297 



CHAPTER XII. 



Leave Buenos Ayres — Run on the Chico Bank — Description 

 of a Ship on shore — Arrive at Monte Video — Arrive at Rio 

 Janeiro— Emperor of Brazils^ Queen of Portugal, &c. — 

 Theatres in South America compared with those of Eng- 

 land — Reflection on the rising of the North Star — Stormy 

 Weather — Arrive at St. Michael's — Leave St. Michael's — 

 Arrive in England. 



The time now drawing near for the packet's de- 

 parture^ I embarked on the 29^^ January, 

 1828, on which day she sailed. The next morning 

 while running for Monte Video, with a fine fair 

 breeze, she struck on the Chico bank, well 

 known to most mariners who frequent the Rio 

 de la Plata. It was blowing pretty fresh and we 

 had a great many passengers on board, French, 

 English, Portuguese and Spanish, many of whom 

 had probably never been placed in such a situa- 



