1829.] Revolution at Palermo, m the Year 1820, 231 



Col. Flugi had stated : I also saw no small anxiety on tlie Colonel's 

 part to get rid of his visitor, and therefore took my leave, desiring him 

 to return to Trappani and preserve order, and leaving him in doubt 

 where I meant to go alter quitting the port of Trappani. 



The gun-boat now immediately got under weigh and stood out of the 

 port, it being about eleven at night. The captain was desired to take 

 the direction of Marsala, and the wind was perfectly fair for that port. 

 As Marsala was by land not farther from Palermo than Trappani, I 

 determined to go there, find out the real state of things in Palermo, and 

 there make up my mind as to my own proceedings. Knowing that 

 at Marsala there was an English gentleman (Mr. Wodehouse), univer- 

 sally beloved and respected, I hoped to provide myself and the crew 

 with every thing necessary for our hazardous voyage ; I was further 

 encouraged in this resolution by the description the sailors gave of the 

 residence of Mr. Wodehouse, which was out of the town of Marsala, 

 and contiguous to the port — a situation combining secresy and security by 

 its being an inclosed building immediately on the beach, where numbers 

 of boats and men (belonging to this gentleman) were always ready for 

 any service that might be required. Leaving Trappani, the boat made 

 good progress, the wind being strong and favourable. Between Trap- 

 pani and Marsala there are dangerous shoals near the coast, and several 

 small islands, amongst which there is a passage for boats, about ten or 

 twelve feet wide ; even this passage is very shallow, and though seamen 

 well acquainted with the coast often take it, as saving several miles, it is 

 exceedingly dangerous in the night, especially with a strong wind. 

 As the gun-boat approached these shoals, a question arose between the 

 captain and crew about the proprietj' of attempting the passage ; most 

 were against it — the captain was for attempting it, and the question was 

 referred to me. It now appeared that only one man in the boat was 

 acquainted with the passage, and beseemed confident of getting through 

 it ; I decided instantly on the attempt, and the helm directed the gun- 

 boat to the passage, the length of which seemed about three quarters of 

 a mile. The night was tolerably clear, though cloudy at intervals, and 

 the wind strong ; the boat proceeded rapidly, though the waves broke on 

 the rocks and shoals on each side of the little channel ; once the boat 

 struck for a moment, and once it was necessary to unship the rudder: 

 no farther inconvenience occurred, and the sailors complimented the 

 pilot on his skill with a loud shout. Few eyes were closed that night ; 

 at about ten o'clock in the morning the gun-boat anchored in the harbour 

 of Marsala, exactly opposite the residence of Mr. Wodehouse. The 

 captain immediately went to the health-office ; the general and his com- 

 panions were stated to be an Englishman and some Neapolitans with 

 him. Wliilst the captain was absent at the health-office, Mr. Wodehouse 

 came alongside the gun-boat, out of curiosity, to learn the news from 

 Palermo, and I took the opportunity of speaking to him in English, 

 without, however, discovering myself. Mr. Wodehouse invited me and 

 my companions to his house, and it was settled that as soon as the boat 

 was out of quarantine the whole party should instantly go there. 



Mr. Wodehouse then left the gun-boat, which, in an hour afterwards, 

 or before the captain's return from the health-office, was released from 

 quarantine. As Mr. Wodehouse's residence was about half a mile from 

 the town, we immediately landed and went there ; I then took an 

 opportunity of discovering myself to Mr. Wodehouse, from whom I 



