made my excuse for not being able to pay my respects before my
departure--my mother, and my aunt Bridgeman--I resolved that I would
write him a long letter previous to my sailing. I did so, in which I
entered into the whole affair of the duel, the conduct of Colonel
Delmar, and my suspicions relative to him; stating, at the same time,
that I could not comprehend why he should have sought to injure me. I
finished this letter late in the evening, and the next morning, the wind
having come round, we sailed for our destination.

Once more on the water, all my thoughts were given to the service. We
soon fell in with the North Sea squadron, and the day afterwards the
Circe was directed to go on shore in company with the Dryad, and watch
the flotillas of gun-boats which had been collecting in the various
rivers and ports; to sink, burn, and destroy to the utmost of our power.
This was an active and dangerous service, as the enemy had every
advantage in the sands and shoals, and hardly a day passed in which we
were not engaged with the flotillas and batteries. It was, however, now
fine weather, for the winter had set in early, and had passed away, and
for two months we continued in the service, during which my skip's
company were well trained. One morning a cutter from the fleet was
reported from the mast-head, and we expected that we should soon have
our letters from England, when the Dryad threw out the signal for six
sail of praams in shore.

The two frigates made all sail in chase, leaving the cutter to follow us
how she could. Our masters were well acquainted with the shoals on the
coast, and we threaded our way through them towards the enemy. We were
within gun-shot, and had exchanged broadsides with the batteries, when
the flotillas gained a small harbour, which prevented our making any
further attempts. The Dryad made the signal to haul off; it was quite
time, as we had not more than four hours' daylight, and were entangled
among the shoals. The breeze, which had been fresh, now increased very
rapidly, and there was every appearance of a gale. We worked out as
fast as we could, and by nine o'clock in the evening we were clear of
the sands, and in the open sea; but the gale had sprung up so rapidly
that we were obliged to reduce our sail to close-reefed topsails. With
the sands under our lee, it was necessary to draw off as fast as we
could, and we therefore carried a heavy press of sail all the night--at
las