boldly gave it the
stem, and beat over the reef. The alternative was dreadful, as famine
presented them on the one hand, and shipwreck on the other. Soon after
they had passed Endeavour Straits, they fell in with a small Dutch
vessel, who shewed them every tenderness that the nature of their
distress required.

They were soon landed at a small Dutch settlement; but the governor
having a description of the _Bounty's_ pirates from our court, and their
vessel being built of foreign timber, served to confirm them in their
suspicions; and as no officer in the British navy bears a commission or
warrant under the rank of lieutenant, where, by seal of office, their
person or quality may be identified, they had only their bare _ipse
dixit_ to depend on. They, however, behaved to them with great precaution
and humanity. Although they kept a strict guard over them, nothing was
withheld to render their situation agreeable; and they were sent, under a
proper escort, to this place.

This settlement is reckoned next to Batavia, and is so lucrative, that
the governor is changed every five years. The present governor's name is
Overstraaten, a gentleman of splendid taste and unbounded hospitality,
who lives in a princely style; and to the _otium dignitate_ of Asiatic
luxury, has the happiness to join an honest hearty Dutch welcome.

A regiment of the Duke of Wirtemburg is doing duty here, amongst whom
were several men of rank and fashion, who shewed us much civility and
politeness.

The town is regular and beautiful, and the houses are built in a style of
architecture, which has given loose to the most sportive fancy. Each
street is terminated with some public building, such as a great marine
school, for the education of young officers and seamen; an hospital for
decayed officers in the Company's service; churches; the Governor's
palace, &c. &c. Here the _utile dulce_ has not been neglected, and those
objects of national importance are placed in a proper point of view, as
the just pride and ornament of a great commercial people.

Such is the effect of early prejudices, that, under the muzle of the sun,
a Dutchman cannot exist without snuffing the putrid exhalations from
stagnant water, to which they have been accustomed from their infancy.
They are intersecting it so fast with canals, that in a year or two this
beautiful town will be completely dammed.

In a few days, we arrived at Batavia, the emporeum of the Dutch in the
East; a