Note A, Pagt 1. 



Prior to the pilot's leaving us, I caused him to deliver 

 into my possession all letters which might have been given 

 him by the crew, apprehensive that, from some accidental 

 cause, they might have become possessed of a knowledge 

 of our destination. They all, however, contained only 

 conjectures, except one, the writer of which asserted, as he 

 stated, from good authority, that we were bound on the 

 coast of Africa. As some of their conjectures were not far 

 from being correct, I thought it best to destroy the whole 

 of them, and forbid the pilot's taking any more without mj 

 consent. To the officers who were desirous of writing to 

 their friends, I enjoined particularly not to mention the 

 movements of the ship in any way. 



