392 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



the coast of Yucatan. Personally he was disposed to 

 do all in his power to serve us, but there might be some 

 risk in putting into port to land us. Knowing his fa- 

 vourable disposition, we could not urge him ; but Mr. 

 Russell was his consignee, and by charter-party had a 

 right to detain him ten days, and intended to do so ; but 

 he offered to load him in two days upon condition of 

 his taking us on board, and, as Campeachy was block- 

 aded, landing us at Sisal, sixty miles beyond, and the 

 seaport of Merida. Captain Fensley assented, and we 

 were relieved from what at the time we should have 

 considered a great calamity. 



In regard to the project for the purchase of the ruins 

 of Palenque, which I have before referred to, Mr. Rus- 

 sell entered into it warmly ; and with a generosity I can- 

 not help mentioning, hardly to be expected from one 

 so long from home, requested to be held liable for two 

 thousand dollars as part of the cost of introducing them 

 into the United States. In pursuance of my previous 

 arrangement I wrote to the prefect, advising him of 

 Mr. Russell's co-operation, and referring him to Paw- 

 ling as my agent in settling the details of the purchase. 

 This was enclosed in a letter from Mr. Russell to the 

 same effect, which stated, besides, that the money should 

 be paid the moment it was required, and both, with full 

 instructions, were given to Pawling. The interest which 

 Mr. Russell took in this matter gave me a flattering 

 hope of success, and but for him, the scheme for ma- 

 king castings would have failed entirely. He was en- 

 gaged in building an unusually fine house, and in order 

 to finish it had sent to Campeachy for plaster of Paris, 

 but not finding any there, had imported some from New- 

 York. Fortunately, he had a few barrels left ; and but 

 for this accident — there was none nearer than Vera 



