CHAP. IX.

MONDAY, 2d of May, 1737.-It was some time before the hurry of our spirits subsided. As evening drew on, my dear Eliza and myself drew off from our companions towards the stern of the vessel, and there stood silently together, looking somewhat vacantly on the receding shore. A deep sigh from the bosom of my beloved awakened my attention: the image of her inestimable parent was passing across her mind, and the big tear trickled down her cheek; then, as if awaking from her reverie, she took my hand, saying,-" But you are with me! and the true and faithful One has said, "Lo! I am with you, even to the end of the world!' and he never has forsaken us." The appeal was balm to my heart; for even I was somewhat troubled at leaving England. She was thinking only of the friends she had left behind; I was considering the dangers into which I perhaps was about to plunge her and myself; and I had begun to repent that I had quitted a retreat, in which, with my ample fortune, we might have enjoyed comparative safety, and every comfort this world's goods can bestow. The selfish principle was in full operation, so that I was neither thinking of my duty to God nor my neighbour, when she made the seasonable appeal to my better feelings. "And

thou art with me, dearest," I replied; "and our God will never leave us, nor forsake us, although I feel I am most unworthy." I told her what had been passing in my mind, which she allowed to be nothing more than natural feeling; adding, that through the influence of divine grace I soon would be again alive to the duties I was called upon to perform; and that our heavenly Father would sweeten those duties by his approval and his presence, heretofore our supreme and abiding delight; and compared with which, all other pleasures were but fleeting and joyless shadows.

Although the weather continued fine and the wind fair, the parson and his wife soon became sea-sick; Rosalie was sick also; but the two little girls, and my sister, ate and drank, and ran about cleverly. The Hero was a fine ship, with a poop, and a noble cabin, so that we had the most comfortable accommodation that could be desired. The wind continued fair for a week; we then had rain, and westerly winds for a day or two, and some unpleasant weather: but it again became fine, and our invalids gradually recovered their sea legs and their appetite; so that they walked the deck when it was fair, and enjoyed a good dinner every day when the dinner hour came: indeed, they who had been sea-sick made up for lee-way; their appetites being proportionally greater than ours. We had prayers in the cabin on Sunday; and on Thursday, the 12th, the ship anchored at Madeira, in Funchall Roads.

A few bales of merchandise were to be landed here, and but a few pipes of wine to be taken in.

We therefore hastened to go on shore, and visit the place, as our time would be short. The town, being built of white houses and on an acclivity, with several convents and churches raising their belfries and domes majestically above the other buildings, had an imposing appearance from the bay; and this effect was much enhanced by the magnificence of the back-ground, hills of high elevation, decorated with vineyards and lemon groves, and here and there beautified by a noble convent or a church. But, on going on shore, we found the town mean and dirty; and even the convents and churches fell far short of that elegance which their appearance at a distance had led us to expect. The day was hot, and the roads dusty; the place swarming with priests, and friars, and beggars: the priests wore black cassocks and hats. There were Franciscan friars, in black; and Dominican friars, in white, with red crosses on the breast: there were Capuchins, in coarse brown woollen; but all were tonsured and bare-headed. The beggars were dirty, and lousy, and lazy; and there was nothing beyond the novelty of the scene to entertain us. We went into a church; and certainly the first impression was imposing, the grandeur of its columns, its marble pavement, and the brilliancy of its decorations: there were many women on their knees, dressed in black, each with a rosary in her hand. Several priests and friars were officiating at the altar, on which two colossal candles stood : a little bell frequently rang; and as often, one of the priests courtesied, or rather bobbed, before the altar, on which stood a representation of the Pas

sion on Calvary. As the priest bobbed, the people crossed themselves: this was repeated many times while we remained. But Mr. Rowley, getting out of all patience at such mummery and prostitution of our blessed and spiritual religion, urged us to go; and accordingly we left the place.

In a few hours afterwards I met Captain Henderson, and accompanied him to the wine vaults, where his wine was filling: I here tasted some of the best white wine I had ever met with, and contrived to persuade the merchant to let me have two pipes of what he called the "Doctor;" being of a superior quality, and kept for improving ordinary wines; for which I paid him the large sum of 201. sterling each. But, indeed, all his wines for exportation, which he called " Particular," were very far superior to the best wine sold under the name of Canary.

The next day we weighed anchor, and proceeded on our voyage. In eight or nine days more we got into the trade winds blowing from east. It was now, indeed, quite delightful; the weather so comfortably warm; the wind so cooling and pleasant; the sea so smooth; and the ship, with all her canvass spread, going along with the wind on the quarter, steadily yet swiftly. In the evening we all sat on the poop, and listened to Rosalie singing to her guitar. The sun went down, as we were thus delightfully engaged, in unclouded majesty, decorating the horizon with all the hues and brilliancy of variegated and burnished gold.

On Sabbath days Mr. Rowley read prayers on the quarter-deck, and delivered a short but im

pressive sermon: the crew appeared serious on these occasions; and the weather being fine, and the breeze steady, nothing occurred at any time to disturb the solemnity of the meeting.

On Sunday, the 5th of June, we made the island of Antigua; and passed near enough to see its fine hills and valleys, and rich plantations. The sight of this island brought to our recollection the narrow escape the white population had last October, when that most formidable and well-concerted villanous plan was laid for blowing up all the principal people at the Government House, where a ball was to be given in celebration of His Majesty's coronation. But the Governor's son having died at St. Kitt's, that event caused the rejoicings to be put off, and the plot was discovered: in conse quence, many of the conspirator negroes were put to the torture; on which one of them confessed, how that when the Government House should appear in flames, the whites in the town were to be attacked by negroes armed with cutlasses, from three different points, and men, women, and children put to the sword; while, at the same moment, all the negroes on the estates were to rise and murder the whites throughout the island. The Judge of all men hath spared you this time, good people of Antigua !-Spare your slaves; remember they are your brethren, though in bondage; that they may not again seek the blood of their op pressors. Be their masters, not their tyrants.

Our course from Antigua was nearly before the wind; which occasioned the ship to roll so much, although the sea was quite smooth, that it was im