arrival I was
again attacked with the yellow fever and removed to my lodgings, where I
was nursed with unremitting attention by a quadroon female, who did not
leave my bedside day or night. She was a most tender and attentive nurse.
It was a month before I was sufficiently strong to go on board, and nearly
another before I could resume my duty. I was so reduced that I was
literally a walking skeleton, or, if my reader pleases, the shadow of a
ghost, and, had a purser's candle been placed within me, I might have made
a tolerably good substitute for the flag-ship's top light. We were, in
consequence of several of the crew being seized with yellow fever, ordered
by the recommendation of the surgeon to Bluefields for change of air, and
I am happy to state that from this judicious arrangement we did not lose a
man. During the three weeks we remained here we amused ourselves by
fishing. The water in eight fathoms was as pellucid as glass, and we could
see the large conger eels twisting about between the stones at the bottom,
as well as other fish, of which we caught several. I was regaining my
strength rapidly, and was frequently invited to spend the day at several
of the estates.

I enjoyed walking of an evening about an hour before sunset in the pimento
groves, of which there were several, and when the land-breeze set in we
were often regaled on board the ship by their balmy fragrance. Mr. S., at
whose house I frequently dined, was particularly kind, and his hospitality
will not easily be effaced from my recollection. He had an amiable
daughter, and had my heart not been lost in six different places, I think
I should have sent it to cruise in her snug little boudoir. The captain,
as the people who were ill had nearly recovered, thought His Majesty's
ship should no longer lie idle. We bade adieu to our kind friends, and
once more made the water fly before us. Three days more brought us off the
Havannah, where we joined the _Trent_ and _Alarm_ frigates. Nothing worth
noticing occurred until the _Trent_, which was in chase of a vessel, ran
on a coral reef off Matanzas. The wind was light and the sea smooth, and
we soon got her afloat again. The vessel she had chased ran on a sand
beach under the protection of a martello tower. Two boats armed were soon
in motion from each ship, to get her off if possible. I had the direction
of our boats. The enemy's gun-boat, for such she was, under Spanish
colours, hoisted her ensign and the