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 yesterday, I believe, only it was very hazy, and they could not see the land, and it would have been a pity to have wrecked us. It is well worth a little trouble to see this harbour: there are as many islands in it as there are days in the year—wooded, and rocky, and mountainous, and, in short, beautiful; but you will not care much about that, and would probably rather hear our personal history, which has not, however, been eventful. George and Fanny are particularly well, and, except that George is in a particular hurry to arrive, he is not much bored on board. is sometimes worse than I am about the ship, and does not care what he says when he sets about it.

The night we came aboard from Madeira, he was lying on the poop, saying, ‘Well! they may talk of “Les Derniers Jours d’un Condamné,” but les derniers jours d’un shippé are much worse.’

Captain Grey seems to be an excellent officer, and it is impossible to mistrust our safety under his care. We all like him very much, and are in luck to have so pleasant a man. He is learned in navigation, and is always taking observations with his sextant and