is agent, but
acknowledged a credit in his chest of thirteen thousand dollars for my
commissions on the Volador's slaves. Here, then, were Confidence and
Temptation, both resolutely proffered to lure me back to my ancient
habits!

I was busily engaged on the sands, enforcing from the negroes a
restitution of clothes to the plundered postman, when the crack of a
cannon, higher up the beach, made me fear that an aggression was being
committed against my homestead. Before I could depart, however, two
more shots in the same quarter, left me no room to doubt that the
Termagant was talking most shrewishly with my factory at New Sestros.

I reached the establishment with all convenient speed, only to find it
full of natives, who had been brought to the spot from the interior by
the sound of a cannonade. The following letter from the captain of the
man-of-war, it seems, had been landed in a fishing canoe very soon
after my departure in the morning, and the shots, I suppose, were
discharged to awake my attention to its contents.

"HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP TERMAGANT,
"_Off_ NEW SESTROS, _Nov. 5, 1840_.

"SIR:

"The natives or Kroomen of your settlement having this day fired on
the boats of Her B. M. ship under my command, while in chase of a
Spanish boat with seven men going to New Sestros, I therefore demand
the persons who fired on the boats, to answer for the same; and,
should this demand not be complied with, I shall take such steps as I
deem proper to secure satisfaction.

"I have addressed you on this occasion, judging by the interference of
those blacks in your behalf, that they are instigated by you.

"I have the honor to be, sir, your obed't serv't,

"H. F. SEAGRAM,
"_Lieut. Com._

"TO MR. T. CANOT,
"NEW SESTROS."

When this cartel fell into my hands it lacked but an hour of sunset.
The beach was alive with angry rollers, while the Termagant was still
under easy sail, hovering up and down the coast before my factory,
evidently meditating the propriety of another pill to provoke my
notice.

I sat down at once and wrote a sort of model response, promising to
come on board bodily next morning to satisfy the lieutenant of my
innocence; but when I inquired for a Mercury to bear my message, there
was not a Krooman to be found willing to face either the surf or the
British sailor. Accordingly, there was no alternative but to suffer my
bamboo _barracoons_ and factory to be blown about my ea