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" teers," &c. I sailed on the first of August 1804, and after a fair 

 voyage arrived at Cadiz. It there became necessary to conform to 

 the colonial regulations of the government, which require that all 

 articles of merchandize sent to South America be landed and entered 

 at the Custom-House, where, on payment of a fee, they receive the 

 necessary marks to make them pass for produce or manufactures of 

 the mother-country. During my stay in this port occurred that unfor- 

 tunate capture of the homeward-bound frigates by the British squa- 

 dron off Cape Finisterre ; which, as may naturally be supposed, 

 rendered the situation of an Englishman in Cadiz extremely embar- 

 rassing. War soon broke out between the two countries, and this 

 port was rigorously blockaded. In addition to the ills which befel 

 me in consequence, I was near falling a victim to the plague which 

 was then raging, and which swept away almost a fourth part of 

 the inhabitants of Cadiz, of Gibraltar, and of other places in that 

 region. The effects of this awful scourge were visible in every 

 social circle ; almost in every family ; and perhaps the despondency 

 caused by witnessing them, contributed to extend its fatal sway. 

 I still shudder to remember, that of a party of strangers, amount- 

 ing to five (myself included), who took coffee together one Saturday 

 evening in perfect health, I, on the Monday-week following, was 

 the sole survivor. The progress of the disorder was so rapid, that 

 three of them died on the fourth day. It would be tedious to 

 detail the particulars of my own case ; but a short account of it 

 will not perhaps be without its use to those who may, at any future 

 time, be exposed to similar danger. 



The first symptoms I felt were extreme lassitude, heaviness, 

 and tremor, accompanied with a considerable degree of fever, 

 which I first observed while on my way to dine with a friend. 

 I returned to my lodgings and took a grain of calomel, as had 

 been my daily custom for some time. This precaution had been 

 suggested to me by a skilful chemist in London, Avho furnished me 

 with a quantity of that medicine, to be regularly taken whenever 



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