5th and 16th of November
both passed away without any movement being made. It was,
however, my custom not to neglect any opportunities which chanced
to come in my way of viewing strange places, and obtaining an
acquaintance with strange people; neither on the present occasion
did I fail to make the most of the interval, by landing and
wandering over the town of Port Royal. But to describe minutely
a place so little deserving of description, would hardly repay me
for the labour of writing, or the reader for the toil of perusing
what I write. It is sufficient to observe, that except to him who
takes delight in beholding a well-constructed military work,
there is nothing in the busy, bustling town of Port Royal which
will at all compensate for the heat and fatigue which he must
undergo who, like myself, traverses its streets and lanes at
noon-day.

The long looked-for signal to weigh was hung out at last; and at
an early hour on the 17th we put to sea. Our point of
destination was Negril Bay, the appointed place of rendezvous for
the whole armament; and we reached it without the occurrence of
mishap or adventure on the evening of the 19th. We found here a
large fleet already assembled; but the horses were all landed,
many officers were dwelling in tents on the shore, and everything
gave indication that some further delay might be expected. To say
the truth, I experienced no degree of satisfaction at this
prospect; for the point of the island opposite to which we now
lay was neither remarkable for its natural beauty nor very
thickly inhabited; and had the contrary been the case, I had seen
as much of Jamaica and its people as I was at all desirous to
see. Besides, it was impossible not to feel that whatever the
object of our expedition might be, it was not likely to be
furthered by this tardy mode of entering upon it; and rumours
already began to spread abroad, of discoveries incautiously and
untimely made. It was, therefore, with no slight degree of
pleasure that, on the morning of the 24th, the topmasts of a
numerous squadron were seen over the eastern promontory, in full
sail towards us; and it was with still greater delight that in a
short time we were able to discern the flags of Sir Alexander
Cochrane and Admiral Malcolm floating in the breeze. By and bye
the Tonnant and Royal Oak showed their hulls in the offing; and a
short while afterwards, these ships, followed by a large fleet of
troopers and transpo