pped back and measured my length across the
gunroom skylight, which, fortunately for me, had a piece of wood
lengthways in the middle of it, to rest the sashes on, or I must have
paid the officers a visit in their mess-room in a very unceremonious
manner; I had however the good luck to escape with a slight bruise.

_Sunday, 2d_.--At six in the morning we got soundings in 50 fathoms of
water, and at eight in 29 fathoms. Lat. 8 deg. 29' N. lon. 13 deg. 56' W.
Cape Sierra Leone S. 81 deg. E. distant thirty-six miles. At three in
the afternoon we saw the land, and at the same time a schooner, (which
we afterwards learned was the Joseph and Mary from Sierra Leone bound to
England.) Soon after this we saw the brig Ark coming out of the harbour
of Sierra Leone, which returned into port on the 7th, and sailed again
on the 14th of the same month. This brig had the Aid-de-camp of the
late Sir Neil Campbell on board, who died nearly three weeks before our
arrival, and this officer was the bearer of despatches relating to Sir
Neil Campbell's death, &c. Shortly before midnight we anchored off the
town of Sierra Leone in 14-1/2 fathoms water, and found that our
consort the Diadem transport had arrived only a few hours, although she
left St. Jago three days before we started. We had not any visitors
from the shore that night, in consequence of the lateness of the hour
at which we came to anchor; but we had a great number on the following
day to make up for it.

_Monday, September 3rd_.--At 7 in the morning Mr. Lewis, the agent;
victualler, came on board to see Captain Owen, and some of his old
friends, whom he had previously known on board H.M. ship Leven. This
gentleman, however, had another motive for coming on board at so early
an hour; he had felt unwell for several days, and having boasted a good
deal about his infallible method of keeping off the fever, namely, by
the use of brandy and water and cigars, he did not choose to apply to
any medical man on shore, knowing that the circumstance would be
immediately spread among his acquaintances; he therefore applied to the
surgeon of the Eden for some medicines, which of course he obtained;
but mark the result--on that day week the officers of the ship were
invited to attend his funeral.

About 8 o'clock the ship was crowded with black women, who came on
board to procure clothes for washing. Some brought a little fruit, and
all brought a very long tongue, for there was such a clatte