could not feel safe in their society.[H]

[Footnote H: There were probably Pirates in the neighborhood; for
it appears by the papers since, that a piratical schooner
captured by the Sea Gull, was fitted out at VILLA CLARA--a town
not very far distant Easterly from St. Claire.]

The only person I found on the plantation who could speak
English, was a slave, formerly of _St. Thomas'_, who gave me some
history of his master's character, immense wealth, the number of
new plantations he was yearly forming, &c. Among other things he
informed me that his name was (as he pronounced it) _Sir Thomas_,
and that he was an _Alcalde_, or magistrate, for that part of the
Island. This last information was important to me, for it was
necessary that I should procure a _pass_ from some civil officer
in order to travel in safety to Matanzas.

On the third morning after my arrival, finding myself somewhat
recruited by my kind treatment, I desired this slave to go with
me to his master, and ask of him a pass to proceed to Matanzas.
The Alcalde readily granted my request; and while he was writing
the pass, an English Carpenter (who I afterward learned built the
Alcalde's house) entered the room, and looking at me, exclaimed,
"for God's sake who are you! you appear to be an American or
Englishman?" to which I replied, I am an American. After several
questions and answers, I was compelled to tell him my whole
story, part of which concerning the Pirates, I had concealed from
the inhabitants of St. Claire, from motives of personal safety.
But the generous hearted Carpenter, whose sensibility I began to
perceive had been a little indebted to some more diffusible
stimulant than his native sympathy, burst into tears, exclaiming
very rashly and imprudently, "they are a d----d set of Pirates
all over the Island." After my pass was finished, its translation
by the Carpenter being satisfactory to me, I began to make
arrangements to depart, having expressed through him, my
gratitude to the Alcalde and his family, for the kind treatment I
had received at their hands, which I shall ever review as the
mean of preserving my life. But the Carpenter supposing from what
I had suffered that I should be unable to perform the journey to
Matanzas, endeavored to persuade me to remain, giving me the
strongest assurances that I should be both welcome and safe at
St. Claire, the owner of which he extolled to the highest
degree.--This Carpenter, who had been so re