2 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



Cape Horn. A kind friend who commanded 

 one of her Majesty's 18 gun sloops, offered 

 me a passage to visit Mexico, and return 

 with him home, via Cape Horn and Rio 

 J aneiro ; but at that time an English gen- 

 tleman, who owns a large sugar estate in 

 Central America, arrived at Valparaiso, and 

 offered me a passage to Realejo in his own 

 vessel, a beautiful Yankee clipping brigantine, 

 under United States 1 colours. I accepted 

 his kind offer, and never enjoyed a sea 

 voyage more in my life ; well bred and well 



read, Mr. B did the honours of his 



vessel in princely style, and the commander, 

 a North American, was as fine a specimen of 

 a thorough sailor and gentlemanly officer, as 

 could well be met with, full of anecdote and 

 good humour. 



They were both proud of their vessel, and 

 well they might be, for she was the fastest 

 craft on those waters, and passed men-of-war 

 and clippers of all nations in great style. 



She was built in Baltimore, and was about 

 one hundred and forty tons burthen, but 

 when laden did not draw more than eight 

 feet and a half water, with a rather flat floor, 

 long sharp bow, but without a hollow line, 

 and a fine clean run. 



