ponds, the water of which was in a continued state of violent fermentation: this became less every year, and it is probable that in time it will altogether subindeed I am not sure that it has not already

side;

ceased.

Pigeon Island, which is a steep rock, rising out of the sea, although close to the main land, is a very healthy spot. It is well fortified, and has a fine set of barracks; I forget the exact number of men they will contain.

The officers and troops stationed there get all their provisions from the main land; and although there is a want of society, I am told there is at least no want of comfort.

In Saint Lucia there is always a very heavy fall of evening dew, and it is dangerous to venture out at night, without being well covered.

The relation of a melancholy occurrence, which happened some time back, will prove the truth of this assertion, and be, at the same time, a warning that deserves the attention of others placed in circumstances similar to those of the gentlemen of whom I am about to speak.

Deputy Assistant Commissary General

with

a doctor, and one or two more officers, stationed on Pigeon Island, accepted the hospitable invitation of the proprietor of one of the neighbouring estates on the main land, to what was called a Bachelor's dinner. This was nothing more or less than the assembling of a party of gentlemen to eat more than could do them any good, and to drink as much as would

do them a great deal of harm; and it was with the laudable intention of running into both of these gentlemanly excesses, that our friends repaired on the appointed day to Estate.

The dinner passed off, and was a right jovial meal; the wine was briskly circulated, and after every one had taken his quantum thereof, that is to say, after every one had contrived to make himself perfectly tipsy, the whole party rose from the table and commenced that most delightful of all delightful recreations, a bachelor's dance. This was kept up to a late hour, and then, heated as they were with wine, and still more with the exertion of dancing, thinly clad, and in a high state of perspiration, they rashly insisted on taking their departure; and at one o'clock in the morning, after walking down to the beach, under the fall of a heavy dew, they proceeded in an open boat to Pigeon Island, and on the following day three of the party fell victims to the raging fever, which their own folly had brought on.

So much for a bachelor's dinner: for my part I always vote for the presence of the fair sex, especially the fair creoles, they are so quiet, so mild, so unaffected, so good natured, and so bewitching; besides, I hate to hear of men meeting for the mere purpose of making themselves fools; and, in my humble opinion, folly is quite unpardonable every where but in love, women, and madhouses.

And now, St. Lucia, farewell: I wish thee prosperity and happiness, but above all, reformation and improvement. May the gods mend thy climate, and

education the manners of thy inhabitants, by making them more English, and less bigoted, than they are at present. Farewell too, Captain Sullivan: may thy health and constitution remain firm and uninjured by the baneful influence of an unhealthy soil.

Adios, was the reply of the gallant captain; and thereat I leaped into the boat, and in a few minutes found myself safe on board his Majesty's Treasury Brigantine, the Duke of York.

CHAPTER XX.

ST. VINCENT-THE ARRIVAL-THE VISIT THE RIDE.

"Here there were many pretty views."

Tour of Scotland.

"We made him a visit, and he received us right kindly."

Old Play.

"The roads were rugged, and in some places hardly passable." Tour of Switzerland.

THE Duke of York was a very fast sailing vessel, the wind was in our favour, the sea was passing calm, the night clear, and the moon and stars shone brightly in the heavens; satisfied with all this, I retired to my berth, slept soundly during the whole night, rose at day-break, went upon deck, and found the island of St. Vincent close at hand. The breeze was light and steady, and the vessel kept along the windward coast, on her way towards Kingstown harbour.

People say a great deal about the Alps, and the Pyrennees, and the romantic, and beautifully soft scenery of Italy; and heaven forbid that I, who have not seen, should pretend to detract from the praise which all who have acknowledge them to merit; I may, however, be permitted to state my conviction, that there is no scenery in Italy, nor

even in the world that can surpass, either in beauty or interest, the very lovely approach to the island of St. Vincent, along the windward coast.

In London we have seen panoramas, and exhibitions of almost every part of the world; and now, not content with earthly subjects, they are giving us the lower regions as described in Milton's Paradise Lost. No doubt the lower regions are subjects interesting enough to those who have any expectation of taking a journey thither at some future period; but for myself, I confess that a land, or even a sea view, would be far more delightful. The islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and indeed the West Indies in general, afford a large scope for panoramic exhibition; and I am convinced that the British public would be more surprised and delighted with tropical scenery than with any other they have yet witnessed. We have seen the view of Sidney, in New South Wales; why should we not see the West Indies, which are considerably nearer to England, and more interesting to its inhabitants?

I will not attempt to describe the many beauties we beheld, as we passed along the coast; suffice it to say, that for verdure and freshness, for grandeur and sublimity, for the contrast of cultivated valleys, with uncultivated mountains, for variety of foliage, and effect of light and shade, I saw nothing before, and I have seen nothing since to equal it.

About eleven o'clock that morning we made Kingstown harbour; and as we crossed the bay, before we tacked and came to an anchor, I had a full and very delightful view of the town.