got under weigh about nine o'clock, and passed through the northern channel, with a fine breeze, at E. by N., carrying the good wishes of the settlement in his wake for him and his crew; who were now not only our fellow-settlers, but our fellowworshippers, and bound up with us in one interest, and in one faith, serving each other in love.

Three carpenters were still kept on at Peccary Field house, to finish the interior, in doing which they required no extra assistance. Manus continued at Allwood's Plantation, making furniture; and Diego and his four men being now at leisure, had set about completing the painting of the great storehouse, roof and sides, and all the houses on our plantation, excepting the mansion. One of the two poultry girls was added to the washerwomen, in lieu of Mira; a single "henwife" (as my father used to call such a person in his farm) being found quite enough for the business, since its management had become better understood. Still there was plenty to do, notwithstanding the late abstraction of poultry for Allwood's Plantation; for the young broods of geese, turkeys, ducks and fowls were numerous, and the whole flock, taken together, quite a swarm. Besides, the pigs had multiplied from four to twenty-four, and the goats, after sending away four to Allwood's settlement, still numbered ten. It is true that Diego's men looked after the pigs; which now had a commodious sty, boarded off for them in the S.E. corner of the great stoccade, never being allowed to range about but when Abel, or some other of the patriarchs, could be spared to run at their heels.

Sunday, 9th. We enjoyed our assembling together on the Sabbath in happy quietness; no hurry of spirits, no distraction of thought: and our school, after prayers, was strictly attended to; in which duty our brother and sister cheerfully lent their aid, and I was happy to see their zeal in the busi

ness.

Monday, 10th. Our men having their several occupations assigned them, at which they were to continue till finished, I took this opportunity of making my brother master of the books, and of the principles on which they were kept, with respect to the people. Even Diego's department, and that of the stock, were represented by figures.

We now found leisure to enjoy ourselves with our dear friends in personal recreations. Sometimes we walked abroad in the cool of the morning on the beach, collecting shells; or, when the sun was high, reposed under the shade of one of our numerous fine trees, and there read books of amusement, -Gil Blas, or the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, or Swift's Gulliver. But my dear Eliza's favourite was the Paradise Lost of Milton, which, with a few other choice books, her father had sent to her by Amelia. From this sublime work she would sometimes read a fine passage to us, and always with great pathos; for her soul was in the subject, and she therefore did the author justice. I will not, however, dissemble, that my evening cigar, a gratification not quite so elevated, in which now my brother heartily joined, afforded great pleasure both to ourselves and to our wives, as one or other read out to us by the shades on the table, during that

ceremony. Thus we passed our time, observing faithfully the Sabbath, as it came round.

Monday, 1st December. The carpenters reported the house at Peccary Field completed; we therefore visited it in the Avon on the same day, and were highly pleased with it altogether: its commodious size, the beauty of the situation, and the excellent workmanship and materials that built it. I bestowed much praise on Mr. Allwood and his coadjutors; and requested they would endeayour to knock up two small houses near this new mansion, for its domestics; and to do it before the schooner's return. I proposed them to be sixteen feet by fourteen each. Allwood did not hesitate to promise that they would set about the job immediately; and as Diego had finished the painting, two of his men were to be sent to their assistance: Diego himself, with the others of his party, being retained to grind corn, procure fish, and do other things required in his victualling department. Besides, poor old fellow, he was now our look-out at the flag-staff.

There was, however, a business hanging over us to be done, in which my dear wife took a lively interest. The pigeons must be shut out from their ancient domain, the cave; for we found they soiled the packages stowed there. My Eliza deeply regretted the necessity of this measure; and stipulated, for these ancient possessors of the place, that they should receive at our hands the best indemnity in our power. After many consultations, it was at length determined to construct a large pigeonhouse on the sides of the gallery of their entrance ;

which was to be closed at the hither end by latticework, so as to admit light and air into the cave; and as this lattice-work frame was to be placed in the interior of the opening, the passage to which through the rock might be six or eight feet, we hoped a sufficiently commodious habitation would thus be afforded to the poor ousted natives of the cavern. But as time must pass before it could be completed, it was also resolved that the pigeons should be allowed quiet possession of their former home till the new one was ready for them. We, therefore, meanwhile, directed the stores to be removed from the sides of the cave, where, only, they were liable to be smeared. But this reminds me to notice that the pigeons which Captain Drake brought from Jamaica, above three months ago, had taken kindly to a tea-box we had stuck up at the end of the fowl-house in the stoccado; but that our two little wild pets had not associated with them, but left us when their wing-feathers were allowed to grow, no doubt to join their old friends.

Early in December, we became anxious for the arrival of the schooner; but as the weather continued fine, I attributed her delay to Drake's diffi culty in executing some of the commissions without a great sacrifice of money. Manus having now finished the furniture for the three houses at Allwood's Plantation, joined the other carpenters at Peccary Field; and by Thursday the 18th, the two outhouses were completed. But the schooner had not arrived, and our anxiety gradually increased. In this state of suspense, I prevailed on my dear wife to consent to my going in the Avon to the

extreme part of the northern channel, that I might look out beyond the reefs, from some accessible part of the high land on that part of the island. I took the carpenters in the boat, which they managed very well, having been accustomed for some time back to sail to and fro with her from the Black Rock to Peccary Creek. I landed with Manus, the most active of the party, opposite to the outermost little low island, on a fine open spot of rich ground, and with great difficulty gained the summit of a height, after an hour's laborious climbing; from whence we saw all the reefs on that side, which I examined carefully with my glass, but could not discover any sail in sight. We, therefore, descended; and, reembarking, landed two or three times on this part of the main island, which I perceived to be well suited for settlements, if our increase of population should at any time require them.

On the morning of the 19th, we received the unexpected intelligence that Xavier's wife, Hachinta, had brought forth a male child in the night. We could scarcely believe Rota, who gave the information; for we did not even suspect Hachinta's pregnancy, she having continued her work as usual. My dear wife and her sister lost no time in visiting the little stranger, administering every thing necessary to the mother; and on their return they set about making baby-clothes, with which, I afterwards understood, the mother would gladly have dispensed, having wrapped the child up in a large coloured cotton handkerchief, which she thought quite sufficient and less troublesome; but as the infant must be dressed after the English fashion, our