y was the
place furnished that no two articles were alike; chairs, plates,
dishes, glasses, knives and forks, were all odd ones, of different
colours and sizes. The badness of this accommodation arises from the
circumstance that those who call at the island are hospitably
entertained, during their stay, at the houses of those residents to
whom they happen to be introduced. For this reason a good hotel cannot
be supported. After the dinner, which went off with a good deal of fun
and mirth, some of the party "chartered ponies for a cruise" in the
interior of the island. Penang is remarkable for piebald ponies.

The next evening the party from the Runnymede repaired to the
admiralty-house, pursuant to invitation, and were hospitably received
by Captain Keppel and his officers. There they met the whole of the
respectable inhabitants of the island, both civil and military, with
their families. The rooms were handsomely decorated, and dancing was
kept up with great spirit, enlivened by the harmonious strains of
Captain Keppel's private band. This was succeeded, at midnight, by a
champagne supper, which, for excellence, might have borne a comparison
with any civic entertainment in London. Between three and four in the
morning the ladies began to move off, and some of the youngsters, by
way of further amusement, sat down to a second supper. At daylight the
Dido was apeak, under all sails, and by eight o'clock, was leading
down the north channel with skysails set for Old England. Her captain
and officers carried with them the good wishes of all they left behind
at Penang.

THE WRECK.

"The wind blew hard, the sea ran high,
The dingy scud drove 'cross the sky,
Down topsails, boys, the gale comes on,
To strike top-gallant-yards they run."

_Dibdin._

At 9 o'clock, A. M., of Sunday, the 3d of November, 1844, the
Runnymede weighed from Penang-roads with a light southerly wind, and
made sail through the north channel. At noon the wind came in from
seaward. At midnight, on Monday the 4th, she was abreast of the Ladda
Islands, with a barque in company. On Friday, the 8th, the weather was
unsettled, with heavy rain. All the small sails were stored, and the
royal yards sent down. At noon the sun was obscured. Saturday, the
9th, the breeze increased, with every appearance of bad weather. Took
in the top-gallant sails, and reefed the topsails, and took in the jib
and spanker. At noon