94 TOUR IN THE WESTERN ISLES. 



of writing to Sir J. Banks, who applied, and sent mo 

 notice by return. Next post came a second letter, 

 stating his having obtained his request at once, on 

 putting it upon the footing which I suggested. 



" The protection accordingly arrived, to our great 

 joy; and to mine in particular, as it was enclosed to me, 

 with a very polite letter from Mr Secretary Nepean. 



" On Tuesday we dropped down, almost becalmed. 

 A delightful day and charming scenery made us 

 forget the slowness of our motion ; and a gentleman, 

 with your humble servant, performed the pleasant feat 

 of dining in the maintop. We drank freely to our suc- 

 cess, and superintended a salute fired on our land 

 friends going ashore. I cannot describe, with any 

 degree of justice to the subject, the joyful nature of 

 this scene. All our spirits afloat, a fine vessel, good 

 crew, prospect of a pleasant voyage in the bush, and 

 good weather in hand, enchanting scenery and agree- 

 able company, rendered us completely cheerful. When 

 in this humour, our passport, &c., before described, 

 arrived from port, to my great joy. As soon as the 

 new spirit of life which this imparted had subsided, 

 a pleasant breeze again enlivened us ; and scarce had 

 our joy become, for a second time, calm, when turning 

 a point the homeward-bound West India fleet arrived 

 in full view and full sail. The setting sun showed us 

 such a sight as I shall never forget ; and whilst they 

 passed us with a salute, slowly fired, I could not help 

 thinking that if a romance-writer had wished to select 

 circumstances for an outset to his piece, or indeed for 



