490 



ARRIVE AT CADIZ. 



[1831. 



towers to the height of about three thousand feet. The capital of 

 Fayal is Villa de Horta, or Orta. This island is evidently of volcanic 

 origin, but the soil is rich, mellow, and fertile ; producing wheat, maize, 

 flax, and nearly all the fruits of Europe and the United States. Oranges 

 and lemons are abundant. The climate is temperate, mild, and salu- 

 brious, and the air is remarkable for its uniform purity. Extremes of 

 heat or cold are never known here. Fine pastures for cattle are found 

 upon the plains of this island ; birds are numerous, and fish plenty. 

 The population has been variously estimated, from sixteen to twenty- 

 two thousand, and the inhabitants are distinguished for mildness, honesty, 

 and amiable simplicity of manners. 



This place has acquired some celebrity from a conspicuous incident 

 of the last war between the United States and Great Britain. On the 

 26th of September, 1814, the American privateer schooner General 

 Armstrong, commanded by Captain Samuel C. Reid, was attacked in 

 Fayal Roads (a neutral port), by the boats of the British king's ships 

 Plantagenet seventy-four, frigate Rota, and brig Carnation. The 

 action commenced about eight o'clock in the evening, when the assail- 

 ants were beaten off, with considerable loss. Being reinforced to the 

 number of twelve boats, they returned at nine o'clock ; and, after a 

 most desperate and gallant display of heroism on both sides, the British 

 were again compelled to sheer off, with the loss of several boats. The 

 gallant Captain Reid was obliged to scuttle his vessel, and Captain 

 Lloyd, of the Plantagenet, threatened to fire upon the town, unless the 

 privateer was delivered up to him. On the following morning they 

 boarded and burnt her. The American loss in this affair was two 

 killed and seven wounded ; while the British loss was one hundred 

 and twenty killed, and one hundred and thirty wounded. The captain 

 of the Plantagenet lost a leg. 



Santa Maria is the most southern island of the Azores, being in lat. 

 36° 59' N., long. 25° 9' W. This island produces plenty of wheat, 

 and has about five thousand inhabitants. There is a town on it, called 

 by the same name. 



Gratiosa contains about seven thousand inhabitants, and produces 

 wheat, wine, butter, and cheese. It is situated in lat. 39° 2' N., long. 

 27° 58' W. 



Flores is a very fertile island, and was so called from the abundance 

 of flowers which were found upon it. It is in lat. 39° 26' N., long. 31° 

 7' W., and contains about seven thousand inhabitants. 



Corvo is the smallest of the group, and derives its name from the 

 abundance of crows that were found upon it. It has about eight hun- 

 dred inhabitants upon it, who cultivate wheat and raise pork. This 

 island is situated in lat. 39° 44' N., long. 31° 7' W. 



June 10th. — From Tercera we steered for Cadiz, where we arrived 

 on Friday, the 10th of June ; but, on account of the Asiatic cholera 

 being at Manilla when we left, we were not allowed to remain, and 

 therefore concluded to oroceed to Bordeaux. 



■ 



The reader will recollect that on my first visit to Cadiz, in the year 

 1812, the French were bombarding that city, which was closely be- 

 sieged by land. But the star of Bonaparte had already passed the 



