10 
MADEIRA. 
made from the hock grape, called Sercial ; it is pleasant, but very 
powerful, and requires to be kept some years. It has but little re- 
semblance to hock. The price about £"6. more than London Par- 
ticular. The original grape was imported from the Mediterranean. 
.The chief trade of the island is in the hands of the English ; if the 
country were the same, it would be greatly productive : not a 
moiety is at this moment in cultivation. The inhabitants are 
obliged to import their grain from America ; yet the island more 
than pays the expenses attendant on the government, by a duty of 
£iO. per cent, upon all imports except provisions; £^11. on the 
exports ; and some internal taxes. Thus it is they are enabled to 
remit, on an average, nearly £^0,000. per annum to the mother- 
country. The population is estimated at 100,000. Many people 
of fortune and family reside there. One gentleman has above 
£"16,000. a year, which he spends in a most liberal manner. He 
was educated in England. The ladies preserve the dress of 
Portugal, which is unpleasant and heavy. The common people 
are dirty and idle ; ignorance and superstition are of course still 
prevalent. 
July 1st. In quitting Madeira we immediately got into the N.E. 
trades. We have yet seen but few fish, and the copper bottom of 
our vessel has permitted us to catch still fewer. The porpoise, 
albicore, boneto, and flying fish, have been our only companions, 
excepting one small shark, which was caught, and instantly divided 
by the sailors, 
July 2d. We this day passed the Canary Islands, 2 leagues dis- 
tant from Palma, and 13 from Ferro, with the trade wind fresh in 
our favour, taking us at the rate of nine knots an hour. The Lord 
