pepper, cinnamon, cloves, spice, &c. and sailed for home. We arrived at Boston, without meeting with any accident of importance.

On reaching my family, I found an addition to it of a lovely daughter. This, if possible, made home appear more dear to me than everfor the smiles of the young and innocent are always enticing. I stayed at home two months, during which time I enjoyed all the happiness possible for one to enjoy in this world of trouble, vexation and disappointment.

CHAPTER XV.

I shipped on board the U. S. Ship Macedonia, Capt. Dauns, and sailed, December, 1816, on a cruise to the Spanish Main, to relieve some Americans who had been taken by the Spaniards. We went to St. Martha, from thence to Carthagena, Havannah and Howe, and arrived at Annapolis, in the Chesapeake Bay. From here we were ordered to Boston. Our term of service not having expired, we were transferred to the U. S. Congress, Capt. Morris-our destination was the New Orleans station. There were some repairs to be made to the ship, previous to sailing, and I got permission to visit my wife and daughter. We soon sailed, and cruised off New-Orleas fourteen months, when we were ordered to the West Indies. We first went to Port-au-Prince, where we remained about a week, and then sailed for Cape Francis,

This place was under a monarchical government-King Christophe was on the black throne. From thence we sailed to the Island of Margaret, near the Spanish Main. This island we found in a state of rebellion. The inhabitants were determined to throw off the Spanish yoke, and had declared themselves independent. The day we arrived, we witnessed an engagement, a short distance from the town. The Patriots gained the victory, and put nearly all the Royalists to the sword. The next day I view ed the battle ground, and a horribie sight it was.

We sailed from here to Cumana. We had on board Mr Septimas Tyler, as Envoy to demand all Americans that might be imprisoned. by the Spanish authorities..

Cumana is a beautiful harbor, on the Spanish Main, about one hundred miles from the Island of Trinidad. The place was under the Royalists, and Gen. Marillo commanded the Royal forces. The town is in two parts, separated by a beautiful river, over which there is a stone bridge of most elegant workmanship.

We next sailed for Barcelona. This town is handsomely situated, about eight miles from the sea, and had been taken and retaken two or three times, alternately by the Patriots and Royalists, which proved very destructive to the poor inhabitants; both parties would levy contributions on the place, and when we were there the inhabitants were in a suffering condition for the necessaries of life. Flour could not be purchased short of sixty dollars per barrel, and every thing else was in proportion. The Patriots were masters, but their force was small, and they

intended to evacuate on the approach of Gener-al Merillo, who had previously taken the place. He drew his prisoners up in a line, on a plain, a short distance off, and selected every fifth, and ordered him shot-thus he killed not far from six hundred, for attempting to be FREE.

We sailed from this place to Laguira, and from thence to Norfolk, Virginia. Mr. Tyler was taken sick the day we sailed, and died the third day of his illness. We buried him in a coffin bored full of holes, with a weight in the foot to sink it. This is the mode of burying an officer, but when a sailor dies, he is sewed up in a hammock, and thrown overboard, and swallowed by the sharks. They are so ravenous, that if a person is sick on board, they will frequently follow the vessel for miles.

We all expected to be discharged at Norfolk, but we were sadly disappointed; the ship was ordered to the river Plata, with Mr. Rodney,minister to the Chilian government, to take out the acknowledgment of their independence. Capt. Morris left the ship, and was superseded by Arthur Sinclair, who took the command of lake Erie after Perry left it. We sailed, bound for the coast of Brazil. We arrived at Montevideo, in Rio de la Plata, and Mr. Rodney went to Bonsecours, and from thence to Valparaiso, in Chili, by land. We remained until we received despatches from him, and then sailed for Riojaneiro, where we arrived on the sixth of March, 1817, the day Don Pedro the first was crowned emperor of Brazil. He was married the same day to the Princess of Austria. They had great rejoicings and illuminations for three days in suc

cession. It was the most beautiful sight that can be imagined, to see, even in the day time, so large a city, and standing so picturesque, completely illuminated-and at night it was beyond the reach of imagination. The shipping belonging to government was also illuminated by night, and dressed most elegantly with flags in the day time. There were not less than a thousand guns fired per day for three days in succession.

We sailed from this place to St. Salvadore, and from thence to the West Indies. We touched at the island of Margaretta, and from thence proceeded to Norfolk. We were here discharged and payed off. I took the packet for Philadelphia, and from thence to Boston, where I arrived, October, 1817-and was overjoyed at meeting my wife and daughter, after an absence of two years.

CHAPTER XVI.

November 20, 1817, I shipped on board the frigate Macedonian, Captain John Dawns, bound for the Pacific ocean. 1 bade my wife and daughter farewell, but little did I then think it was an eternal farewell; but so it proved.

On the 26th and 27th, we experienced a very severe gale. At ten o'clock, A. M. (on the 26th,) we had all sail set, with a fair wind, but the breeze soon began to freshen. At eleven, we took in all the light sails, and braced up the yards close by the wind. At twelve the ship

would no longer stay her course. All hands were called to shorten sail, and we took in top-gallant sails and flying jib. At five o'clock, all were again called to shorten sail-we doublereefed the topsails, and single reefed the cour

sers.

At sundown it commenced raining very hard and blew a hurricane. The bright and flaming flashes of lightning flew in such quick succession, that it seemed as if the whole ocean at times was in a blaze.

At ten at night the rain abated, but the sea ran high, and the vessel labored very much-having no sail to steady her. At length we succeeded in getting a main and fore storm stay sail set.-It was very dark, and the vessel rolled so heavy that it was impossible for a person to stand up without holding fast to something. Sometimes a man would "fetch way" and fall to the sea side of the vessel with great force-several had their arms broken during the night. The wind increased, and we expected every minute that our masts would all go by the board. The fore and mizen storm stay sails were split to pieces, and we had no sail to assist in keeping the ship's head towards the sea. She fell off in the trough of the sea, which is the most dangerous situation a ship can be in. At length the dismal cry was heard-" The main mast is sprung.' then cut our top mast away-it fell over our We lee with a dreadful crash. The foretopmast and jib-boom were also gone, and we lay a miserable and unmanageble wreck. The sea was making a fair breach over us-at every surge it was as much as we could do to keep 10*