12 EXCURSIONS IN MADEIRA 



vesciculosiis covered the rocks washed by the river, intermingled 

 here and there with an ulva, which I had not the means of 

 determining. 



The next day (the 30th of September) we sailed, and soon 

 after we lost sight of land, encountered one of those south-westerly 

 gales which prevailed at that time, and which placed our ill-found, 

 high-decked, leaky schooner, in no small danger. Although the 

 cabin was closed down for four days, the state of the vessel was 

 such, that neither my baggage nor provisions escajied a soaking. 

 On the fourth evening, the weather calmed a little, and I made 

 regular observations on the temperature of the air and sea, and 

 on the moisture of the atmosphere (both with De Saussure's and 

 Leslie's hygrometers), during the ten days that remained of our 

 passage to Madeira. It would not be worth while to compare 

 so small a number of observations in so limited a track, with those 

 of Baron de Humboldt, Dr. Davy, and others ; I shall, therefore, 

 defer doing so, until the remainder of my voyage has furnished 

 me with a greater extent and variety. My fellow-passengers were, 

 a Madeira dandy of the second class, returning from the fashion- 

 able grand tour which was to complete his education, and to 

 furnish him with matter for conversation and reflection the re- 

 mainder of his Hfe ; and which is conveniently, economically, and 

 rapidly performed, by paying about ^5 for a passage by the Por- 

 tuguese packet, which returns from Madeira to Lisbon by way of 

 the Azores, so as to have the opportunity of spending a few hours 

 in those classic islands, and the few days in Lisbon which precede 

 the departure of the next packet to Madeira. A Coimbra student, 

 returning to his native island after seven years absence (or as he 

 expressed it, after seven years study), with the title and degree of 

 Doctor of Canon Law, and a splendid diploma, decked with large 

 seals and green ribbons, and preserved in a long tin box, which 

 he opened with prodigious form for our inspection, on his first 



