rs.
As we rose their courses out of the water we felt pretty certain from
their appearance that some of them were men-of-war. At length we made
out their colours. They were English. They might, however, have been
hoisted to deceive us. Not to be taken by surprise we went to quarters.
We now clearly ascertained that the two headmost ships were frigates
and the rest merchantmen. They soon showed the private signals. They
were the Aeolus and Prudente frigates with the long-expected convoy for
England. We hoisted signals of distress, and, lowering our boats, they
were alongside them by the time they hove-to near us.

The different way in which we were treated by the officers of the two
frigates was very remarkable. Captain Waldegrave of the Prudente aided
us in the most kind and compassionate way, and he was warmly seconded by
two of his lieutenants, Campbell and Ferris, who exerted themselves to
the utmost to bring provisions on board without an instant's delay.
They sent us their own dinners which had just been dressed, and also all
the cooked meat on board, so that we were able at once to satisfy the
cravings of hunger. They despatched also all the delicacies they could
think of, likely to be of use to us from their own private stores. The
officers of the other frigate, on the contrary, treated our sufferings
with heartless indifference, and seemed much vexed at having to give up
some of their provisions towards supplying our wants, and at the delay
which we caused them.

The masters of the merchantmen seemed to vie with each other which
should afford us most voluntary assistance, and among others we were
especially indebted to Captain Louis of the Augustus Caesar, a large
London ship, who sent us wine, tea, sugar, sheep, fowls--indeed,
everything we could possibly require. Altogether from them and the
men-of-war we were supplied with provisions for three weeks. Delightful
indeed was the change from actual starvation to the abundance we now
enjoyed. With right good-will did we cheer the fleet which had so amply
relieved our distress as we parted from them and made sail once more for
Jamaica.

The following day, the 6th of August, we saw the Island of the Grand
Caymayne. Here we anchored for a few hours and were then ordered by
Captain Parker to proceed direct for Jamaica with despatches for his
father. One of the ship's company was destined never to reach it. The
captain of the maintop, a fine active f