4 



NOTES ON BRA2^IL. 



lying upon the water ; the latter a tortoise; and the outlines and propor-< 

 tions of both are agreeable to nature. 



Soon after the French army had entered Lisbon, we passed Madeira, 

 having a Portuguese Judge on board, bound for Brazil. He had just 

 taken his final farewell of his last compatriot, and looking at the land, 

 as it rapidly receded from our view, was heard to exclaim in an under 

 tone of voice — " Ah ! Portugal was." At the same moment a fellow- 

 passenger, who for the first time had seen a Nautilus, and learned the 

 name by which it is distinguished among sailors, cried out — " Oh ! here 

 is a Portuguese man-of-war !" The gentleman of the long robe heard 

 him, and though there was not the slightest idea of reflecting upon his 

 country or its navy, the expression was so totally at variance with the 

 high-wrought tone of his feelings, that he sharply replied — " Sir, Portugal 

 had men of war when England wanted a cock-boat." We admired the 

 sensibility whence this sally flowed, but the comic position in which the 

 parties suddenly found themselves, excited a smile in all, and exchanged 

 between them the cheerful good humour of one, for a portion of sombre 

 regrets from the other. 



Upon the same spot, during a subsequent voyage, a very different 

 scene occurred. Our vessel, the Queen Charlotte Packet, Captain 

 Mudge, happened to be at Funchal, when the fleet, going out to attack 

 Guadaloupe, was standing off and on. I had spent two days on shore 

 with my fellow-passengers, among our friends and several military officers. 

 It was evening when the packet left the Roads ; and having blown hard 

 during the afternoon, some of the vessels were driven further to leeward 

 than could be convenient or pleasant, for those who had not yet got on 

 board. While we were taking the azimuth, at sun-set, a country boat 

 passed under our starboard bow, with some ladies and gentlemen, and 

 sea-stores, going to one of the ships, and we remarked that it was deeply 

 laden to be out in such a sea. A few minutes afterward, hearing some 

 one call to the helm's-man — " take care of the boat under your lee," 

 I went aft, and found it going round our stern, the ladies wringing their 

 hands and begging to be taken on board. No danger was apprehended^ 



