me was,

Allan, (for that was her name,) but nothing more than she justly deserved. His answer to "Indeed B- I wish the Duke of Kent had stopped where he was. We would have managed matters better without him; but I will try what I can do for her on your account. Tell Mrs. Allan to come to me." So I left him quite overjoyed that I should have it in my power to bring comfort to the disconsolate mourners. I returned to his quarters immediately along with Mrs. Allan. The Colonel said, smiling, "Well, Mrs. Allan, are you not afraid of your husband being jealous of you and the Fife Major?" She answered in the negative. "He speaks in very high terms of your character." I am very much obliged to him, Sir, for his good opinion." "Is he any relation to you?” "No, Sir, but he has always been a very good friend." "That is right; give my compliments to Captain Glover, and desire him from me to put down your name to go with his company."-Take notice of this circumstance, for I will have occasion to mention it again.

CHAP. III.

Embarks at Portsmouth-Death of William Troop of a Broken Heart-Tremendous Storm-Ceremony at Crossing the Equinoctial-Loses his WatchCape of Good Hope-Sufferings from want of Water.

WE were embarked on board of our respective ships on the 13th April, 1807, and weighed anchor on the 18th. There seems much to make one unhappy and melancholy, when taking probably the last view of the land which gave him birth; but, notwithstanding, all seemed now festivity and joy. Some of those who seemed at this time so happy, I have good reason to believe, might, with justice, be called Solomon's merry men-" in their laughter their hearts were sorrowful." Still more, perhaps, had their relations who loved them cause of sorrow. To them might the prophet's language have been truly directed, as shall afterwards appear, "Weep not for the dead, neither bemoan him, but weep sore for him that goeth away, for he shall return no more,

nor see his native country; but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more."

At sea, Ship Coutts, May 1st. William Troop departed this life. He was He was one of those unhappy creatures who left his wife behind, and died of a broken heart. They had been lately married, and were like the "loving hind and the pleasant roe," and his feelings being unable to stand the separating stroke, he sunk under this overwhelming load of sorrow.

May 6, Twelve o'clock noon. We had a tremendous storm of wind, accompanied with incessant falls of rain and vivid flashes of lightning. All hands during night were piped by the boatswain upon deck, to reef, or rather to clue the sails, when a fine looking young man, who had shipped himself at Portsmouth for painter to the Coutts, being ordered aloft by the boatswain, to bear a hand in reefing the mizzen topsail, fell from the yard into the sea. He pled hard with the boatswain to allow him to remain and assist upon deck, saying, that he never was aloft in his life, and that in such a dreadful night he was sure he would not be able to keep his feet; but all his entreaties

that goeth away, for he shall return no more were in vain, and that which he feared came upon him, for he got a watery grave.

June 12. This day we crossed the equinoctial line. The foolish but amusing ceremony (to bystanders) of shaving took place on all those who had not before crossed it; but, lest it might lead to any disturbance, the soldiers were exempted. The form is as follows:-A person goes to the head of the ship, in the garb of Neptune, the god of the sea, according to the heathens, and another person, generally the most dexterous at the harpoon, kills a fish previously to this, and gives it to the Captain to be in readiness. Neptune, from the bow of the vessel, hails it in these words, "What ship, a hoy?" The officer whose turn it is to be on watch, answers "Coutts," or whatever is the "Where bound?" Officer on watch.— "India." Neptune then comes on board and enters his triumphal car, which stands in waiting. He is drawn aft by the sailors, and the fish is presented to him by the captain. Then commences the shaving operation. All the sailors who have not formerly crossed the equinoctial are kept below blindfolded until the large tub is ready. Each of them is in

name.

E

this state led upon deck, and placed on a plank laid across the tub, filled with salt water. The mock barber daubs his face all over with tar and feathers. For a razor he takes a piece of iron hoop and commences his shaving. It requires no common degree of patience to endure this horrid operation; but if the person gets refractory, he is instantly plunged over head and ears in the watery element, by one of the sailors pulling the plank from under him; and after he has scrambled out of the tub, should he stand to expostulate with his comrades on this treatment, two or three of the sailors, each provided with a bucket of salt water, standing on the hammock railings, discharge the contents upon him with such an overwhelming dash as makes him glad to choose another time and place to avenge his

wrongs.

June 20. I lost my watch overboard, which cost me upwards of four pounds, and so much uneasiness and travel in England; but I would not have mentioned the circumstance but for the loss of a seal attached to it, which I had received from my affectionate comrade the drum-major of the 2d battalion, who was sent to the 4th, and we got in his place an old