Iliseries of Imfcrfect Intelligence. ^^^ 



turn affairs had taken in Europe, or to give tliem late intel- 

 ligence of public events especially in Austria. A few half- 

 torn newspaper leaves round some bottles of cognac was all 

 that the most earnest wish to oblige could furbish up in the 

 way of information. In the course of conversation with the 

 captain, it was only casually elicited that war had broken 

 out two months before. More than this the honest seaman 

 did not know, feeling, in fact, much greater interest in secur- 

 ing a profitable freight for his ship than in the political state 

 of Europe. 



As soon as the frigate's boat had returned, the officer in 

 charge was met with a storm of questions and inquiries. 

 His reply was very unsatisfactory, and little consolatory. 

 Among the fragments of papers there was little that was im- 

 portant, still less that could give satisfaction, and, as usually 

 happens under such circumstances, precisely at the spot 

 where some news of our own country had been printed, the 

 leaf was torn across, and the rest missing. Thus the anticipa- 

 tions formed of obtaining intelligence from the merchantman 

 which should allay the anxiety on board had not merely 

 failed to do so, but had in fact increased it in intensity, and 

 the excitement caused by this episode on the minds of all on 

 board reached almost fever heat. One would far sooner 

 have encountered a tempest than such uncertainty, especially 

 if it could have driven the frigate more rapidly towards her 

 goal ! 



On tlie 19th July, at midnight, with favourable west winds 



