42 



on the shore. Towards the close of day, the 

 wind increased, and the sea ran high. We di- 

 rected our course to the north-west, in order to 

 avoid the English frigates, which we supposed 

 were cruizing off those coasts. About nine we 

 spied the light of a fishing hut, at Sisarga, which 

 was the last object we beheld in the west of 

 Europe. As we advanced, this feeble light 

 mingled itself with the stars, which rose on the 

 horizon ; and our eyes remained involuntarily 

 fixed on this object. Such impressions are not 

 easily effaced from the memory of those who 

 have undertaken long voyages, at an age when 

 the emotions of the heart are in full vigour. 

 How many remembrances are awakened in the 

 imagination by a luminous point, which, in the 

 midst of an obscure night, appearing at intervals 

 above the swelling waves, points out the coast 

 of our native home ! 



We were obliged to run under our courses, at 

 the rate of ten knots, though the vessel was not 

 constructed for making such way. At six in the 

 morning the ship rolled so much, that the fore- 

 top gallant mast was carried away, but without 

 any disagreeable consequence. As we were 

 thirteen days in our passage from Corunna to 

 the Canary Islands, it was long enough to ex- 

 pose us to the danger of meeting English ves^ 

 sels, on stations so much frequented as the 

 coasts of Portugal. No sail however appeared 



