<a0t=4FioriOa 



It was my purpose, before returning to Europe, to 

 visit at least a part of the West Indies, to which at this 

 time I was nearer than I might ever hope to be again. 

 The prohibition of trade which in consequence of a 

 resolution of the British Parliament forbade at the 

 time or at least restricted all traffick between the West 

 India islands and the United States of America, made 

 it difficult to get passage to those islands from 

 Charleston; for although an occasional vessel slipped 

 out hence bound thither it was only under the pretext 

 of sailing to other parts, and it was not adviseable to 

 risk a voyage in this way, which might involve loss of 

 time if not other inconvenience. There had been no 

 opportunity for some time of getting even to Provi- 

 dence, one of the nearest of the Bahamas. To accom- 

 plish my ends therefore I could do nothing but go the 

 roundabout way by St. Augustin in East Florida, hop- 

 ing to pass over from there under the wind to the 

 Islands or at least to the Bahamas. The spring was 

 gradually approaching in Carolina ; I regretted being 

 unable to stay for its beauties. 



On board a schooner of 25 tons I left the harbor of 

 Charleston at mid-day the 9th of March; at 4 o'clock 

 we passed the Bar without mishap and got out to sea 

 with a light wind from the north-west.* Our skipper 

 would not have it said of him that he fearfully hugged 



* From Charleston, once outside the Bar, it is possible to 

 sail to Georgia between the mainland and the larger and 

 smaller islands along the coast, quite commodiously and safe 



