with his
wife, was bound to Sierra Leone, to perform the duties of a missionary
and teacher to the liberated Africans; his wife taking upon herself to
instruct the female part of that community. The following day, in
36-1/2 deg. N. lat., we saw several flying fish, which I mention merely
because it was thought to be very unusual to see them so far to the
northward.

On Wednesday, the 8th of August, we came in sight of Porto Santo. The
first appearance of land always produces a degree of interest in the
ship even to sailors, but to passengers it is generally the cause of
great excitement. In the afternoon we saw Madeira,[1] and on the
following day we rounded the west end of the island, and stood for
Funchal Roads, having passed along the north side in order that
Captain Owen might ascertain its length, which he found to be
thirty-four miles; this was precisely the same distance that he had
calculated it to be on a former measurement. He had taken this trouble
a second time, in consequence of some navigator having expressed a
different opinion on the subject. In the evening we anchored in
thirty-six fathoms water, the Loo Rock bearing N. by E. We found a
Portuguese sloop of war and several small merchant vessels lying here.
The next morning I went on shore with the surgeon and purser of the
Eden, both of whom have since died of fever on board the same ship.

The general landing place for ships' boats is at the Loo Rock on the
west side of the bay, which is at the extremity of the town on that
side, and you have more than a mile to walk over a very badly paved
road before you arrive at the centre of the town; you may, however,
land on the beach near the custom-house, from whence you immediately
enter the best part of the town, but the surf is sometimes so rough
that you cannot attempt this point without risking a ducking, or the
upsetting of your boat, which you must immediately haul up on the
beach or keep outside the surf.

Notwithstanding we had left England in the height of summer we found a
great difference in the climate, the weather being exceedingly hot. On
the following day I was invited to dine and take up my residence at
Mr. Shortridge's during our stay at Madeira. We met a large party at
dinner, consisting of Captain Owen, with some of his officers, the
Rev. Mr. Deacon, and a number of the most respectable English
residents. Madeira is so frequently visited by ships from different
parts of Europe, and has