8 A SCENE IN BRIDGETOWN. 



notice. Standing by the Custom house, with a 

 crowd of idle negroes about him, he was pubHshing 

 proposals for the formation of an ugly club in the 

 island. As I thought this the only institution of the 

 kind proposed since that at Oxford in the Spectator's 

 time, my curiosity was drawn to hear something further 

 of it. He seemed to calculate on many joining him : 

 members of council, lawyers, several merchants, and 

 the whole revenue establishment "were cited there 

 by name." Having caught his eyes I was fearful of 

 being added to this highly respectable list, and left 

 him just as I heard the words — "free admission, 

 and the president, the son of Sir Sidney Smith." 



Turning away, the roadstead covered with vessels 

 of every form and size was again before me. Should 

 love, methought, ever reduce me to the same woe- 

 begone condition with this ill-starred votary, may 

 mine be rather the madness of Thrasilas the Athenian. 

 He fancied every ship that entered or sailed from the 

 Pirseus to be his own property ; and although careless 

 about the wrecks which occurred was immeasumbly 

 delighted whenever the arrival of some richly laden 

 carrack was announced. At last reason regained 

 her seat ; yet until death he declared himself never 

 so happy, as when trading to all parts of the globe 

 from his own port in the Piraeas. And how might 

 not the same be my case ? The chord of affection 

 once snapped may never thrill with its former sweet 

 tones ; and the spring-time of young, passionate love 



*' Ne revient point pour les amans 

 Comme il revient pour la nature." 



