nd destroyed a part of her upper works. Fortunately for the
officer of the watch the captain was on deck, and had been giving orders
respecting the sails, which took the responsibility from the shoulders of
the former. The sloop was so ill-treated by us that she was, without
delay, obliged to proceed to Portsmouth. A few days after this accident we
were ordered to the same port. On our arrival a court of inquiry sat to
investigate the reason why the mainmast of one of His Majesty's cruisers
should be so unceremoniously knocked away by the jib-boom of another. The
answers not being quite satisfactory our captain was reprimanded and the
other admonished. We sailed shortly after, and resumed our station. Of all
duties imposed on an active mind blockading vessels in an enemy's port,
from whence there is not much probability of their sailing, is the most
tiresome. The mids declared that had patient Job been on board the ten
weeks we were off Havre he would have lost his patience in the fifth week
and thrown up his commission. After a lazy cruise of nearly eleven weeks
the frigate once more sat like a duck at Spithead.

CHAPTER XVIII.

"ORDERED FOREIGN."

Ordered on foreign service--Visit Madeira, Cape de Verde, and
Goree--Experiences on shore--Sail for Cape Coast Castle--Difficulty
of landing--The captain's black lady--Author appointed captain of
H.M.S. _Favourite_--Proceed to Accrah--Sacred alligators.

After a refit and taking on board six months' provisions and stores, as we
were ordered to fit foreign, our signal was made to proceed to sea under
sealed orders, taking with us a sloop of war. On the tenth day we anchored
in Funchal Roads, Madeira, with our consort. The day following was the
natal day of our gracious Queen, on which occasion we both fired a royal
salute and dressed the ships with flags. The captain, with as many of the
officers as could be spared, was invited to dine with the consul at
Funchal. At four o'clock the captain, two of my messmates and myself, left
the ship, and in half an hour afterwards we reached the consul's house,
where we met an agreeable party, consisting of four English ladies and
eight gentlemen. It was the month of June, and the weather was very warm,
but it did not prevent us from seeing the town and visiting some of the
nunneries. The former was scarcely worth our trouble, and the latter