Six months in the West-Indies, in 1825

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terre, and dashed gallantly by the Frenchmen within fifty yards of the shore. I believe the folks thought we were going to cut out a merchantman, or run ourselves against the shingles for fun. It seemed a very pretty town, and, I am told, is a most convenient o n e ; there was an agreeable show of trees peeping over the tops of the houses, and the hospital built by the English, and the governor's mansion, were conspicuous at the northern end. This hospital is said to have been since destroyed in the hurricane of July, 1 8 2 5 , when 230 persons or more perished in various miserable ways. The garrison at Prince Rupert's bay in Dominica suffered at the same time considerably. The country, though apparently very fine, had not quite so finished an air of cultivation as in Martinique, but its features were bolder and more magnificent. Some of the planters' houses were upon a larger scale, and more attention to comfort in the adjoining premises seemed to be displayed than is usual in the English colonies. The wind fell, as it almost always does, under the long lee of the high land, and it was about seven A.M. of the 25th, before we cast anchor in the open road of Plymouth. I must needs say I have a vehement desire to abuse this island through thick and thin. I declare I cannot to this day think of the ducking I got upon first landing or rather watering at Plymouth without an emotion of anger, which forces me to leave my chair and take


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