needless as
it was illiberal; but indeed the whole conduct of the Spanish
authorities gave proof of their reluctance to admit their old
allies, even to the common rites of hospitality. From the moment
we entered the harbour the militia of the island were called out,
many of the guns which commanded our shipping were shotted, and
artillerymen with lighted fuzes stood constantly beside them. An
order was likewise issued, prohibiting more than two persons to
land at the same time from each vessel, and many other
precautions were taken, little complimentary to the good faith of
those to whom Spain must feel that she owes her very existence.
In spite of these drawbacks, however, I contrived to spend a week
in this city with much satisfaction. The opera and theatre
opening on Easter Sunday, and continuing open during the
remainder of our stay, furnished sufficient amusement for the
evenings, whilst in walking or riding about, in examining the
different churches and chapels, and in chatting with nuns through
the grate, or monks within their cells, my mornings passed away
more quickly than I desired.

At length our victualling and watering being complete, on the 9th
of April we bade adieu to the shores of Cuba, and running along
with the Gulf-stream, took our course towards Bermuda. The wind
favoured us greatly, and on the 17th we again reached these
islands; where we delayed till the 23rd, when, once more setting
sail, we steered directly for England. During the remainder of
the voyage nothing of importance occurred till the 7th of May,
when, reaching in towards the shores of Brest, we were astonished
by beholding the tri-coloured flag floating from the citadel. Of
the mighty events which dad taken place in Europe, we were as yet
in perfect ignorance. Though surprised, therefore, at the first
view of that beacon of war, we naturally concluded it to be no
more than a signal, and passed on without inquiry. As we
ascended the channel, however, we were hailed by a schooner,
which professed to communicate some news concerning Buonaparte;
but the wind being high, we could not distinctly tell what was
said; nor was it till the 9th, when we had anchored off Spithead,
that the reappearance of that wonderful man was made known.

The effect of this intelligence it would be difficult to
describe. At first it was received with acclamations, but by and
bye those who had dreamed of home began to perceive in it the
destruction