Sept. 1828. 



SENOR JUANICO'^S KINDNESS. 



187 



our sick (we had only ten serviceable men on deck), we might 

 not be detained, as even a few hours might prove of serious 

 consequence ; but all I could urge was unavailing, and we 

 were detained until daylight with trifling excuses. We were so 

 situated, that unless the brig veered her cable, or dropped out 

 of our way, we could not move without getting foul of her, else 

 I should have proceeded without permission. After daylight, 

 the brig gave us room, by tripping her anchor ; and upon an 

 officer coming on board to release us, I told him my opinion of 

 the affair, and said I should report the captain''s conduct to his 

 admiral. This report was afterwards made, in a very spirited 

 manner, by Captain Henry Dundas, of H.M.S. Sapphire ; but 

 the admiral defended the conduct of his officer by saying that 

 he had merely acted, " magna componere parvis,'^ as an English 

 blockading squadron would have done in a similar case. 



Whether the act was borne out, or not, by the law or cus- 

 tom of blockade, it was very uncivil ; and one for which, after 

 the explanation given, and the proofs offered, there could not 

 be the slightest occasion. Owing to this detention, we did not 

 reach the anchorage at Monte Video until too late in tlie day 

 to procure refreshments for the sick. We found, to our sorrow, 

 that fresh provisions were so extremely scarce, owing to the 

 war, that none could be procured for our ships'* companies ; 

 and had it not been for the kindness of Seinor Juanico, a well- 

 known, and highly esteemed resident at Monte Video, who 

 supplied us plentifully with bitter (Seville) oranges, we might 

 have been much distressed. The free use, however, of this fruit 

 alone caused a rapid change in the health of those affected by 

 scurvy, and in less than a week every man was at his duty. 



A few days after our arrival, through the intervention of the 

 British minister, a peace was concluded between the bellige- 

 rents, in which Buenos Ay res gained all it had contended for, 

 and Brazil gave up what she had so imperiously demanded. 



I was extremely gratified by meeting, at this port, the late 

 Captain Henry Foster, in H.M.S. Chanticleer, on his pen- 

 dulum voyage. He was established at an observatory on a 

 small island, called Rat, or Rabbit Island, whither I lost no 



