260 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[March, 
under way was countermanded. At nine o'clock the body of the 
deceased was committed to the deep, with the usual religious 
ceremonies. It was a source of deep regret to all, and of gloomy 
forebodings to some, thus to lose one of our best men at this time, 
and in such a place, by a disease which has often been so fatal in 
this part of the world ; though thus far we had certainly beeji 
more healthy than has often fallen to the lot of many ships' crews 
of equal numbers. 
Immediately after the performance of this melancholy duty, 
the frigate was again got under way, with a fine breeze, and stood 
for Batavia Roads. At eleven she once more came to anchor, 
about seven miles from the city, outside of all the shipping, in 
nine and a half fathoms of water, and veered out forty-five fathoms 
of chain cable ; Batavia bearing south-by-east ; Leyden Island, 
east-by-north-half-north ; Enkhuysen Island, northeast-quarter- 
north ; and Edam Island, northeast-by-north. The commodore 
was induced to anchor thus far from the city, to avoid the pesti- 
lential atmosphere generated by the stagnant water, in and ad- 
jacent to the marshy site of that Dutch Venice, which, if con- 
flagrated, would " hiss in its foundations ;" so low indeed is it, and 
so thickly planted with cocoanut, tamarind, canary, and a variety 
of other trees, that no part of it except the cupola of the great 
church could be seen from the deck of the Potomac. 
Before she reached her anchorage, the frigate was, boarded 
by a boat from the city, bringing several American gentlemen, who 
communicated the agreeable intelligence that Batavia was un- 
usually healthy. News of the Potomac's intended visit had 
reached the city, and " rumour with her hundred tongues" had 
blazoned far and near the account of her exploit at Quallah-Bat- 
too ; all had been in daily expectation of her arrival. There was 
only one American vessel here ; the French brig which the Poto- 
mac spoke off St. Pauls had arrived, and again left the harbour ; 
of Dutch vessels there were about twenty of all descriptions, in- 
cluding one or two men-of-war. As is usual and always advisa- 
ble for foreign vessels at this port, a number of Malays were en- 
gaged to man the frigate's boats, intended to ply between the ship 
and the shore ; thus saving our men from exposure and probable 
sickness. 
A boat was sent on shore with an officer to wait on the au- 
