98 LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 



that these people could not possibly produce a bill of health, because 

 that bill of health was unfortunately at the bottom of the sea in the 

 foundered Pollux. Still the collected wisdom of Leghorn insisted 

 on the performance of quarantine. The law ordained it, and the 

 dead letter of the law was to be their only guide. Prince Canino 

 pleaded our cause with uncommon fervour. He informed them that 

 we had had nothing to eat that morning, as the Monjibello had only 

 taken provisions on board to last till she reached Civita Vecchia. 

 He described the absolute state of nudity to which many of the suf- 

 ferers had been reduced, he urged the total loss of our property, and 

 he described in feeling terms the bruises and wounds which had been 

 received at the collision. In fine, he entreated his auditors to ac- 

 company him alongside of the Monjibello^ where they would see with 

 their own eyes the sufferings which he had just described. 



" quid facundia posset, 



Re patuit.' 



" The council of Leghorn relented, and graciously allowed us to go 

 ashore, after we had been kept for above two hours in suspense as 

 to our destiny. We landed, in appearance something like FalstafT's 

 regiment. My ladies had lost their bonnets, and I my hat. Others 

 were without stockings, coats, and shoes. I saw two worthy priests 

 standing on the deck of the Monjibello with only one shoe each. I 

 recommended them to cast lots for a shoe, so that one of them at 

 least might walk comfortably up the uneven streets of Leghorn. 

 They smiled as I said this, and no doubt they thought my levity out 

 of season. 



" A survey was immediately made on the Monjibello^ and on find- 

 ing that she had not suffered materially during the concussion, she 

 was pronounced to be sea-worthy. Having lost our all, we deter- 

 mined to return to Rome in the same vessel which had run us down. 

 Wherefore, after thanking Mrs M'Bean and her two excellent sons 

 for their attention to us during the day which we had spent in Leg- 

 horn, we went once more on board the Monjibello, repassed over the 

 place where the Pollux had sank for ever, and landed at Civi& 

 Vecchia, whence we posted it to Rome. 



" At the Roman custom-house they knew how to feel for those in 



