ed a fit opportunity to ascertain, and determined at least to make an effort, by addressing a note to the commander in chief, and solicit his permission to land; accordingly, I addressed a note to his lordship requesting that liberty.

ances.

Lord Keith replyed in a polite but short note, informing me that he had no communication with the coast of France, and could not land me; this he accompanied by an invitation to dinner at 4 o'clock. The receipt of this note, and the prompt denial of my request was not calculated to awaken the most pleasant reflections. Instead of being in the way to reach my place of destination, I was daily getting further from it, I had the prospect of being sent to England without having any friends there, or being prepared by letters to make any; my means were decreasing, and during the continuance of the war, I had no prospect of receiving remittances or negotiating bills of exchange. With no very pleasant sensations I prepared to accept of his lordship's invitation to dinner, and to go once more through the routine of ceremonies and forming new acquaintAt the appointed hour we found ourselves along side the Queen Charlotte. This was the first time I had ever seen a ship of her magnitude, the number of guns, and the multitude of people of various descriptions and appearance which crowded the decks, were to me novel and interesting sights. We ascended by a ladder, which admitted us in one of the ports on the second tier of guns, and was met by some of the officers who conducted us to the cabin of the admiral. His lordship received us in the most civil manner, and soon entered into an interesting conversation relative to Turkey, the Barbary states, and the policy of those Regencies; in all which places he had been, and was well acquainted. He appeared to be about 70 years of age, tall, thin and apparently of muscular strength, he wore a large and awkward star on the breast of his coat, and a broad red ribband over his waiscoat. We are not accustomed to the company of lords in our country, and nothing would have been more probable than our calling him Sir, so frequently as to exhibit that solecism in good manners, which, though republicans of the most orthodox school, we were not desirous of doing; besides "a decent respect for the opinions of mankind," rendered it necessary to observe a proper caution. We had no reason to charge ourselves with a want of good manners, and the words my lord were repeated so often, that the sound was perfectly natural and reconcileable;

the officers generally called him mi lud, a species of orthoepy which might be very fashionable, and probably very correct, according to the court calender, still sounded harsh and grating in

our ears.

In a short time dinner was announced, which made its appear ance in a splendid service of silver, and consisted of all the deli cacies that could possibly be imagined-a full and superior band of music played the battle of Prague with great science; and the table was surrounded by several post-captains, lieutenants and other officers, amongst which was captain, now admiral Malcolm, who was then captain of the fleet, and has since had the command of St. Helena, and whose appearance and manners were highly interesting. After dinner the admiral retired to take a nap, as we imagined; and one of the captains was polite enough to show us the ship. These first rate vessels, which generally mount from 100 to 130 guns, are exceedingly expensive to the government, and do not promise the effective service that vessels of an inferior class seemed calculated to produce; they may have become necessary, from the French having built vessels of the same force; but for celerity of movement, and economy in equipment, I cannot think that any vessel of a higher rate than a 74 should be built.

Towards evening we retired in the front cabin to take tea, which was served up in the American style. Lord Keith commenced a conversation relative to our country and its improvements-" I observe," says he "in your papers a great deal about Buffalo, in the state of New-York; I have been in that quarter and cannot recollect the place, to be sure it is near 50 years since I have been there, still I am confident that it did not exist at that time;" he then produced an old map to corroborate his opinion; and I explained to him the nature and extent of the improvements which have since taken place, not alone in the state of New-York, but throughout every state in the Union. It is not surprising that Europeans should find it difficult to reconcile to themselves such wonderful improvements in the face of a new country-such increase of population, wealth and resources, in a comparative shortness of time; accustomed, as they are, to an old and rapidly decaying part of the world, where things remain stationary for centuries, and where the territories at this late period of their history are hardly capable of advancement, they are apt to give but a small latitude to the progress

of new settlements; and cannot, in imagination keep pace with such extraordinary progression. Were those British officers who served during the revolutionary war, to return once more to their old quarters, and the scenes of their exploits, victories and defeats; were they to see large, commercial, and manufacturing towns, populous villages, and prosperous hamlets, on the spots where they remember to have seen a wilderness; were they now to view the smiling face and contented looks of the farmer and labourer in those regions where the frightful yell of the Savage and Hyena were only heard, they would estimate the value and strength of the country by its real standard. No error will be so fatal to European powers, as that of underrating our resources and capability of resisting innovations on our rights; a war may be lengthened, its privations severely felt, yet, in the end, we must be victorious. With a soil which yields all that necessity, or even luxury can require, a population, which, in increase, promises great physical strength-a new world beyond the mountains growing out of a new world-a hardy yeomanry springing up on all sides, their sinews braced with toil, and their hearts the seat of liberty and justice; it would be the policy of foreign powers to evince towards us good faith, mildness and tolerance; that, by a reciprocity of sentiment, we may successfully cultivate the arts of peace, while not neglectful of those preparations indispensible to a state of war.

We took our leave of Lord Keith, whom we found an intelligent, agreeable old gentleman; one who had doubtless seen much service, and was deservedly a favourite with the government. He gave us a general invitation to dine with him daily.

The demand which small vessels were in for conveying dispatches, kept them constantly in motion; the Goldfinch the next day, was ordered to return to Basque Roads, and to send us on board the Abercrombie 74; here was another transition; and by this time these changes had become so familiar to me, that I was perfectly indifferent where I pitched my tent. The Abercrombie had once been a French ship, called the General Hautpol, and was commanded by Captain Fahie, who had himself captured her, after a long action in a vessel of equal force. I had in the course of some twenty days moved with such rapidity through the British fleet, as to become acquainted with a number of officers; and had sufficient leisure and inclination to study characters, to probe and ascertain

opinions, and to gather the real sentiments entertained towards our country. This last officer was a native of St. Kitts, somewhat advanced in years, and possessed a mildness of character, a dignity of deportment without ostentation and parade, a mind cultivated by study and experience, joined to an uncommon hospitality, that rendered his society extremely agreeable; and the favourable sentiments expressed towards our navy and officers, rendered his opinion highly valuable, because it was given with frankness, and with no desire of flattering. With this respectable officer, we continued nearly a week, when the Royal Sovereign, another first rate ship, was seen entering the Bay; in clearing one of the points of land, she had struck upon a rock, and knocked off her false keel, part of which was seen floating near her; and in communicating this accident to the admiral, he ordered her to return to Plymouth, from which place she had just sailed, and to prevent any danger from the accident, the Pyramus frigate, captain Dundas, was appointed to keep her company. Here was a favourable opportunity to send us in; and accordingly we had our choice, either to go in a ship of 110 guns, or a small 36 gun frigate. Capt. Dundas urged with much politeness, that his ship was snug and comfortable, where we would be more at our ease, and perfectly at home; and we accordingly decided, as it was left to our choice, that we would go in the Pyramus. The captain was familiar with our ports, particularly with the harbour of New-York; he had been a lieutenant on board one of those ships, which, prior to the war, had scoured our coast, brought vessels to, boarded and impressed our seamen with impunity; and capt. Dundas appeared to have done his part of the duty assigned to him with much fidelity, he was well acquainted by name and reputation, with all our naval officers. I had discovered while in the British fleet, that more inquiries respecting commodore Rodgers were made, than of any other officer; they seemed to mark him out peculiarly for comment and observation, not with any asperity of opinion, but as one whom they appeared desirous of knowing more about; he was at that period scouring the ocean in the President, and was an object of great attention and excitement. "Were I to meet him," said captain Dundas, "it would be expected that with my little frigate I should fight him, I should do my best, but with slender hopes." On the third day the British coast was in sight, and we made Eddistone light house, rising like a majestic pillar from the bosom of the deep; here our pilgrimage in

its first stage was likely to be arrested; how long I should be detained in England, whether considered as a prisoner, or left free to pursue my way, what effect would grow out of my detention, and what privation I might undergo, were subjects that could not fail to occupy my attention.

I did not now lament my capture, it had given me an opportunity of becoming somewhat acquainted with the organization and equipment of a British fleet, the system of discipline adopted, together with the manners, customs, and opinions of the officers, all of which, were points of importance, situated as our country was at that time. It was evident that the great success by which the British navy had hitherto been distinguished, was owing to that superior discipline and nautical science, by which they have been enabled to come into action with better equipped, manned and organized vessels than those of their enemies; there has been a national spirit, an amor patria growing out of repeated successes, which have also tended to strengthen their fame, and keep alive their con fidence; it was only when the British met with a nation whose ships were better manned, disciplined and fought, that they were conquered. Our success may be mainly attributed to another cause; a difference of national character. Many of the British seamen are impressed and brought to their guns with repugnance, if not indifference, as to the result; they fight bravely, as a matter of duty, but carelessly as a matter of principle. Our seamen are voluntary combatants, and go into action as if liberty, country and victory, depended on their efforts, and each man stimulated by the common tie of citizenship, feels that he is defending his own rights in vindicating the rights of his country. Under such impressions, victory is seldom a problematical result. I do not think that the British have as good officers and seamen at this day, as they had in the days of Blake and Rodney. They have, it is true, very elegant and accomplished men among their prominent officers; but there appeared to be a growing disposition to mix too much with the beau monde-to conform to the soft and seductive transitions of fashion; and to evince a disposition to sink the sailor in the gay and cultivated patron of the drawing room. If this be generally encouraged that hardy and frank character, so peculiar to seamen, will be sunk in luxury and effiminacy; and while active men of strong mind and muscles, capable of directing and assisting to work and