l. One from the latter place. It was from no less a
person than Mr Hobnail, who had taken a great fancy to him. It ran as
follows:--

"Honoured and respected Sir,--You are a member of that profession which
I deem the noblest and most praiseworthy of any in which man is
employed, and more especially that branch of it which is engaged, like
that of the squadron on this coast, in relieving suffering humanity, and
thus I feel a great satisfaction in the privilege I enjoy of inditing a
few lines to make inquiries respecting you. I trust, dear sir, that you
may now be enjoying that _seabreezetical_ health which a residence on
the bounding billows of the free ocean is calculated to bestow. May you
soon again return to this truly charming and delectable, though much and
unjustly abused town, when I may again have the pleasure of holding
those agreeable conversations on subjects of interest which have formed
the solace of many hours which might otherwise have been spent in the
society of ungenial spirits, whose base-born spirits cannot soar to
those exalted heights of poetical sentiment in which I, it must be
confessed, with due humbleness, delight to roam. Hoping soon to receive
a response congenial to my heart, no more at present from your attached
friend, if I may take the liberty of so calling myself,

"Peter Hobnail."

The worthy shoe-maker's epistle caused great amusement in the
midshipmen's berth, and Murray lost no time in replying to it in a
strain which he hoped would be congenial to Mr Hobnail's heart. The
ship was some way to the southward, and had stood in for the land at a
place called Elephant Bay. The boats were sent on shore to bring off
water, the weather being fine, and the state of the surf allowing of a
landing. Paddy and one of the assistant-surgeons were in one boat.
While the casks were being filled, they came to a shallow pool, where
the medico discovered a quantity of leeches.

"These will be most welcome on board," he exclaimed. "We have been out
of them for some time, and Dr McCan will be most thankful for a
supply."

Paddy had been carrying a jar for Frazer, the assistant-surgeon, for the
purpose of holding any aquatic specimens of natural history they might
fall in with. They were all now turned out, and the jar filled with
leeches. They had got further than they intended, and when they
returned to the beach they found all the boats gone, and only one canoe
manned with Kroomen left