advantage of the first fair wind, they all
embarked, four days after their arrival at Liverpool; and I shall now
leave them on board of the _London Merchant_, which was the name of the
vessel, making all their little arrangements previous to their sailing,
under the superintendence of Alfred, while I give some little more
insight into the characters, ages, and dispositions of the family.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE CONVOY ATTACKED.

Mr Campbell was a person of many amiable qualities. He was a
religious, good man, very fond of his wife, to whose opinions he yielded
in preference to his own, and very partial to his children, to whom he
was inclined to be over indulgent. He was not a person of much energy
of character, but he was sensible and well-informed. His goodness of
heart rendered him very liable to be imposed upon, for he never
suspected any deceit, notwithstanding that he was continually deceived.
His character was therefore that of a simple, good, honest man.

Mrs Campbell was well matched with him as a wife, as she had all that
energy and decision of character which was sometimes wanting in her
husband. Still there was nothing masculine in her manners or
appearance; on the contrary, she was delicate in her form, and very soft
in her manners. She had great firmness and self-possession, and had
brought up all her children admirably. Obedience to their parents was
the principle instilled into them after their duty to God--for she knew
too well that a disobedient child can never prosper. If ever there was
a woman fitted to meet the difficulty and danger which threatened then,
it was Mrs Campbell, for she had courage and presence of mind, joined
to activity and cleverness.

Henry, the eldest son, was now nearly twenty years of age. He possessed
much of the character of his father, was without vice, but rather
inclined to inaction than otherwise. Much was to be ascribed to his
education and college life, and more to his natural disposition.

Alfred, the sailor, was, on the contrary, full of energy, and active in
everything, patient and laborious, if required, and never taking
anything in hand without finishing it, if possible.

He was rough, but not rude, both in his speech and his manners, very
kind-hearted, at the same time very confident in himself and afraid of
nothing.

Mary Percival was a very amiable, reflective girl, quiet without being
sad, not often indulging in conversation, except when alone