ANCHOR IN VIGO BAY. 
381 
CHAPTER XX. 
Homeward Bound. 
Leave St. Vincent — Head-winds and disagreeable weather— Sight the 
coast of Spain — Anchor in Vigo Bay— The city— Channel fleet— 
Leave for England — Off Cape Finisterre — Favourable run across 
the Bay of Biscay — The English Channel— The coast of England 
— Anchor at Spithead (Portsmouth) — Arrive at Sheerness — Retro- 
spect — Pay off at Chatham — Parting— At home — The end. 
Oh the 26th April we left under sail, homeward 
bound. When well clear from the land, we picked 
up the trades, and ran on merrily through the 
Tropics towards the Azores, full of the hope of 
speedily seeing the coast of England. But we were 
too sanguine ; for after meeting with strong and 
adverse winds, our coal was soon consumed, and we 
were compelled eventually to run into Vigo for a 
fresh supply. The coast of Spain was sighted on the 
morning of the 20th May, and soon after we had ex- 
changed the rolling, turbulent sea for the quiet and 
placid waters of the Bay of Vigo, which sweeps inland 
for more than 20 miles. We anchored off the prettily 
situated town, which is built on the side of a hill 
overlooking the broad expanse of water, where at 
the time of our visit some half-dozen ironclads be- 
longing to the Channel squadron were at anchor, 
