lessing, when two pigs which we had procured at St. Jaco's, being them
off that island (creatures more like English pigs on stilts than any
thing else, unless you could imagine a cross between a pig and a
greyhound), in the lightness of their hearts and happy ignorance of
their doom, took a frisk, as you often see pigs do on shore, commenced a
run from forward right aft, and galloping to the spot where we were all
collected, rushed against the two just made one, destroying their centre
of gravity, and upsetting them; and, indeed, destroying the gravity and
upsetting the seriousness of myself and the whole of the ship's company.
The lady recovered her legs, damned the pigs, and, taking her husband's
arm, hastened down the hatchway; so that I lost the kiss to which I was
entitled for my services. I consoled myself by the reflection that,
"please the pigs," I might be more fortunate the next time that I
officiated in my clerical capacity. This is a digression I grant, but I
cannot help it; it is the nature of man to digress. Who can say that he
has through life kept in the straight path? This is a world of
digression; and I beg that critics will take no notice of mine, as I
have an idea that my digressions in this work are as agree able to my
readers, as my digressions in life have been agreeable to myself.

When Captain Carrington anchored with his convoy in Funchal roads,
immediate application was made by the parties for the ceremony to be
performed on board of his ship. It is true that, as Mr Ferguson had
arrived, it might have taken place on shore; but it was considered
advisable, to avoid interruption and insult, that the parties should be
under the sanctuary of a British man-of-war. On the fourth day after
the Boadicea's arrival the ceremony was performed on board of her by Mr
Ferguson; and the passengers of the Bombay, residing at the house of Mr
---, who was an intimate friend of the bridegroom, received and accepted
the invitation to the marriage-dinner. The feast was splendid, and
after the Portuguese custom. The first course was _boiled_: it
consisted of boiled beef, boiled mutton, boiled hams, boiled tongues,
boiled bacon, boiled fowls, boiled turkeys, boiled sausages, boiled
cabbages, boiled potatoes, and boiled carrots. Duplicates of each were
ranged in opposition, until the table groaned with its superincumbent
weight. All were cut up, placed in one dish, and handed round to the
guests. When they d