with her
sister Emma. She was devotedly attached to her uncle and aunt, and was
capable of more than she had any idea of herself, for she was of a
modest disposition, and thought humbly of herself. Her disposition was
sweet, and was portrayed in her countenance. She was now seventeen
years old, and very much admired.

Her sister Emma, who was but fifteen, was of a very different
disposition, naturally gay, and inclined to find amusement in
everything; cheerful as a lark, and singing from morning to night. Her
disposition, owing to Mrs Campbell's care and attention, was equally
amiable as her sister's, and her high spirits seldom betrayed her into
indiscretion. She was the life of the family when Alfred was away: he
only was her equal in high spirits.

Percival, the third boy, was now twelve years old; he was a quiet,
clever lad, very obedient and very attentive to what was told him, very
fond of obtaining information, being naturally very inquisitive.

John, the fourth boy, was ten years old; a sturdy, John Bull sort of
boy, not very fond of learning, but a well-disposed boy in most things.
He preferred anything to his book; at the same time, he was obedient,
and tried to keep up his attention as well as he could, which was all
that could be expected from a boy of his age. He was very slow in
everything, very quiet, and seldom spoke unless first spoken to. He was
not silly, although many people would have thought him so, but he
certainly was a very strange boy, and it was difficult to say what he
would turn out.

I have now described the family as they appeared at the time that they
embarked on board of the _London Merchant_; and have only to add, that
on the third day after their embarkation, they made sail with a fair
wind, and ran down the Irish Channel.

The _London Merchant_ sailed for Cork, where the North American convoy
were to assemble. At the time we speak of, the war had recommenced
between this country and the French, who were suffering all the horrors
of the Revolution. On their arrival at Cork, our party recovered a
little from the sea-sickness to which all are subject on their first
embarkation. They found themselves at anchor with more than a hundred
merchant-vessels, among which were to be perceived the lofty masts and
spars of a large fifty-gun ship, and two small frigates, which were
appointed to convoy them to their destination.

The rest of the party, still suffering, soon went dow