398 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



with any other people, to be bound by the principles 

 of hospitality and good-fellowship, and the laws of 

 nations (if any there are), as established by the best 

 writers on that subject, and by no other laws what- 

 ever, until time may produce particular contracts, or 

 other engagements. 



(Signed) " J. LAMBERT." 



" Witness to this signature, 



(Signed) " ANDREW MILLET." 



The following is a copy of the last letter written 

 by the unfortunate sovereign of Tristan d'Acunha, 

 before his disappearance from his seat of govern- 

 ment. 



"GREAT ISLAND, TRISTAN D'ACUNHA, 



2lst Dec. 1811. 

 " CAPTAIN JOHN BRIQGS. 



DEAR SIR, Compliant to your desire, when I saw 

 you last year at Eio Janeiro, I now drop you a few 

 lines, to be sent by the first vessel stopping here. I 

 should have written by Captain Lovel, on his return 

 from this place ; but as I had nothing worth com- 

 municating, I reserved myself until I could, by a 

 year's residence, give you some account of my situa- 

 tion, and of the soil, clime, and productions of this 

 island and the surrounding waters. I shall begin with 

 the climate, which is very healthy, being neither hot 

 nor cold, but exceeding temperate. It never freezes, 

 nor is there heat enough for ripening melons I think, 



