THE 
MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 
No. 413 ] 
AUGUST 1, 1825. 
| [Price 2s. 
Remarxs oN Boarp His Maszsty’s 
Sure Tamar; in a VoyacE from 
, Enctanp fo Port Prata, Care oF 
- Goop Horr, Sypnry—New. Sourn 
. Watzs, and from thence along the 
Coast of AustRatta, to Port Essinc- 
TON, in the Conourc PEeNninsuLa, and 
from thence to Baruurst and Mrt- 
_ VILLE IsLanps, ApsLEy’s Straits, 
between 27th February and the 13th 
November, 1824; and continued in 
the Ship Counvess or Harcourt, to 
the iste or France, to 7th January 
1825. 
E_HIS Majesty’s ship Tamar was 
re-commissioned at Deptford on 
the 20th September 1823, and ordered 
to be fitted for the North American sta- 
tion; but, on being equipped, and ready 
for sea, was directed to proceed: to Ply- 
mouth, from thence was ordered on 
secret service; Captain Bremer being 
selected to carry the service, whatever 
it might be, into execution. 
- On the 24th Feb. 1824, we received 
thirty additional marines, to be-borne 
ever and above our complement, com- 
manded by Lieut. C.C. Williamson; and 
finally sailed from England on the 27th 
of that month—our destination still a 
secret. On the 6th March made Porto 
Santo (Madeira), and passed the Deser- 
ters on the 8th, and on the 9th boarded 
a French brig from Bourdeaux, bound- 
to Senegal; on the 10th made the south 
end of Palma, distance about six leagues; 
and on Monday, March 15th, an- 
chored in Porto Praya Roads, St. Jago; 
in nine fathoms, east fort bearing north- 
east by east, west fort south-west, and 
by west three-quarters west, outer 
points from east and by south. half- 
‘south to south-west, and by west half, 
west ; sandy, hard bottom, 
The appearance of the country, as 
far as could be seen from the ship, was. 
hot, sterile and apparently very, unpro- 
ductive. The town ‘of; Porto Praya is 
nothing more than a -few scattered 
huts; the Portuguese troops we saw. 
were a ragged, half-starved looking 
set; miserably accoutred and, armed: 
the forts, if in good condition, and well 
manned, would be capable of great re- 
Montuiy Mac. No. 413. 
sistance ; the place is, however, improv- 
ing, and a British Consul (Mr. Clark) 
being lately appointed, will be the means 
of further improvement. The island 
produces the usual tropical fruits ; their 
pumpkins are of the very best descrip- 
tion; beef is to be had in sufficient 
quantities, but is very bad; water is 
scarce, and in very dry seasons not to 
be got-the town, and the shipping that 
call here, being all supplied from one 
well, the water from which is obtained 
with a great deal of difficulty. They, 
raise some cotton, and gather the fruit 
of a shrub which is useful in dyeing scar- - 
let ; it is supposed that the trade in the 
latter article might be much improved, 
by cultivating the plant. 
By observations made during our 
stay here, we found the anchorage shel- 
tered from every wind, except from the 
south-east, to south-west and by west, 
which seldom blows, but there is a con- 
stant swell from the south-east; it is, 
on the whole, a safe good anchorage, 
but merchants’ ships should never touch 
here, unless from dire necessity. 
19th March.— Weighed and made sail 
for the Cape of Good Hope; crossed 
the line; on the 27th, long. 19° 58’ 
west, old father Neptune, and his mot- 
ley train, paid us his usual visit on enter- 
ing his dominions, and went through the 
usual ceremony of shaving, &c. &c. 
5th April.Spoke the Tuscan whaler, 
in lat. 7° 23’ south, and long. 24° 45’ 
west, Martimass rocks south 14° west, 
distance 810 miles. 
12th April.—Spoke. the Competitor, 
from. Sydney, New South Wales, to 
London, in lat. 24° 25’ south, and long. 
29° 40’ west: 28th, crossed the mere- 
dian of Greenwich. ; 
3d May.—Spoke the American ship 
City of New York, from Canton; Cape 
of Good Hope south 88°, distance 116. 
miles, 
_ 5thMay.—Saw the land, bearing south- 
east; worked into False Bay, and made 
the signal fora pilot, at 6,40. shortened 
sail, and came to in Simon’s Bay. Found 
lying here the Dutch frigate Dagaraad, 
a whaler and free trader; at 6. moored 
ship; signal staff, south-east half-south, 
B ‘+ “Noah’s 
