unexpected evil. There was but a single cask of water on board and we were reduced to an allowance of a pint per man.* It was necessary to seek a port for a fresh supply, and we steered for Bonair; where hav. ing a good wind, we fortunately arrived that very night, or we should soon have found ourselves escaped from the sword to perish by thirst. Having remained at Bonair a short time, to get a few necessaries, we set sail, and have been at sea since the first of this month, aiming for the island of Trinidad. Whilst we lay at Bonair the officers had much private consultation with one another concerning what could or should be done. Almost every individual seemed impressed with an idea that our leader had deceived us, as well as himself; I have no doubt but some thought of refusing submission and putting themselves and the ship under some other command; but the haz ards of the attempt appeared too serious. We could not but feel disgusted and incensed that Miranda should lead us headlong into danger ⚫ It was not till the time of the action that we discovered our water was so nearly exhausted. and destruction, which he ought to have foreseen or known. There could be no doubt in his mind, before we left St. Domingo, that the Spaniards were apprized of our design; and were prepared to give us a warm reception. He was disappointed in not having the EmpeIf she was necessary, why did he not give up his plan and make some difinitive arrangements for that British assistance, which he said he could have, and indeed, which he always professed, insincerely, I now believe, to expect. ror. During our skirmish the general behaved with great coolness; and when entreated by his officers to go below, as on his life every thing depended, derided their fears, and kept his place on deck. After our discomfiture and retreat he was in great turmoil.-Sometimes absorbed, sometimes venting himself in bursts of execration against the captain of the Emperor→→ in complaint at the English for not coming to our help, and sometimes dejected. But he seemed inclined to see us as little as possible; and did not try to explain or vindicate his conduct, or enable us to understand why his schemes had been thus blasted in the bud. It gave him evident uneasiness and displeasure, when any of us, intimated a wish to hear a plau sible account of our disaster. He has now re sumed a collected and decided manner; and speaks as though the design was still perfectly practicable and the resources for it abundant ; but it had received the late check from a casualty, not to be expected again. To show his confident manner, which came to him on a sudden, speaking of one of his field officers, he says, "I hope in two months to see him at the head of ten thousand men." This undiscour. aged air of the general serves to keep alive the hopes of the reflecting part of our little band, that he has means to effect his object. Two days after we sailed from Bonair, the general, who had still an ideà of landing on the Main, without being reinforced, called a council of war, at which were present all the officers in his service. When they were convened, he proposed two plans for their consideration. The first was to proceed to Trinidad for the purpose of obtaining military and naval succours; which he stated would certainly be furnished by the British to facilitate his enterprise; and also, to procure further information respecte ing South America. The second proposition was to attempt an immediate landing at Coro. The council unanimously agreed that we should proceed on our course to Trinidad, where, from the information of the general, they supposed that we should certainly obtain all the assistance necessary to effect the grand object, on which the greater part are bent. The plan of going to Coro was rejected, because it appeared probable to the council that we should again be attacked by the Guarda Costas, which it seemed likely would repair to the Gulf of Coro, under the supposition that we would attempt a landing at that place. Besides, we are so weakened by our loss, that without a reinforcement we cannot attempt any thing with the slightest prospect of success. Until we reach our destined port, we must patiently bear a number of privations and inconveniences. We have no great supply of water, nor is that little good; we are allowanced at three pints per day each man, which at. this rate will last about twenty days. Our bread, pork and beef are scarce, and by no means the best. Thus situated, you must see, that we have but a gloomy prospect in view, when you add that we have to beat against head winds and contrary currents every mile of the distance to Trinidad. LETTER XII. Undignified conduct of his excellency to one of his officers, &c. May 9th, 1806. IT belongs to my story to relate an instance of the general's violence, that made me blush for the honour of grey hairs, learning and experience. It happened on the quarter deck in the presence of all the officers and the whole ship's crew at Bonair, two or three days after our misfortune. Stung as he is with disappointment, he might plead Orlando's excuse for something uncourteous ; "The thorny point "Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the shew But what I am going to relate was outrageous passion. One of the engineer officers, having got into some embarrassment on shore, through want of money, on his return to the ship, was mentioning the circumstance to one of his companions loud enough to be heard by the general who was sitting near, and probably ruminating |