kitereen, we were driven over from Kingston on Thursday morning, in about an hour and a half. Soon after our arrival I waited on the secretary, and told him that I understood he gave commissions for island appointments, and that I wanted a commission as Captain-commandant over a place where I was settled with some negroes and free people. It was a small island or two, among some rocks and shoals off the Mosquito shore, on which there were no inhabitants when I landed there, about fifteen months ago; that we had built some huts, and I was now going back thither with a schooner; that we had prevented a Spaniard, about three months since, from taking a Virginia vessel; and that I had hoisted the English colours, but was afraid to protect them, without a commission. The secretary asked me what the island was called. I said it was not laid down in any chart that I had seen; I therefore had called the group Seaward Islands,' after my own name.' "And what is your Christian name?" he replied. I told him, "Edward.”— "Well, Captain Edward Seaward," said he, "you shall have the commission; but you must pay twenty doubloons for it."-"That is a great sum, sir," returned I, "but I do not demur; you shall have it and I will thank you to give me the privilege of appointing any person on the island, my lieutenant, in case of my occasional absence." "O certainly," he replied; "there can be no objection to that." He then requested me to sit down, while he went to settle the business. He returned in about an hour, with the commission, signed by the Governor. I read it over, and

found it every thing I wished. I then counted down the twenty doubloons to the secretary; who wished me a good morning, without asking me any more questions. Of that I was heartily glad: but I could not help thinking, that I never had seen the commonest mercantile transaction done in a more matter of course manner; and I strongly suspected, that when the Governor put his pen to the commission, he knew no more of the nature of the appointment he was signing, than he did of the rocks and islands over which he had unconsciously placed me: however, I had obtained the important credential; and my wife rejoiced with me, on my return to the inn, at the quiet manner in which the thing had been done. "Now, Captain Seaward," said she, smiling, and taking my hand, "we will have dinner; and I shall have the honour of drinking your health; and we will then return to Kings

ton."

On re-entering our lodgings there, I found Mr. Green waiting for me. A few difficulties had occurred in procuring some items of the cargo: however, after a little conversation, the obstacles were surmounted; having chiefly arisen respecting prices, and terms of payment, the word "ready money" acted like a charm, and all the stoppage vanished. He stayed with me to smoke a cigar; during which time I told him, if I found he behaved to me with strict integrity, I should appoint him my agent at Kingston; with which place I might have considerable business. He thanked me, observing, that it would be his interest to serve me well and faithfully. We were glad to

retire early, and rose next morning in health and spirits.

On Friday morning I consulted with Diego and Purdy as to the expediency of purchasing two new negro boys, to form a part of the schooner's crew; whom, I thought, with Purdy and Martin, and the two New England negroes, might be sufficient. My worthy counsellors approved the idea; but I added, "Don't suppose that I will have any slaves at Seaward Islands. I will bind these lads for seven years; after that, they shall be their own masters."-"God bless our good master!" my two friends, one after the other, replied. "Dear Eliza," continued I, "would it not be well for you to take three or four girls on the same terms? for our society will be so constituted on our return, that you will require them." She cordially acquiesced; and we went all together to the wharf of a merchant, who had just disembarked a cargo of these human beings for sale. My wife remained in the counting-house; while I, with my attendants, proceeded into the enclosure where the poor creatures were all assembled. Some were young, and some in the prime of life; some were gay, and some were sad; but all exhibited a black and glossy skin, having been dressed with palm oil for the occasion; and all their vesture might have been replaced with a fig leaf. After some scrutiny, my men picked out two nice clean-limbed lads of about eighteen, and they were led up to the store. The price was 50l. 50l. currency each, and the bargain was struck. The merchant's clerk was told that Mrs. Seaward wanted two or three girls;

but that, as she could not go down into the mart, we would therefore thank him to bring a few up. Half a dozen speedily made their appearance; and my wife was selecting three from the number, when one of the young new negroes I had purchased, evinced considerable restlessness and some emotion. My dear Eliza, regarding him attentively, said to me" I am sure that lad has a mother, or wife, or sister, among these people, whom he wishes should go along with him." I bade Diego take him out to see if it was so, by leaving him loose, and observing to whom he would run. My Eliza proved to be right: they returned with his sister: and when my wife selected her, which she did at once, the youth fell upon his knees before her, kissing her feet. I was asked 40%. currency each, for the three girls: the money was paid; and Diego then conducted the party to our lodgings, where they were received and placed in the negro-yard by the brown lady, among her own domestics.

On our return, the first care of my dear wife was to have these girls washed with warm water and soap, and then neatly clothed; while Purdy took the lads on board the schooner, and put them under the same discipline, treating them also kindly.

In the afternoon, the captain of the brig called at his usual hour, and reported progress. He said he would be complete on Saturday night. "Very well," I replied; "but do not hurry: I will not sail on Sunday; and I shall leave Monday, to collect any things that in the hurry of business may have been forgotten: we will sail on Tuesday." "That is very well, sir," he said; "but I would

suggest to you, that it may be a very bad business to send Purdy's family in the Avon. We We may want that boat to look out among the shoals and breakers for a passage; and if she should take the ground with those people in her, there will be horrible confusion. You had better send them in the schooner; and put half a dozen good hands in the boat, to jump out, and get her off, if she should ground; or use the oars, to keep her clear of a reef, if necessary." I thanked him for his advice, and would abide by it. "But," said I, "Finn was to get me a skipper for the schooner, and it is quite time I should be suited; he has not done it." "I know a proper fellow I could recommend," returned the captain: "he is rather young, but he is a nice lad, and a prime navigator; and no lubber withal: he was born and bred at sea. I will bring him to you to-morrow, if you please.""Do so," said I; "but, remember, do not serve a friend at the probable expense of human life! The person I want, is to take charge of my schooner, in which my wife and myself sometimes may be; and always many of those we love as friends." "I would trust my own life with him,” he replied, by way of recommendation, "as far as that goes." -"Then bring him," said I.

In the morning the captain called on me with his young friend, "Francis Drake." "I like your name, and your countenance, sir,” said I; "but you are very young."-" I am twenty-two," he replied," and have been at sea all my days. I was born on shipboard; my father was master of a man of war: I was a midshipman for some