The transactions against the Armada, 1588, are in themselves far more memorable, but less necessary to be recited in this succinct narrative; only let it be remembered, that the post of vice-admiral of England, to which Sir Francis Drake was then raised, is a sufficient proof, that no obscurity of birth, or meanness of fortune, is insurmountable to bravery and diligence.

In 1595, Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins were sent with a fleet to the West Indies, which expedition was only memorable for the destruction of Nombre de Dios, and the death of the two commanders, of whom Sir Francis Drake died January 9, 1597, and was thrown into the sea in a leaden coffin, with all the pomp of naval obsequies. It is reported by some that the ill success of the expedition hastened his death. Upon what this conjecture is grounded does not appear; and we may be allowed to hope, for the honour of so great a man, that it is without foundation; and that he, whom no series of success could ever betray to vanity or negligence, could have supported a change of fortune without impatience or dejection.

NARRATIVE

OF AN

EXPEDITION TO SURINAM.

By Captain J. G. Stedman.

THIS narrative,' says the author, is, perhaps, one of the most singular productions ever offered to the public. Here, in the different characters of a commander---a rebel negro--a planter, and a slave--not only is tyranny exposed, but benevolence and humanity are unveiled to the naked eye.'

The author served in the British navy previous to the American war; but, having small hopes of preferment in time of peace, he accepted an ensign's commission in one of the Scotch brigade regiments in the pay of Holland. Shortly after, an expedition was prepared to quell a formidable insurrection of the negro-slaves in Dutch Guiana, which he offered to join as a volunteer, and was in consequence advanced to the rank of captain, under colonel Louis Henry Fourgeoud, a Swiss gentleman, from the Alpine mountains, who was appointed commander-in-chief.

This armament sailed from the Texel on Christmas-day, 1772, and consisted of the Boreas and Westellingwerf men-ofwar, and three frigates, having on board 500 fine young men, embodied as a regiment of marines. But we shall give the most important parts of this highly-interesting narrative in the adventurer's own lively and picturesque language.

On the 14th of January, 1773, in the morning-watch, we passed the tropic, when the usual ceremony of ducking the fresh-water sailors was ransomed by tipping the foremast men with some silver. About this time the Boreas most unluckily lost one of her best seamen, the boastwain's mate, whose hand slipping by the wet, he pitched from the foreyard-arm into the sea. His presence of mind in calling to the captain, as he floated alongside, "Be not alarmed for me, sir," in the confidence of meeting with relief, attracted peculiar compassion, and even caused some murmuring, as no assistance was offered him; in consequence of which, after swimming a considerable time within view, the unfortunate young man went to the bottom.

Our progress was now daily marked by increasing warm weather, which released me from the confinement of a disagreeable cabin crowded with officers, most of whom had never been at sea, and enabled me to pursue my favourite amusements, whether reading above deck, or exercise in the rigging. Thus circumstanced, I, on the 17th, had the happiness of rendering a most important service to one of our young officers, a Mr. du Moulin, who by a sudden roll of the vessel was actually thrown over the gunwale; at that moment happening to stand without-board in the main-chains, I fortunately grasped hold of him in his fall, which saved him, (as he could not swim,) from inevitable death. The entrance into warmer regions gave occasion to an observation perhaps not generally known, which (though uncouth) must be of great importance to sailors; namely, that between the tropics, while vermin may remain in the head, none can possibly continue to exist in the bedding, clothes, linen, &c.

'The two following days it blew very fresh, and heavy seas washed over the vessel; during which, while helping to put a reef in the main-top-sail for a little exercise, I lost every one of my keys, which dropped from the yard-arm into the

sea.

This trifling accident I should never have related, had it not proved a very great inconvenience, by debarring me from coming at my private property, particularly since the whole ship's company, officers included, lived on salt provision

alone, a pig and a couple of lean sheep excepted, whose legs had been broken by the rolling and pitching of the vessel. This manner of living on salt-beef, pork, and pease, like common sailors, was introduced by our commander-in-chief, in order to enure us (he said) to such food as we were likely to be alone supplied with in the woods of Surinam; and from the generous motive of regaling his American friends with European refreshments---such as live sheep, hogs, fowls, ducks, bacon hams, bullocks tongues, preserved vegetables, pickles, spices, &c. all of which were provided by the town of Amsterdam in great profusion. But good intentions do not always meet with their rewards; since the worms, without any one's permission, laid hold of the greatest part of the dead stock for themselves; who were, for a punishment, together with their plunder, thrown overboard into the ocean. Let me add, that instead of plate, our meals were frequently served up in small wooden tubs of not the most cleanly appearance, and only once a day; which negligence, however, I am willing to impute to Monsieur Laurant, the colonel's French valet-de-chambre. In short, the scurvy and other loathsome disorders began to make their appearance; dejection and low-spirits took place throughout the ship, while I complained aloud, and from that moment date the good-will which colonel Fourgeoud manifested towards me in particular, as will be seen throughout the expedition.

On the 2d of February we entered the beautiful river Surinam; and at three o'clock, P. M. dropped anchor before the new fortress called Amsterdam. Our ships crews now were in the highest flow of spirits, seeing themselves surrounded by the most delightful verdure, while the river seemed alive by the many boats and barges passing and re-passing to see us, while groups of naked boys and girls were promiscuously playing and flouncing, like so many tritons and mermaids, in the water. The scene was new to all, and nothing was heard but music, singing, and cheering on deck, as well as in the rigging, from the ideas of happiness which each individual now promised himself in this luxuriant flourishing spot, while between decks the heat was become insupportable:

but how miserably these poor fellows were mistaken in their reckoning shall soon be seen.

"I must indeed acknowledge that nothing could equal the delicious sensations with which we seemed intoxicated by the fragrance of the lemons, limes, oranges, and flowers, wafted over from the adjoining plantations that line the banks of all the rivers in this ever-blooming settlement, and of which charming fruit, &c. large clusters were sent on board our ships by colonel de Ponchera of the colonial troops: this gentleman, being the commandant of fort Amsterdam, also saluted the vessels with nine guns from the batteries, while with an equal number we returned him the compliment from the ships. A long-boat, with one of our captains, was afterwards dispatched to Paramaribo, to announce to the governor the arrival of the troops in the colony.

'During our stay in this place the companies frequently walked on shore, and I accompanied them in their excursions; but the pleasure I had flattered myself with, from exchanging the confinement of a ship for the liberty of ranging over a delicious country, was damped by the first object which presented itself after my landing. This was a young female slave, whose only covering was a rag tied round her loins, which, like her skin, was lacerated in several places by the stroke of the whip. The crime which had been committed by this miserable victim of tyranny, was the non-performance of a task to which she was apparently unequal, for which she was sentenced to receive 200 lashes, and to drag, during some months, a chain several yards in length, one end of which was locked round her ancle, and to the other was affixed a weight of at least 100lbs.

'On March the 3d we received a visit from several officers of the Society, or West India company's troops, accompanied by a number of other gentlemen, to welcome our arrival in the colony. Nor were they satisfied with paying us merely a compliment in words, but regaled us with a large quantity of excellent fruits and other refreshments. They came in very elegant barges or tent-boats, adorned with flags, and attended VOL. I. 2 G