p.

The governor's ball was very splendid; but the ladies were rather
sallow, from the effects of the climate. However, there were
exceptions, and on the whole it was a very gay affair; but we were all
anxious to go to the _dignity_ ball of Miss Betsy Austin. I slipped
away with three other midshipmen, and we soon arrived there. A crowd of
negroes were outside of the house; but the ball had not yet commenced,
from the want of gentlemen, the ball being very correct, nothing under
mulatto in colour being admitted. Perhaps I ought to say here, that the
progeny of a white and a negro is a mulatto, or half and half--of a
white and mulatto, a _quadroon_, or one quarter black, and of this class
the company were chiefly composed. I believe a quadroon and white make
the _mustee_ or one eighth black, and the mustee and white the
mustafina, or one sixteenth black. After that, they are _white washed_
and considered as Europeans. The pride of colour is very great in the
West Indies, and they have as many quarterings as a German prince, in
his coat of arms; a quadroon looks down upon a mulatto, while a mulatto
looks down upon a sambo, that is, half mulatto half negro, while a sambo
in his turn looks down upon a nigger. The quadroons are certainly the
handsomest race of the whole: some of the women are really beautiful;
their hair is long and perfectly straight, their eyes large and black,
their figures perfection, and you can see the colour mantle in their
cheeks quite as plainly, and with as much effect, as in those of an
European. We found the door of Miss Austin's house open, and ornamented
with orange branches, and on our presenting ourselves were accosted by a
mulatto gentleman, who was, we presumed, "usher of the black rod." His
head was well powdered, he was dressed in white jean trowsers, a
waistcoat not six inches long, and a half-worn post-captain's coat on,
as a livery. With a low bow, he "took de liberty to trouble de
gentlemen for de card for de ball," which being produced, we were
ushered on by him to the ball-room, at the door of which Miss Austin was
waiting to receive her company. She made us a low curtsy, observing,
"She really happy to see de _gentlemen_ of de ship, but hoped to see de
_officers_ also at her _dignity_."

This remark touched our _dignity_, and one of my companions replied,
"That we midshipmen considered ourselves officers, and no _small_ ones
either, and that if she waited for the lieut