16 
LETTERS FROM 
offered his services to our commander. Our 
“foul bill of health’ 1 prevented any person 
from coming on board, neither would they 
receive our letters and parcels till they had 
been purified by a dipping in a bucket of 
vinegar and water, having first had a large 
chisel driven through them in several places 
in order that the infected air inside might be 
allowed to escape ! Parcels which appeared 
to contain small books and one of silks , did 
not escape this unmerciful discipline of the 
chisel and vinegar-bath, which treatment 
would no doubt entirely ruin the contents, 
and yet, such is the inconsistency of the 
quarantine laws, large boxes were allowed to 
be taken on shore unopened after a simple 
immersion in the sea. 
Were it in my power, I would gladly give 
you some idea of the beautiful picture the 
town of Cadiz presents when seen from the 
