ly as instinct impels
the brute creation; and that one of those principles is an innate desire
to please and secure the good opinion of the opposite sex, born with
every man and woman, or at least developed, more or less strongly, in
very early childhood, and that too without any instruction or hint from
others.

While the party stood on the quay, puffing their segars with all the
gravity and silence that was becoming their rank and birth as officers
of his Catholic Majesty and natives of old Spain, a subaltern officer
approached, and, with abundance of parade and obsequiousness, informed
the governor that there was a ship in the offing, becalmed at that time,
but apparently bound in. The officer proceeded to inform him farther,
that there were two American ships at St. Josef, one at Monteny, and
that a fourth had been seen the day before at sea, standing to the
southward. His excellency, though not particularly indignant at the idea
of his principality being visited by a foreign vessel, thought proper to
appear "brimful of wrath" at the intelligence.

"Ah! those accursed and heretical wretches! they swarm upon this coast
as thick as sand-flies."

"And should be destroyed by the same means, by fire," growled his naval
associate; "they should be burnt at their anchors wherever they are
found; for if they have not already been guilty of any violation of the
laws, they very soon will."

"Signor Pinto," said the more humane and considerate governor, "you are
to recollect that our gracious sovereign is on terms of peace and amity
with this new people, who have lately come into existence, and who seem
to be driven by the devils to wander abroad, instead of passing their
lives peaceably at home. We cannot therefore treat them as enemies; and
even when taken in violation of the laws, they must be heard in their
own defence."

This grave rebuke rather mortified him of the marine department, and he
was for a few minutes sulky, which the governor perceiving, and not
wishing to offend him, again addressed him.

"But come, signor, cheer up. I know the sight of that schooner always
makes you feel unpleasantly; you cannot forget how she misled you one
dark night, and well nigh decoyed your ship ashore, by setting adrift a
light in a tub."

This was but cold comfort to the redoubtable sea-officer, who was by no
means fond of hearing the anecdote of the lantern in a tub repeated or
alluded to; and he was about making an angry a