with such a wind, the ship's company might have slept; leaving the helmsman only, to steer the vessel's course. The delay, the difficulties and dangers we had met with, served but to augment the value of the ever-constant trades, and to render them even more enchanting than we had hoped. The steadiness of this friendly breeze, and its uncertainty of dura tion, likewise enhanced its charms. So truly delightful did we find it, and so pleasant were the wide ocean, and the wea ther, that, had not former sickness, with the torment of repeated gales, already confirmed my abhorrence to the sea, I know not but I might have been led into the belief that discomfort and a sailor's life were not strictly synonimous !

In the course of our passage, we fell in occasionally with stragglers of our unfortunate armada, and remained in company with them, until we were again separated by a storm, a thick fog, or the night. A few days before we reached Carlisle bay, we were joined by No 4. transport, with troops, and a band of music on board. This was a happy rencontre, and afforded us a most pleasing novelty. The day had been fine; the evening was mild and clear: gentle Cynthia, with her silver beams, seemed to aid the general stillness that prevailed. Every thing conspired in favour of the music, and the notes of the various instruments, coming to us across the water, were so sweetly soft and melodious as to convey the idea of celestial harmony. We listened in raptures, and, feeling quite enchanted with her delightful sounds, we hoped to continue in the society of our new companion during the remainder of the voyage: but the night concealed us from each other, and, when Aurora again opened the gates of the east, we perceived, with strong regret, that we had already to lament our harmonic

associate.

'It was a great advantage to us being on board a West India trader, for the ships built in this climate, being intended for a hot climate, are constructed with much attention to the comfort and accommodation of passengers, and have all the conveniencies of ports, scuttle-holes, window-blinds, awnings, &c.; from the want of which, many of the transports were distressingly close and oppressive. As soon as we had entered

the trades, our ports and scuttles were beat open, and we had a free circulation of air, through the cabin, night and day. The windows were likewise opened; and, as we sailed before the wind, the Venetian blinds admitted the breeze, while they excluded the rays of the sun. From these means we were kept pleasantly cool below; and when upon deck we were protected by a canvas awning, under which we had a shaded walk, ventilated by a free current of air. Having several bathing tubs on board, we had likewise the comfort-the luxury I might say, of plunging into sea-water every morning; and, in order not to meet the torrefaction of these burning regions, with all the rigid fibre, and strong vascular action of Europe, I have adopted the plan of using a very abstemious diet, and have submitted to a short preparatory course of medicine. My comrades smile at the precaution, but, although doctors may disagree, I shall hope on some future day to exhibit to you, the good effects of this early discipline. Wine, it is said by many, will counteract the heat of the climate. Let those take it who think so---my faculties have not yet enabled me to comprehend the ingenious doctrine which would employ fire to extinguish heat---nor has my sagacity taught me how to quench a flame by the addition of oil, or æther!

Many days previous to our arrival in Carlisle bay, the increase of temperature had brought out upon our skins that troublesome eruption called prickly heat. Our bodies were covered with it, and the irritation and itching it occasioned were intolerable. Our companion, Dr. Cleghorn, being an early sufferer from it, demanded of those who had been accustomed to the West Indies, how long his skin was thus to be tormented? So long, good doctor, as you remain in health, was the reply! Upon which, with additional rubbing and scratching, the doctor jocosely, although somewhat impatiently, exclaimed in the accents of his country, "Faith captain, and would you carry us into never-ceasing torment? 'Bout ship and tack for England immediately."

'On the morning of the 10th instant the boatswain descried the highest points of Barbadoes, when land! land! was in

stantly echoed throughout the ship, to the great joy of all on board; and to the boatswain's profit, who, being the first that sounded the glad tidings, became entitled to the customary fee of a bottle of rum, or brandy. It required the eye of a sailor to distinguish the all-delighting terra firma, amidst the clouds; the passengers looked, and looked in vain! a nearer approach of yet some leagues was necessary to render it visible to the eye of a landsman, and when we at length discerned it, the earth appeared only as the more fixed of the clouds---forming a dark streak a little above the horizon. This streak grew gradually more and more distinct, till breaking as we advanced it became unequal, and assumed the form of mountains; and at length the appearance of land. Soon we discovered it to be the northern point of the island of Barbadoes; but Carlisle bay is to the south: we had, therefore, to coast round nearly half the extent of the island, before we could reach the harbour. This delay afforded us a good opportunity of viewing the island. We stood near in, and could observe distinctly the objects on shore. I took my seat upon deck, and with an anxious eye, aided by the telescope, minutely examined every thing we passed. The mind, ever active, generally forms to itself some image of the things we hear spoken of, before an opportunity occurs of seeing them. Often the picture is very incorrect and extravagant; but, upon the present occasion, I was pleased to find that I had formed to myself a tolerable accurate copy of the West Indies, from the descriptions I had heard and read. In particular of the appearance of the fields, and of the slaves, labouring with the whip at their backs, had been painted very correctly in my imagination; for, I now saw them, in reality, what my mind had long represented them.

We made the entrance of the harbour, just as the sun was sinking into his watery bed, for the night; and it was in debate whether we could fetch in before it grew dark, when it was suddenly decided against us, by the wind shifting and coming round directly a-head. This we learned was the land breeze. In these regions the trade-wind blows from the sea,

during the day; but this commonly subsides, as the sun goes down, and a contrary breeze sets in, from the land, which continues to blow throughout the night.

'Being prevented from coming to anchor, we stood off and on at the harbour's mouth until morning, when we discovered that we had no cause of regret in this additional delay; for all the beauties of Carlisle bay were now exhibited to us---not only under the still light of the morning, but brightened by the golden rays of a rising sun. Had we gone in at night, we must have lost a most enchanting prospect; and the loss had been irremediable, for, after the eye had been accustomed to the rich foliage, the houses, the towns, the fields, and all the peculiarity of tropical scenery, the impression we now felt could never have been excited. The mind was at this moment in a state to enjoy them: the novelty was great, and every object striking. We had been long at sea, and the eye sought eagerly the shore. Land was anxiously desired: the view of it opened to us very favourably; and, from all the various circumstances conspiring to its improvement, the prospect was rendered more delighful than it could have been at any other period.

The harbour is a fine open bay, the whole of which, with its varied shores, were before the eye: many ships were riding at anchor, and a multitude of boats and small vessels were sailing and rowing to and fro. The two points of land at the entrance serve as a defence; while they augment the beauty of the harbour. On one of them appears a formidable battery, together with an extensive barrack for troops: on the other is a fine grove of mountain-cabbage, and coco-nut trees. Through the shipping at the bottom of the bay, are seen numbers of neat cottages; among which are interspersed various tropical trees, affording the protecting shelter of their umbrageous summits. On the south-west shore stands Bridge-town, the capital of the island; and on the north-east upon high ground is a new and handsome quadrangle of stone barracks, with the military hospital and other buildings of St. Anne's Hill. Nor is the prospect confined to those limits. It extends still wider, and in addition to the water, the shipping, and the numerous other objects, immediately before the eye, the back ground,

beyond the bay, and above all the town, forms a rich and extensive landscape. The land is seen above the houses, the trees, and the topmasts of the ships, rising to a great distance, clothed in all the richness of its tropical apparel. Verdant fields of sugar, of coffee, and of cotton; fine groves, dark with luxuriant foliage; country villas; clusters of negro huts, windmills, and sugar-works, all present themselves to diversify and enliven the picture. Such was the scene that appeared before us as we sailed into Carlisle bay. You, whose idol is nature, in all her forms, will feel a friendship for the evening landbreeze which so happily lengthened a voyage, before too long.

"Barbadoes, February.

Here

'PREVIOUS to our coming into harbour from our late voyage, the ship's company was for several days busily employed in cleaning, painting, and adorning the vessel; and we learned that it is a general custom to dress the West India ships in a new jacket, during the steady sailing of running down the trades, in order that they may appear clean, and in the best condition, while remaining in the harbours of the is lands and in this the sailors have a degree of pride, which excites a general spirit of emulation--every captain wishing to render his vessel the object of attention and admiration. In consequence of this custom the West India harbours become quite a drawing-room of fine-dressed merchantmen. each ship exhibits her best apparel, and vying with the others, holds out her lures to catch the eye of every beholder. The decoration is universal. From head to stern, not a plank, a mast, a yard, nor scarcely a rope escapes; each receives a full-dress coat of paint, or is made new with a black varnish of tar. The painting of the more prominent parts of our ship being completed, the progress of cleaning, and new-dressing was extended to such minutia as to become very highly ridiculous. A painting mania seemed to have seized the whole crew, and every one was up to his elbows in grease, tar, and paint. The capstan-the quarter-boards-the binacles--the hen-koops--every thing around us was bedaubed. The cannon-the hand-spikes--the capstan bars--the barrels---the