We

vacancy. We have been running at a vast rate. made Cape Ortugal yesterday about four p. m., and were a-breast of the Burlings at six this evening. From twelve o'clock yesterday to twelve o'clock this day, we have run two hundred and forty-nine nautical miles and a half. In the preceding twenty-four hours we run two hundred and forty-four and a half, which makes, I believe, as near as may be, five hundred and seventy-three and a half English miles in forty-eight hours, about twelve miles an hour all the way. This is prodigious sailing. I had no idea that any vessel could move at such a pace. I thought that a swift vessel in a gale might drive ten knots an hour. But our's is fair sailing, without any thing like a storm, for two days, at a rate something swifter than that the whole way. About twelve o'clock we saw a strange sail very little out of our course, and made towards her. She was coming to meet us, and proved to be an English merchantman. We asked for news, but she told none; at least none that we could hear; so we left her to move on at her snail's pace, and shot back into our old direction. Land was announced early in the day, but was only just visible from deck. About four o'clock we made the Burlings, of which I have had an exceedingly fine view, for they were visible at the distance of twenty-five or thirty miles, and we passed them at the distance of about four. They are very noble rocks, consisting of a bold, rough, broad, and lofty rock in the centre, surrounded by groupes of peaked irregular crags, very like the Needles, with a pretty large mass of tableland divided about the centre, that is called an island, (having a few inhabitants), which lies among them, and adds much to the effect. They are separated from the main land by a broad frith through which vessels frequently

pass, and behind which we saw stretching to a considerable extent the coast and hills of Portugal-the hills in all probability where Lord Wellington was lately entrenched. But the outline was rather indistinct, and both from the distance and nature of the country, much inferior to the coast of Gallicia. The climate is now become very sensibly softer. I gain strength, and notwithstanding I am obliged to exert myself both in speaking and acting more than is quite convenient, I do not suffer. To say I am recovered would be absurd, for my cough is still troublesome, and my strength, as yet, but weakness. I feel, however, pretty confident that I am better, and have good hopes of

Sunday noon.-I was interrupted last night at this point by hearing that the rock of Lisbon was visible from deck; so I went up, and beheld by moonlight a large mass of high land at no great distance, running out boldly, and forming what would in the day-time have been a striking object. The evening was so delicious, and the clearness of the atmosphere gave such uncommon brilliancy to the moon and stars, that it was with some difficulty I could persuade myself to go below again. The night is always a bad time with me, for I cannot sleep, and this exhausts me. However, to-day the air is delightfully mild and refreshing, the sea smooth, and every thing pleasant. We are now nearing Cape St. Vincent; a long range of the Portuguese coast stretches out on the left, and we are near enough to give it a very picturesque effect. It is rugged and mountainous, but of very different heights in different parts, and rises at length into a large, broad, and very lofty hill, or ridge of hills, which my Uncle supposes, not improbably I think, to be the ridge which separates

the provinces of Alentejo and Algarve. They call it Mont Cheke I know not how to spell it. My Uncle has made out, by examining the log, that from eight o'clock Thursday morning to eight o'clock Saturday evening, being sixty hours, we run six hundred and one nautical miles and a half, which, our course being nearly South, could not be much less than ten degrees of latitude. How much reason have I to be thankful for obtaining so quickly the chief object of my voyage. The boisterous days and inclement nights from which I suffered at first, were in fact great blessings, for they saved me from much severer, because much more protracted, suffering, which must have been the consequence of beating about with adverse winds, or with very little wind, in the Bay of Biscay. So little do we know what is really for our benefit, or at least so apt are we, under the pressure of affliction, to overlook the blessing which accompanies it.

Monday morning, eight a. m.-We are nearing Cadiz, so I must get my little packet ready. We passed Cape the Finisterre yesterday evening about five o'clock, within about two miles of the shore. It is not a very bold promontory, but rather the extremity of a flattish tract of ground, such as one not unfrequently sees towards the sea, running in front of higher lands behind, with a pretty high cliff. On the point of the Cape is built a monastery, plainly seen by the naked eye. During the night we have proceeded with a light wind over a smooth sea, and are now, I guess, about forty or fifty miles from Cadiz, the bold and lofty ridges around which are visible in the horizon. If this reaches you, as I trust it will, you will understand that we are safely arrived at Cadiz, for I shall

probably not have an opportunity of adding that. The Captain thinks it likely we shall not stay more than a few hours; but if we arrive there towards the evening, it is likely we shall not sail till the next morning, which will be a great thing for me, if it enables me to get one good night's rest on shore. I am sadly harassed by want of sleep. Of the town of Cadiz and its vicinity, it is probable my Uncle and I shall see but little, both for want of time and want of legs, which neither of us at present possess, though I hope mine will come again. I think myself mending, but feel that I have a long way to work up, before I shall be what I was three months ago. Through the mercy of God, I do not fear; or if it be his will that I should continue an invalid, that ought to be, and I humbly hope will be, most acceptable to me. And now begging my kindest love to my dear Mother, and all friends who are kind enough to feel interested about me, I will close my first dispatch. I must greatly alter, if absence and wandering make me love England less than when I quitted it. I think with eagerness of the day that will restore me to that dear land; and though I feel that in the next seven months much is to be done and learned that will be valuable for life, it is the restoration to my family and friends that I look forward to with delight.

Off Cadiz, working out of the Bay, Nov. 8, 1810. I am not sure where I left you, but I think off Cape Finisterre. We entered the Bay of Cadiz on Monday, Nov. 5, about noon, and anchored in the harbour about a mile from the town before three p.m., being a few hours less

than a week from the time of our leaving Spithead. The approach to Cadiz is very striking, and we had, for the purpose of observing it to advantage, a delightful day and the sea as smooth as glass. The coasts, though rather flat when you approach nearer, are at a distance mountainous and picturesque, running out to Cape Trafalgar on the South-West, and Cape Finisterre towards the North. Behind, at a great distance, are rude and very lofty mountains, and in the centre the city of Cadiz appears floating on the waters, and adorned on the harbour side with a variety of shipping of all sizes, from Admiral Keates's flagship down to the latine-rigged fishing boats, which come out in numerous groupes, and add much to the beauty of the scene. The town of Cadiz is by far the most beautiful thing of the kind I have ever seen. I speak of its appearance towards the ocean, on which side its principal face (and indeed, the other is little inferior), is composed of very handsome houses regularly built of a remarkably brilliant white stone, with flat roofs full of turrets. There is a spacious rampart before them, the base of which is washed by the ocean. These residences must be delightful. Soon after our arrival, my Uncle and I went on shore with some other of our messmates. We were landed at the market place, which is a handsome and spacious opening, though not large enough to claim the title of a square, where was assembled the most motley groupe of mortals I have ever beheld. I could have spent half a day there with great satisfaction. We did stay about a quarter of an hour waiting for a conveyance to Mr. Duff's. In that time, I saw friars black and white, and very striking they were. The black friars wore a very large black deep scalloped hat, and a full black robe covering them from