhaps for ever!) which I was in the habit of considering as a second home, having spent in it the greater part of my life: that life had been a checkered scene of care, toil, and anxiety, mingled with few pleasures, and enlivened with a small portion of joy; I had sometimes to encounter the frowns of unfeeling power, and the malignancy of worthless characters-I have unfor tunately had, at times, to deal with the base, the selfish, and unprincipled, but

I had the good fortune, also, to form intimacies with worthy individuals, whose virtues would do an honour to any country. The remembrance of those dear and valued friends caused me involuntarily to sigh, when the thought occurred to me that I should, perhaps, never behold them more! As some consolation, however, I felt animated by the hope of enjoying various pleasures in my travels; of seeing my friends in England, and being cordially received by them; and, finally, that I might yet revisit those I left in Jamaica; a country only made alluring to me by their society.

the sea

On the morning of the 16th, not an appearance of land was to be scea z the sky was uncommonly clear; of a beautiful azure, geatly agitated by a soft gale, which wafted the vessel along at the moderate rate of five miles an hour. Nothing occurred on this day worth mentioning. Two marine birds hovered across our stern, and seemed desirous of resting on our rigging; and a large log of wood floated by us. About eight o'clock at night a smart squall of wind and rain came on, and compelled us to shorten sail.

At eight o'clock of the morning of the 17th we descried the Grand Cay manas, an island, so called to distinguish it from the Little Caymanas. It is a low lying island, about ten leagues in length, and from two to three in breadth, covered with dwarf shrubbery, here and there interspersed with cocoa-nuts. The few inhabitants on it subsist chiefly by fishing and turtling. Immense num bers of turtle, in particular, are found around its coast. About eleven A.M. a canoe came of to us, loaded with plantains, pumpkins, turtle, &c., notwithstanding a strong squall, and perturbed broken sea. At two o'clock we made the western point of this island, and soon after was out of sight of it. We this day saw1umbers of lyingfish, and a species of marine bird, called by the seamen Mhear-water.

During the greater part of the 18th, and the preceding night, we encoun tered sudden and strong squalls of wind and rain; the darkness of the night was uncommon; hardly a star was to be seen" twinkling in his sphere;" but the quick and vivid flashes of lightning ever and anou illumed the homisphere, and exhibited to us the fretful working of the waves. This day our cook unfortunately fell sick, he brought.

a severe fever upon himself by sleeping repeatedly in wet clothes. On inquiry, I found that this poor fellow had only one suit in his possession, viz. a frock and pair of trowsers, stiff and begrimed with tar and grease. Like too many of his brother tars, he was thoughtless and improvident; he had twenty dollars per month, yet be rather chose to spend his money by getting drunk as often as possible while ashore, than by providing necessary comforts for his use when at

sea.

The morning of the 19th was uncommonly beautiful; the sun rose with a brilliancy the more cheering, as we had hitherto experienced precarious, and mostly gloomy, weather; a de lightful gale wafted us briskly along, and the sky appeared untinged with a cloud. I felt my spirits more lively and gay but how uncertain are our pleasure -We were doomed soon to be tortured by the apprehension of being boarded by some of the numerous privateers or piccaroons of the enemy that infest the latitude in which we were. At eleven A. M. we descried the coast of Cuba, and soon after Cape Antonio, the western extremity of that island: two sail, a schooner and a sloop, appeared on our lee; and at anchor under the Cape, a three-masted felucca privateer. We expected every moment she would come in pursuit of us; and so unprincipled are those pirates, that the least we had to expect from them was the being plundered and maltreated; for they do not respect neutrals much more than they do enemies, as i have been informed by many who have had the misfortune to fall into their hands. We were, however, agreeably disappointed for, owing to the fresh breeze that blew, or some other cause, she did not come out, and of the two sail to leeward of us, one passed us to windward, and the other, steering the same course as ourselves, we had reason to suspect was an American. At three o'clock P.M. we doubled Cape Antonio, and shaped our course N.N.W. Of the island of Cuba I will not atteurpt, as it is unnecessary, to give a description. We saw this day immense numbers of porpoises and flying fish, but no dolphins.

The 20th proved a charming day; and the auspicious appearance of the heaveus promised a continuance of favourable weather. The strange sail that still remained on our lee beam, was

at sun-rise within three miles of us, and bore a suspicious appearance. At seven o'clock A:M. we saw a large vessel bearing up to windward of us; on her nearing we could perceive she was a frigate under British colours: on getting sufficiently to windward, she bore down towards the schooner to leeward of us, and fired a signal gun for us to come down towards her. She proved to be the Cerberus, British frigate, Captain Selby. Her First Lieutenant came on board to examine our papers, and informed us that he had been out a month from Port Royal without having taken any thing; but that he had chased a felucca the day before, who had escaped. The truth is, our frigates and larger sloops of war are very unfit for the purpose of watching, pursuing, and capturing, those light and nimble vessels; they are adapted both for sailing and rowing, and there are few of our cruisers that can overtake them, particularly in light winds, when they can avail themselves of both. It is much to be wished that there was a certain number of light vessels on the Jamaica station, built and fitted for the purpose of destroying these marauders, which are so wonderful an annoyance to our trade. The Lieutenant of the Cerberus also informed us, that he had boarded a number of Americans, and was informed by most of them, that they had been boarded and plundered by Spanish privateers. We expressed to him our satisfaction at having fallen in with a friend so seasonably, for our fears of piccaroons were now eased. The strange schooner proved to be an Ame rican, bound from Jamaica to George Town, Virginia. The frigate being badly off for water and sinall stock, our Captain gave six or seven buakers of the former, and requested the Lieutenant's acceptance of two young hogs; these last he insisted on paying for, alleging it as customary in the Navy and our Captain, finding he could not persuade him to take them on any other terms, consented to take two dollars, for the form of the thing. The Lieutenant was a genteel young man, polite, affable, and intelligent, and peculiarly thankful for the readiness with which we wished to oblige him. He had been in the celebrated battle of Trafalgar, as he told us, on board of the Tonnant. On the bows of the fris gate's boat I could not help noticing the odd conceit of having two large

keys painted the keys of Hell, I presame; Cerberus, the three headed dog, being the personage to whom is assigned the keeping the gates of that region, if we are to believe the heathen mythology.

June 21st. In the course of last night the breeze died away, and sunk into a calm; the moon shone upon the surface of the water, and showed us just a gentle undulation of its waves. In the morning there was still very little breeze, and that little against us. In the afternoon it freshened a little, but not shifting in our favour, the little way we made was gained by tacking out and in from the land, the north side of Cuba being in view. Nothing can be more tantalizing than those baf fling winds at sca; as nothing is more pleasing than the brisk and auspicious gale that drives the vessel along to her destined port. The man of war and George Town schooner were in view of us this day.

June 220. This day week being that on which we left Montego Bay, it recalled to my mind the agreeable and dear friends I left there, and with unfeigned sincerity I drank, during dinner, to their health and happiness, and, with a sigh, bid them in idea a second adieu! Sunday is a day devoted to rest, and set apart by our holy religion to pious purposes; but at sea it makes little difference, and is seldom attended to more than any other day of the week. The truth is, sailors do not trouble their heads much about religion; and if they did, the nature and necessary duties of their profession preclude a very strict observance of its ceremonial duties. As for that habitial violation of one of its commandments, swearing, I do verily believe that a sailor, or, rather, the generality of sailors, could not do well without it; and it is to be hoped, that when the supreme Commander shall pipe all hands aloft, he will make suitable allowances for this propensity in Poor Jack. An oath operates like electricity on a sailor. When the tempest rages, and the billows roll mountains high, such language as, "Do, my good fellows! I beg it as a favour, now!" or, "Gentlemen, will you have the goodness to clue up this sail, or take a reef in that," would hardly answer-No; it must be more consonant to the pelting of the pitiless storm;" aud D your bloods, or your eyes, you sons of Europ. Mag. Vol. LI, Ket. 1207.

bs, why don't you do so and so ?" seems to be a strain of salutation better adapted to their feelings and understandings. I have somewhere met with an anculote of a reverend Minister of the Gospel, who, being on a sea voyage, frequently reproved the Captain for prophane swearing. The honest seainan bluntly told him, that he could get nothing done without it, for that his people would not exert themselves without being d-d and bd now and then. This, however, the parson considered as an unfounded assertion, and the Captain said, he should, perhaps, have an opportunity of soon convincing him of the truth of what be. said. Accordingly, one night a pitcry darkness enveloped the sky, the stars were invisible, the winds of heaven were let loose, and the waves worked into a rage, when the parson and the Captain adjourned on deck to give the necessary orders. The Captain begged and entreated; the parson exhorted and prayed; but all would not dothe seamen were slow and inactive in taking in sail, and not a moment was to be lost, for the ship was nearly on, her beam-ends! At this awful crisis, the parson came to the Captain, and expressing his conviction, conjured him to make haste and swear, or do any thing that could save them from being swallowed up by the waves. A few hearty and boisterous oaths set the ves sel upright again, and eased the parson's fears.-The wind to-day freshened, but still continued contrary. No sail was in sight.

:

June 23d. At about one o'clock A. M. of this day the wind began to blowpretty hard, subsiding at intervals, till about eleven o'clock A.M., when it increased sensibly and rapidly sail was instantly taken in, the top gallant sails were handed, and soon after the topsails close-reefed; the wind, however, grew every minute more violent, and at four o'clock P.M. blew a tremendous gale. It was now found necessary to haud the top-sails, strike the topgallant yards, and soon after clew up and fuel the fore-sail; the vessel laying up to the wind under a mizen and inai storm-stay sail. The wind at this noment blew with the utmost fury, accompanied with heavy drifts of rain, and the waves ran mountains bigh It had been a long time since I had been on a sea voyage, and curiosity as well as anxiety led me upon deck. I ̧

heard the winds whistling with an ap Balling fury through the rigging; I saw the enraged billows foaming around the ship, and seeming to threaten in stant destruction; at one time she was lifted high up on the ridge of a billow, and at another lying deep in the trough of the sea, between two frightful waves, as if sinking into the watery abyss! To say I beheld this terrific scene unmoved, would be saying what nobody would believe-the fact is, I was a good deal alarmed, as was one of my brother passengers; while the other affected indifference and composure. I certainly approve of the endeavour to conceal one's apprehensions in such situations, as fear is infectious, and must tend to depress spirit and paralyse exertion; but I do not admire an overstrained hypocrisy in any thing: even our Captain was somewhat uneasy at one time; he was uncertain whether the storm would continue to increase, and when it would begin to abate; the wind had shifted a few points unfavourably, and we had a lee-shore (the Fortugas) within five or six leagues of us. Both the Captain and Mate agreed in opinion, that they had seldom encountered a severer gale, and never in the situation in which the ship then was. When night fell, the storm was at its acme-the darkness added horror to the scene-the awfulness of such a scene is indeed inconceivable by one who has never witnessed it; but in the old and experienced seaman it by no means produces those emotions of dread with which the landsman surveys it. In such situations, with what avidity we catch at every faint glimmering ray of hope, and how gladly we listen to those who impart it! With eagerness. I asked, at different times, the Cap-, tain's and Mate's opinions, and felt delighted when they were of a consolatory nature. At about twelve at night the wind somewhat abated; and I perceived, with much satisfaction, that the Captain retired for a little repose from his fatigues, apparently in good spirits, as if sensible that the danger was nearly over. The ship rolled prodigiously, but every thing aloft was (to use a seaman's phrase) snug and we passengers, tatching confidence from these propitious omens, soon sunk into the arms of sleep.

June 24. When the light of this day appeared, the storm had greatly sabsided, but still the horizon wore

a louring aspect in one quarter; and as there is no trusting to those momentary cessations and deceitful calms, that often intervene in storms at sea, our fears were not yet entirely quicted. About ten o'clock A.M., however, the clouds that deformed the sky disappeared, and the whole hemisphere assumed a cheerful and promising aspect. By two o'clock P.M. the breeze had totally subsided, buí still a heavy swell of the sea remained. Every counte nance was now brightened into a smile, each person congratulating himself on his happy escape from danger. There is also a pleasure ineffable inspired by the return and enjoyment of fair after boisterous weather-in beholding a clear and cloudless sky, which but lately was overcast with gloom, and deformed by the war of the elements. By night the swell of the sea subsided; and the moon rising, exhibited to us an appearance far different from that of last night. In the afternoon we caught a dolphin, an elegant and beautiful fish, so much admired for the variety of colours it assumes, both in the water and when dying. Both yesterday and to-day we saw a great many small marine birds, called by the seamen Mother Carey's Chickens, and, I believe, by Buffon, the Stormy Petterel. We saw them at one time, during the very height of the storm, skimming the waves, and sporting in the wind.

June 25th. This day proved uncommonly beautiful-the sky was of a clear azure, and without a cloud; the air was soft and mild; the sea smooth and placid; and the breeze lulled into the gentleness of a zephyr: in short, a calm prevailed—a circunstance which, however pleasing to the feelings, we did not much approve, as the ship was making no way through the water:We would have rather wished to have seen the surface of the ocean whitened by a lively breeze, and the vessel going in proportion, than linger as we were doing to admire the halcyons sporting on its bosom. But it would be unreasonable to expect every thing always to our wish. This I can say, that very different indeed was the scene of to-day from what it was the day before yester day, and very different were my feelings in consequence. My mind, which had sunk into a momentary gloom, in sympathy with the surrounding horrors of the storm, now felt the sunshine of joy diffused over it-my hopes revived;

and, with a pleasing satisfaction, I anticipated many agreeable occurrences in my future travels.

To-day we saw flocks of sea-gulls or gannets, and some dolphins; we endeavoured to strike some of the latter with a harpoon, but without success. About the early part of the day we saw a strange schooner-rigged vessel to windward of us, standing on the opposite tack. She had a suspicious appearance; but she proved to be no enemy, if we may judge from her standing straight forward in her course, and our soon losing sight of her.

About two o'clock P.M. our poor cook died; and soon after, having read the funeral service over him, his body was committed to the deep, An affect ing circumstance of him I cannot forbear here to relate. In the morning he was extremely weak, and somewhat delirious. The Captain went to see him, and asked him how he was. The poor fellow said he was "Pretty well," and began to sing ont "Yo, heave ho!" as if heaving at the capstan or windlass; but soon feeling, as it were, the hand of death already on him, he called out, "Come my boys, heave away by yourselves, for I can't any longer lend you a hand."

I had almost forgot to mention, that we crossed the tropic of Cancer for the first time on the 22d. Our Captain had declared he would not allow his crew again to perform the customary ceremony, as he had had a hand drowned in consequence of the festivity attendant on one of those occasions. The crew did not feel themselves quite satisfied with this prohibition; and one of them observed next day, in getting up the storm-stay-sail, that Neptune had got offended with them for not getting prepared for his expected visit to the Tropical birds aboard. During the 224 ‍and 23d we had occasion to cross and recross this tropic pretty often, in our different tacks.

(To be continued.)

CHAPTER on the Use of FooLS. You'll find at last this maxin true, Fools are the game which knaves pursue. Gay. ERSIUS was one day walking

the streets in whale was met by a friend, "Whither

so fast, Mersius?" cried he. "Do not stop me," replied Mersius, "I have a project in my head, and am looking for a fool to be at the risk of putting it in execution."

In publicly professing a contempt for fools, a man of the world is the most ungrateful of all beings: a fool is more. necessary to his concerns than his. servants, and more valuable to him than all his sensible and inteiligent friends put together; that is, if properly used. A fool, 'tis true, is but a dull, tedious, tiresome companion, if intended to furnish entertainment or amusement; but then, that is not the proper use of a fool, and the fault is in the misapplication of the article. No-. body ever attempted to set a razor on a walking-stick, and yet a walking-stick is. a very useful thing, It is as easy to show that a fool is not only a useful member of society, but that he has actually considerable talent in his way, and which talent may be turned to advantage:" for instance, he talks more, and faster, than other people, and disseminates the seeds of avarice or ambition with a willing and lavish hand.

The town is always very considerably" indebted to fools, and owes to their sanction and support the currency of those absurdities which a few leading block heads would bring into fashion. The fancy-dress maker, the tailor, and the quack doctor, onght one and all to venerate fools. Merit even, and true talent, should have a decent regard and respect for this liberal class of society; for they willingly spread good fame, have no objection to praise others, and, when once they get the trumpet in their hands, are so fond of the plaything, and of hearing the noise they make, that the report is spread in every quarter. It is true that they do not give themselves the trouble to think, because to collect their thoughts on a subject would be labour in vain; but that is so much the better for projectors, since they retail the readyinade article without knowing whether it is good or bad, and push it off without hesitation. The man of the world is constantly in want of the commodity denominated a fool, because a fool i the best medium for his views, the provider for his wants: like MERSIUS, he is always in search of this presen faithful footman, and of this bigot in

and

of his own consequence in a designe