294 THE LIFE OF 



The Prince/fa da Beira^ a line-of-battle Ihip, 

 commanded by Commodore Diego da Piva, and 

 belonging to our fquadron, fprung a leak, when 

 we were about to put to fea, this circumftance 

 delayed us a confiderable time, for the leak 

 being near her keel, every thing was obliged to 

 be taken out, an event fortunate for the Court 

 of Portugal and our Commodore. On moving a 

 cheft of gold, of which there were three on board 

 of immenfe value, it was difcovcred to have 

 been broke into, and on examining, fomc in- 

 confiderable part was miffing. Had it nor been 

 for the circumftance of the leak, this cheft, in. 

 all probability, would have arrived at Liibon 

 empty. 



Some little time before our departure from 

 Bahia de Todos cs SanloSt while I was confined to 

 my houfe by indifpoiition, a Portuguefe fhip 

 from Bengal bound to Lift^on arrived in that 

 harbour, on board of which came a paflenger, 

 Mr. Stewart. The officers of the fleet who went 

 on board that ftiip as flie came into port, men- 

 tioned my name to him, and that I was in 

 town; they, as himfelf told me, fpoke fo hand- 

 fomely of rne that he felt a defire to fee me. 

 He landed the fame day, and went to the houfe 

 of an eminent merchant (Mr. Lifboa,) where 

 I was particularly intimate ; he enquired after 

 me in that houfcj and every individual of the 



family 



