10 SAIL FROM PLYMOUTH. 



shall be complete in itself, and that each step in your 

 progress shall be conducive to its successor. 



(Signed) "F- Beaufort, 



Hydrographer." 



The Eattlesnake left Spithead on December 3rd, 

 and on the 11th took her final departure from 

 Plymouth, which place we had called at to complete 

 her fitting-s, swing- the ship a second time to ascer- 

 tain the amount of local attraction, and receive 

 some specie for the Cape of Good Hope and the 

 Mauritius. Being- favoured by strong- northerly 

 winds, we reached Madeira on December 18th, 

 after a quick, but most uncomfortable passag-e ; 

 during the greater part of which the main and 

 lower decks were partially flooded, owing to the 

 inefficiency of the scuppers, and the leaky state of 

 nearly every port and scuttle in the ship. 



Dec. 20th. — ^The scenery of Madeira has been so 

 often described by voyagers, who, from Cook 

 downwards, have made it the first stage in their 

 circumnavigation of the globe, as to render super- 

 fluous more than a few passing allusions. When 

 near enough to distinguish the minor features of 

 the island, the terraced slopes of the mountain sides 

 converted into vineyards and gardens studded with 

 the huts of the peasantry, presented a pleasing 

 aspect to visitors, whom a week's sailing had 

 brought from the snow-clad shores of England. 

 Here and there a white-washed chapel or picturesque 

 villa lent a charm to the scenery by contrasting 



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