drawing her back about twenty yards from where she had lain with her fore-foot aground. She still remained with her side close to the rocks, along which there was a gangway, to carry any thing on board. The vessel being now fairly afloat, it was desirable to ascertain the state of her bottom. One of the white seamen volunteered to dive under the keel, stripping at the same instant, and plunging under her bows. He soon re-appeared, reporting a piece of the false keel off forward; but, after making several voyages of discovery under water, round and round the vessel, could not spy out any other injury. A consultation was now held with Captain Taylor, in which we agreed that if the brig did not leak more than usual after replacing the cargo, and bringing her round the promontory, he should proceed with her to the Bay of Honduras, without delaying to make further repairs here, the time of year being as yet favourable for fine weather, and the run not requiring more than three days. This being settled, and the vessel secured to the shore, they set about reloading her, and restowing her cargo, which was all again in place by Saturday at noon. I ordered the doors that ⚫ had been taken away from the cabin, to be replaced; and also the table, and chairs, and stools to be restored. Sunday, 20th.-We observed the sabbath of today by attendance at divine service, and in innocent recreations, there not being any excuse for dancing or other noisy mirth. Monday, 21st. They began to fish the mast; and as there were about seven or eight feet of stump standing above board, we were of opinion that it would be made perfectly strong and secure. The shrouds and back-stays, together with the mainstay, and every other thing as far as was practicable, had been prepared at Kingston. The mast was up, and the standing rigging over-head, and the cross-trees and top on, and main-topmast pointed, by the middle of the week; and by Saturday I had the pleasure to see all the yards across, the running rigging rove, the sails bent, and every thing in place, and the brig towed round by the boats, and anchored off the plantation. I was glad to find that there had been little occasion for the pumps during the week, the leak scarcely requiring more than the ordinary spell of twice a day, and it had not increased on bringing the vessel round; so that it was now resolved she should put to sea without loss of time. Sunday, 27th.-There was a general muster to prayers at ten o'clock; and at one all hands were regaled with a dinner under the cotton-tree, as on the Sunday after their arrival: devotion, with contentment, and good order, being our combined object, under existing circumstances. At noon the brig hoisted her colours, which were brought down from the flag-staff on the promontory, and the large Union Jack I had brought with me from Jamaica hoisted there in its stead. The colours of the schooner and the Avon were flying also; so that, altogether, we looked very grand, "low and aloft," as sailors express it. Monday, 28th. It was determined that the brig should not sail until the crew had assisted to get the twelve-pounder up to the flag-staff, which was a formidable undertaking. Early in the morning the gun was landed from the schooner, on the rocks beneath the plantation-house, and, by means of the timber carriage (a clever invention for raising large pieces of timber, and great guns, by hand), they easily transported our noble piece of ordnance to the foot of the acclivity; at the very spot where the original footpath had been made to the ravine. But the carpenters found it necessary to widen the avenue; after which, by means of planks, and tackles, and parbuckles, they succeeded in dragging the gun up to the flag-staff. That mastered, its carriage easily followed, and the gun was mounted before sunset. On their return, I gave the men a glass of grog each, and a dollar. This operation had been conducted by Captain Drake. The captain of the brig and myself had not been idle at home; we examined all the accounts, with the invoices, and compared the duplicates I had previously made out. In addition to which, we had taken an inventory of whatever remained belonging to the former captain and crew; to this I subjoined, as an appendix, a list of the articles I had appropriated, which I believed to have belonged to the one or the other. A duplicate copy of this paper also, was now made, and signed by Captain Taylor and myself; making ourselves respectively responsible for such articles as still remained with him, or had been taken away by me. Of the duplicates we each took one. After I had delivered all the papers above alluded to, I handed him what are commonly called the ship's papers, and with them a narrative of the shipwreck, with a protest in form as to the accident. I then gave him letters to my cousin, and instructions how to proceed, if he did not find him at the Bay of Honduras; and also a letter to my uncle at Bristol, containing a detail of proceedings, as far as regarded his business, up to the present time. It is scarcely necessary to observe, that in my letters to my uncle and cousin, after thanking them for their intended kindness to me, I now, having other views, gave up all intention of settling at the Bay; and intimated, that I should be ready to settle our accounts as soon after the brig's arrival in England as my uncle could examine and adjust them. Tuesday, 29th.-About nine o'clock in the morning I gave Captain Taylor the marks for going out of the southern channel, and he took his leave. Purdy, who knew the situation of all the reefs and shoals, was put on board the Avon; and as soon as the brig got under weigh, he made sail ahead, leading her out in safety, to the fair way in the offing. The boat, and my pilot, returned about four o'clock, having seen our friend clear of the shoals, standing to the S. W. I congratulated myself on this event, and looked forward with pleasure to be able now to attend to the immediate concerns of the colony, which now seemed, in some respects, rather pressing. I therefore lost no time in holding consultation with my dear wife, and then with Diego, with regard to the precedency of the various operations requiring to be done. In less than a month we might expect the rains; the crop was 韭 *11 ན away ready to be taken from the ground, and the schooner's cargo must be housed. After a long discus❤ sion with my best helpmate, and many scruples between us both, it was determined to cut away the thicket leading to the cave, and build a storehouse there, from side to side, at the entrance of the recess. So that, in fact, the cave itself would become a very important part of the warehouse, making an inner apartment of the greatest security. Having taken our resolution at last, on this unpleasant resolve, the four carpenters were sent for, and ordered to clear all the trees and shrubs for the purpose. And, as a first step, the poultry located there, were safely removed to the pen, to be with the rest. Diego was to have the two negro lads for a few days, and Xavier's wife and Derrick's wife permanently; and two of the new negro girls, to assist him in taking up the crop. Captain Drake, with the two New England blacks, was to make a good platform, with pickaxes, near the flag-staff, for the guncarriage to traverse on; while Martin and Purdy were to repair the craals, and also construct some new fish-pots, and go to the small islands to the north-east, in the canoe, to procure turtle. Captain Drake completed his work by Thursday evening, having carried up sixty rounds of shot, and twelve rounds of powder. The latter were preserved in a water-proof chest, in which, also, were some matches for firing, and a tinder-box, and stuff to light them, when required. He had placed the tompion in the gun, and secured the touch-hole with the leaden apron, before his return; and he asked permission to fire it to-morrow even |