10 SAIL FROM PLYMOUTH. 



sliall be complete in itself, and that each step in your 

 progress shall be conducive to its successor. 



(Signed) " F. Beaufort, 



HydrographerJ^ 



The Rattlesnake left Spithead on December 3rd^ 

 and on the 11th took her final departure from 

 Plymouth, which place we had called at to complete 

 her fitting's^ swing- the ship a second time to ascer- 

 tain the amount of local attraction, and receive 

 some specie for the Cape of Good Hope and the 

 Mauritius. Being* favoured by strong northerly 

 wmds^ we reached Madeira on December 18th, 

 after a quick, but most uncomfortable passag-e ; 

 during- the greater part of which the main and 

 lower decks were partially flooded, owing- to the 

 mefficiency of the scuppers, and the leaky state of 

 nearly every port and scuttle in the ship. 



Dec, 20th. — The scenery of Madeira has been so 

 often described by voyag-ers, who, from Cook 

 downwards, have made it the first stage in their 

 circumnavigation of the globe, as to render super- 

 fluous more than a few passing allusions. When 

 near enouo-h to distino-uish the minor features of 

 the island, the terraced slopes of the mountain sides 

 converted into vineyards and gardens studded with 

 the huts of the peasantry, presented a pleasing- 

 aspect to visitors, whom a week's sailing- had 

 brought from the snow-clad shores of England. 

 Here and there a wllite-^^• ashed chapel or picturesque 

 vilki lent a charm to the scenery by contrasting- 



