like the flies of the season:-should he continue to buzz, I shall merely say, with the placid Uucle Toby, Go, poor devil, whilst the Roman Catholic Church is kept within her present li

mits, the world is wide enough for both thee and me! I remain, Mr North, Yours very faithfully, A PROTESTANT LAYMAN. 15th June, 1822.

ONE summer, while at Baltimore on a pleasure excursion, peculiar circumstances suddenly rendered it necessary that I should set sail for St Thomas's. I immediately proceeded to make inquiry about a vessel to convey me there, and found that there were none bound for that quarter, except a small schooner, which had very inferior accommodations, and was commanded by a person of rude manners and a disobliging temper. However, as my business admitted of no delay, I engaged a passage in her, and put my luggage on board, and desired the captain to send me notice whenever he was ready to sail, that I might immediately join him.

I passed two days in that anxious and unsettled state of mind which the prospect of going to sea generally induces, and went despondingly to bed the second night, after having ascertained that the wind was unfavourable to the prosecution of my intended voyage. A loud knocking at my chamber door awakened me from a profound sleep, about an hour before dawn. I was on the point of demanding who occasioned the disturbance, when a voice called out, "The schooner is ready to sail-they are heaving up the anchor-Captain Burder sent me to warn you to come on board without a moment's delay."

I started from bed, and having dressed myself as quickly as possible, accompanied the messenger to the wharf, and embarked in a boat which waited there for us, and soon reached the schooner. Her captain was so busily engaged in giving orders to the seamen that he seemed scarcely to notice my arrival. However, I addressed him, and made some remark about the suddenness of his departure. "That doesn't concern you," replied he a

bruptly; "I suppose your birth is ready below." But instead of taking his hint and going down to the cabin, I remained upon deck until we cleared the mouth of the harbour, which we at last accomplished with much difficulty, for the wind was as directly ahead as it could blow.

I felt at a loss to conceive the cause of our putting to sea in such unfavourable weather; but judged, from the specimen of the captain's manner which I had already had, that it would be useless to address to him any inquiries upon the subject. I therefore went to bed, and did not get up next morning till called to breakfast.

On entering the cabin, I was astonished to find a lady and a gentleman there, whom I had not previously known to be on board. They were introduced to me as fellow-passengers; and after expressing my gratification at the prospect of enjoying their society during the voyage, I began to converse with them, and soon found that their presence would in a great measure counterbalance the disagreeables arising from Captain Burder's surly and untractable temper. They were named Mr and Mrs Monti, and were both young, and had recently been married. She was a pretty, lively, interesting creature; and having fortunately been at sea before, she did not suffer from sickness, or feel at all incommoded or depressed by the comparative uncomforts of her situation; and therefore the sociality of our little circle was never interrupted by her absence, or her incapacity to join it. But the charm of her manners seemed to exert no influence upon the stubborn nature of Captain Burder, who always maintained a cold reserve, and rarely took any part in our conversation.

His appearance and deportment were singularly unprepossessing. A short muscular figure, a stern countenance, burnt almost to a copper colour by an exposure to tropical climates, black bushy hair, and small scintillating eyes, formed the exterior of our commander; and his actions and external behaviour proved that the traits of his mind were as revolting as those of his person.

He treated his crew in a capricious and tyrannical manner; but, at the same time, behaved towards them with an air of familiarity very unusual for ship-masters to assume when among common seamen. But a negro man, who attended the cabin, daily experienced the most inhuman usage from his hands, and afforded such a spectacle of degradation and misery as was painful to look upon. Almost every night after dark Captain Burder had a long conversation with his mate, during which both seemed particularly anxious to avoid being overheard; and I once or twice observed them studying charts of parts of the ocean that lay quite out of our due and proper course. Their whole conduct was equally suspicious and inexplicable, and I often felt uneasy and apprehensive, though there was no defined evil to fear, nor any danger to anticipate.

Our personal confort was but little attended to on board the schooner; and our table, which had never been a well furnished one, soon became so mean and uninviting, that Mr Monti complained to Captain Burder about it; however, without avail, for the latter told him that he must just take things as he found them. On comparing the quantity of stores we had respectively brought on board, we thought we could manage to live independent of our commander; and Mrs Monti's woman servant was, therefore, desired to prepare our meals, and spread a table for us every day. Captain Burder grew furious with passion when he learned this arrangement, and muttered some threats which we did not understand. However, next day, his rage against us was father increased, in consequence of Mr Monti having taxed him with cruelty and injustice while in the act of beating the negro man already mentioned. This offence was not to be forgiven, and he accordingly broke off all intercourse with the individuals of our party.

Delightful weather attended us during the first week of the voyage, and we usually spent the evenings upon deck, under an awning. While thus seated, one calm and beautiful moonlight night, Mrs Monti said, "If the weather and ocean were ever in this placid state, I believe I would prefer a sea-life to any other. The most susceptible mind could not discover any cause for terror or anxiety in the scene around us-I would rather meet aspeedy death among these little billows than linger life away upon a sick-bed, racked with pain, and surrounded with weeping friends."-"I have less objections, Harriet," said her husband, "to your mode of dying than to your mode of living. I should not care to spend much time at sea, for I am sure it would pass very heavily. I love variety, and nothing of that is to be met with on board a ship."-" I agree with you," said Mrs Monti; 66 but variety is not necessary to happinessa regular, well-planned, uninterrupted routine, would suit my dispositions exactly, and would be more easily attainable at sea than any where else. A life of change entails many miseries. It makes us the slaves of accidents of every kind, and when we are happy we never can feel secure that our happiness will continue. Now, were I mistress of a large ship, and had the power of sailing continually upon a calm and safe ocean, I would collect my dearest friends on board of her, and get out of sight of land as fast as possible, carrying with me of course various means of amusement and recreation. We would regulate our time and our pleasures as we chose-no disagreeable person could intrude upon us-no spectacles of misery would meet our eyes, and no lamentations assail our ears; and we would enjoy each other's society without the fear of ever being separated or disunited, except by death; and when any one was removed, the remaining persons would console themselves with the reflection, that a link had been withdrawn from the chain which bound their hearts to this delusive and transitory world; and that, in proportion as their friends dropped away, they would feel more ready and willing to die than they had done while the former were in existence."-" This seems a very plausible scheme of yours, my love," replied Mr Monti; however, I am

glad you cannot put it in execution. I don't know any part of the ocean that is exempted from tempests, which I see you are resolved entirely to avoid, and with reason, for I suspect that a good gale of wind would discompose you and your select party, even more than Captain Burder himself, were he to find means of admittance into your projected floating Elysium."

While we were engaged in conversation of this kind, I several times observed Samno, the negro man, beckoning to me, and then putting his finger upon his lips. At length I went to the bows of the vessel where he stood, and asked if he had anything to communicate. "Yes, yes, master," said he, in a whisper, "something very strange, and of great consequence bat will no one overhear us ?"-"Do not fear that," answered I; "Captain Burder is asleep in his birth, and the watch are all near the stern."-"Then I will speak," answered Samno. "You and that other gentleman have been kind to me, and have often tried to save me from the rage of my wicked master-I mean now to serve you in my turn. Your lives are in danger. The captain intends to cast away the vessel.""What do you mean?" cried I; "I am at a loss to understand you"-"Oh, I'll soon explain it all," replied he. "Last night, I listened to my master and the mate while they were talking together, and found out that they had formed a plan to wreck this schooner, that they might get the insurance, which would buy her and all she contains twenty times over. These bales, casks, and boxes, that lie in the hold, have no goods in them. They are full of sand and stones. Captain Burder has cheated the insurers in this way, and now he wants to run the vessel aground somewhere on the Bahama Banks, and leave her to be beat to pieces by the waves. He and his crew, who are all leagued with him, will go off in the boat, and land upon the nearest coast, and give out that they have been shipwrecked. This story, if it is not found out to be false, will entitle him to claim the insurance, which is all he wants. Here is a scheme for you!"

I was too much startled and agitated by this intelligence to think of holding any farther conversation with Samno; and, after warning him to conceal his knowledge of the affair from VOL. XII.

his master and the seamen, I returned to my friends. As the tale I had just heard completely explained Captain Burder's mysterious behaviour, and unveiled the cause of his sudden departure from Baltimore, I did not at all doubt the negro's veracity, and began to consider how the infernal machinations of our commander might best be counteracted. When Mrs Monti retired to her state-room, I informed her husband of the plot that was in agitation. We conferred together a long time upon the subject, and, at last, resolved to do nothing openly, until matters came nearer a crisis.

Captain Burder's villanous scheme occupied my mind incessantly, and Mr Monti daily made it a subject of conversation; but still we could not determine what course to pursue, and passed our hours in that state of irresolute anxiety, during which, the mind seeks an excuse for its own inactivity and want of decision, by endeavouring to convince itself that the proper time for exertion has not yet arrived. We cautiously concealed the affair from Mrs Monti and her attendant, and took care that every thing connected with our little establishment should go on in its usual routine, lest any alteration might have excited suspicion among those who were leagued against us.

Four or five evenings after Samno had made the above-mentioned communication to me, we were seated upon deck according to custom. It blew pretty fresh, and we went through the water at such a rapid rate that Mrs Monti remarked it, and asked me, in a whisper, if vessels usually carried so much sail at night as we then did. At this moment, Captain Burder, who had been pacing the deck in an agitated manner for some time before, seized the lead, and hove it hurriedly, and continued to do so without mentioning the soundings to any one, or making any reply to the mate, who came forward, and offered to relieve him of his charge. There was a dead silence among the crew, all of whom stood near the bows of the vessel, observing their commander with expressive looks. An indistinct sensation of dread, in which I participated, appeared to steal over the individuals of our party. Mrs Monti trembled and seized her husband's arm, and looked anxiously in his face; but he

C

His appearance and deportment were singularly unprepossessing. A short muscular figure, a stern countenance, burnt almost to a copper colour by an exposure to tropical climates, black bushy hair, and small scintillating eyes, formed the exterior of our commander; and his actions and external behaviour proved that the traits of his mind were as revolting as those of his person.

He treated his crew in a capricious and tyrannical manner; but, at the same time, behaved towards them with an air of familiarity very unusual for ship-masters to assume when among common seamen. But a negro man, who attended the cabin, daily experienced the most inhuman usage from his hands, and afforded such a spectacle of degradation and misery as was painful to look upon. Almost every night after dark Captain Burder had a long conversation with his mate, during which both seemed particularly anxious to avoid being overheard; and I once or twice observed them studying charts of parts of the ocean that lay quite out of our due and proper course. Their whole conduct was equally suspicious and inexplicable, and I often felt uneasy and apprehensive, though there was no defined evil to fear, nor any danger to anticipate.

Our personal confort was but little attended to on board the schooner; and our table, which had never been a well furnished one, soon became so mean and uninviting, that Mr Monti complained to Captain Burder about it; however, without avail, for the latter told him that he must just take things as he found them. On comparing the quantity of stores we had respectively brought on board, we thought. we could manage to live independent of our commander; and Mrs Monti's woman servant was, therefore, desired to prepare our meals, and spread a table for us every day. Captain Burder grew furious with passion when he learned this arrangement, and muttered some threats which we did not understand. However, next day, his rage against us was father increased, in consequence of Mr Monti having taxed him with cruelty and injustice while in the act of beating the negro man already mentioned. This offence was not to be forgiven, and he accordingly broke off all intercourse with the individuals of our party.

Delightful weather attended us during the first week of the voyage, and we usually spent the evenings upon deck, under an awning. While thus seated, one calm and beautiful moonlight night, Mrs Monti said, "If the weather and ocean were ever in this placid state, I believe I would prefer a sea-life to any other. The most susceptible mind could not discover any cause for terror or anxiety in the scene around us-I would rather meet aspeedy death among these little billows than linger life away upon a sick-bed, racked with pain, and surrounded with weeping friends."-"I have less objections, Harriet," said her husband, "to your mode of dying than to your mode of living. I should not care to spend much time at sea, for I am sure it would pass very heavily. I love variety, and nothing of that is to be met with on board a ship."-" I agree with you," said Mrs Monti; "but variety is not necessary to happinessa regular, well-planned, uninterrupted routine, would suit my dispositions exactly, and would be more easily attainable at sea than any where else. A life of change entails many miseries. It makes us the slaves of accidents of every kind, and when we are happy we never can feel secure that our happiness will continue. Now, were I mistress of a large ship, and had the power of sailing continually upon a calm and safe ocean, I would collect my dearest friends on board of her, and get out of sight of land as fast as possible, carrying with me of course various means of amusement and recreation. We would regulate our time and our pleasures as we chose-no disagreeable person could intrude upon us-no spectacles of misery would meet our eyes, and no lamentations assail our ears; and we would enjoy each other's society without the fear of ever being separated or disunited, except by death; and when any one was removed, the remaining persons would console themselves with the reflection, that a link had been withdrawn from the chain which bound their hearts to this delusive and transitory world; and that, in proportion as their friends dropped away, they would feel more ready and willing to die than they had done while the former were in existence."-" This seems a very plausible scheme of yours, my love," replied Mr Monti; "however, I am

glad you cannot put it in execution. I don't know any part of the ocean that is exempted from tempests, which I see you are resolved entirely to avoid, and with reason, for I suspect that a good gale of wind would discompose you and your select party, even more than Captain Burder himself, were he to find means of admittance into your projected floating Elysium."

While we were engaged in conversation of this kind, I several times observed Samno, the negro man, beckoning to me, and then putting his finger upon his lips. At length I went to the bows of the vessel where he stood, and asked if he had anything to communicate. "Yes, yes, master," said he, in a whisper, "something very strange, and of great consequence but will no one overhear us?"-"Do not fear that," answered I; "Captain Burder is asleep in his birth, and the watch are all near the stern."-"Then I will speak," answered Samno. "You and that other gentleman have been kind to me, and have often tried to save me from the rage of my wicked master-I mean now to serve you in my turn. Your lives are in danger. The captain intends to cast away the vessel.""What do you mean?" cried I; "I am at a loss to understand you"-"Oh, I'll soon explain it all," replied he. "Last night, I listened to my master and the mate while they were talking together, and found out that they had formed a plan to wreck this schooner, that they might get the insurance, which would buy her and all she contains twenty times over. These bales, casks, and boxes, that lie in the hold, have no goods in them. They are full of sand and stones. Captain Burder has cheated the insurers in this way, and now he wants to run the vessel aground somewhere on the Bahama Banks, and leave her to be beat to pieces by the waves. He and his crew, who are all leagued with him, will go off in the boat, and land upon the nearest coast, and give out that they have been shipwrecked. This story, if it is not found out to be false, will entitle him to claim the insurance, which is all he wants. Here is a scheme for you!"

I was too much startled and agitated by this intelligence to think of holding any farther conversation with Samno; and, after warning him to conceal his knowledge of the affair from VOL. XII.

his master and the seamen, I returned to my friends. As the tale I had just heard completely explained Captain Burder's mysterious behaviour, and unveiled the cause of his sudden departure from Baltimore, I did not at all doubt the negro's veracity, and began to consider how the infernal machinations of our commander might best be counteracted. When Mrs Monti retired to her state-room, I informed her husband of the plot that was in agitation. We conferred together a long time upon the subject, and, at last, resolved to do nothing openly, until matters came nearer a crisis.

Captain Burder's villanous scheme occupied my mind incessantly, and Mr Monti daily made it a subject of conversation; but still we could not determine what course to pursue, and passed our hours in that state of irresolute anxiety, during which, the mind seeks an excuse for its own inactivity and want of decision, by endeavouring to convince itself that the proper time for exertion has not yet arrived. We cautiously concealed the affair from Mrs Monti and her attendant, and took care that every thing connected with our little establishment should go on in its usual routine, lest any alteration might have excited suspicion among those who were leagued against us.

Four or five evenings after Samno had made the above-mentioned communication to me, we were seated upon deck according to custom. It blew pretty fresh, and we went through the water at such a rapid rate that Mrs Monti remarked it, and asked me, in a whisper, if vessels usually carried so much sail at night as we then did. At this moment, Captain Burder, who had been pacing the deck in an agitated manner for some time before, seized the lead, and hove it hurriedly, and continued to do so without mentioning the soundings to any one, or making any reply to the mate, who came forward, and offered to relieve him of his charge. There was a dead silence among the crew, all of whom stood near the bows of the vessel, observing their commander with expressive looks. An indistinct sensation of dread, in which I participated, appeared to steal over the individuals of our party. Mrs Monti trembled and seized her husband's arm, and looked anxiously in his face; but he C