formerly taken prisoner and sent to the town of St. Jago. The
good Spanish Governor's kindness held a lively recollection in my memory,
but the captain of an American vessel who had sailed from thence the day
before I fell in with him, informed me that he was numbered with the dead.
Peace to his "manes." We had been out a fortnight when one afternoon we
fell in with two large Spanish schooner privateers. They were to windward,
and standing for St. Jago. "Now," thought I, "if I can get you once under
our guns, I will pay off old scores." The sea breeze was fresh, and we
were closing fast. They at first, I believe, took us for an American, as I
had hoisted the Yankee colours. When they came nearly within gun-shot
they, unfortunately for us, saw their mistake, and hauled in for the
shore. I tacked, and had got within gun-shot of them, when the lower fort
of the Moro opened its fire on us, one of the shot passing through the
main top-sail. They also fired, and their shot went over us. Finding the
breeze lulling, and that we had no hope of capturing them, I gave them our
passing broadsides, and as one of them yawed, I had reason to believe some
of our shot took effect. The battery gave us a parting salute without
doing us injury, when, as the evening was closing, and the enemy's vessels
had run into the mouth of the river, I was obliged to haul off.

After blockading the mouth of the river for ten days without the slightest
prospect of success, I anchored at Montego Bay, and procured fresh beef
for the crew. During the two days I remained at anchor I was invited, with
some of my officers, to the ball given by the inhabitants. It was well
attended, and I was agreeably surprised to meet so many of my fair
countrywomen, some of whom were handsome and still in their teens. I soon
became acquainted with several respectable families, and if my heart had
not been in safe keeping in beloved England by a still more beloved being,
I fear I should have lost it. Montego Bay is well fortified, and the town
and its background, consisting of several ranges of hills and mountains,
form a rich and pleasing picture. On the morning of the third day we
sailed, and were soon on our former cruising ground. Off Ochre Bay we
started a small Spanish privateer, which ran into a creek. I sent the
boats armed in pursuit of her, and after a smart contest of a quarter of
an hour, in which the gunner and one of the men were wounded, they brought
her out. Th