54 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



do not try to acquire a taste for the atmosphere I must breathe. 

 Were I going to the North Pole, I should doubtless strive to 

 admire cold, though, to say the truth, I never had much drawings 

 that way. There are a great many different kinds of content, 

 some arising from praiseworthy sources, and others springing 

 from hills of less purity. Mine are mixed with the waters of 

 the latter, I fear, for in my contentment I believe there is no 

 small portion of inertia. 



August 1st. Lat. 24° 18' N., long. 21° 8' W. This day is 

 notable, not only as being that whereon a monarch formerly 

 was wont to chastise his helpmate, but is distinguished in my 

 history by entering for the first time the torrid zone. A few 

 days ago I spoke of a swallow ; to-day a poor wanderer, the same 

 I presume, kept flying round the ship, but it proved to be a 

 martin. He entered the cuddy many times. Poor fellow ! 

 Where can he find flies ? It was proposed that the ladies should 

 employ themselves collecting cockroaches, and stringing them 

 on threads for suspension in the shrouds, to serve as a substitute 

 for winged things to our swallow. 



August 2nd, Sunday. Behold the commencement of the 

 fourth week of our captivity. To-day we had service on the 

 quarter-deck, under the awning, to much satisfaction. Mr. 

 Baker preached an excellent sermon, very well adapted to his 

 auditors, on the words of the jailor to St. Paul, " What must I 

 do to be saved ?" He addressed himself chiefly to the sailors, 

 and they listened very attentively. 



August 3rd. I wonder much that I have never read " Cowper's 

 Letters" before. To-day I took them up, and it was long before 

 I could lay them down. Such variety, sad and merry, fanciful 

 and profound ; really he is the most delightful letter writer I 

 know. And the pictures that constantly occur of his mode of 

 life in his mueh-despised retirement are to me " nuts and apples." 

 Oh, that at the end of my wanderings I may but find a Mrs. 

 Unwin, and such a fireside ! It is rather too soon to think of such 

 arrangements, but I think even now I could name one. As to 

 any other home for my old days, I mean any closer connection 

 than that of friendship, I do not seriously look to it. I am not 

 qualified for the head of a family. A happy, dreamy life in 

 the heart of the country, moderate means, a little garden, a 

 small library, and one or two old cronies ; you have now the 



