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Untitled Article
was of such vital importance to the Republic that he would never have run the risk of any accident happening to her . Again , they did not seem to consider that what they proposed must be done in the very face of several men-of-war Who Were lying only a league or so off in the harbour , and who would have given us chase directly ; not to mention how badly we were manned . We kept our course , and the vessel entered the harbour .
After passing the battery until a high country , thick with trees , and sprinkled with many low huts , and a small fort , lay on our larboard beam , the Captain proposed going a-shore . Now , to pass even within sight of Porto Rico was surely imprudent ; and to hoist our green pendant , something more ; but to go ashore for a jaunt in an enemy ' s country , with several large ships absolutely in sight , not to omit our having scared
a vessel into port , was rather too audacious . However , as there was something agreeably ticklish in the adventure , I applied to Captain S to be one of the party . This he told me he could not well grant , as the Ambassador had desired that no more than three should go , who were to appear as passengers on board a British man-o ' -war ; and that P ¦ had been , beforehand with me . Accordingly , Captain S , P -,
and to my surprise , the Baron , got into a boat , all being dressed in plain clothes except the officer of the boat , who wore an English uniform , furnished by the Captain for the occasion . They took a few fowling-pieces with them , and put off . We then hoisted the British ensign ( after letting the other fly about a moderate time !) and wished them sport . The boat ' s cfew were all Portuguese ; this also was rather a bad arrangement , but we were afraid to let any of our rebellious countrymen eto
ashore , lest they should either betray the affair , or make off into the country . The Mexican eagle and serpent at the boat ' s bows was painted over with fresh paint , at the mercy of the waves , and not a little exposed to the chance of being laid bate if the boat was hauled up the beach . They presently returned , however , calling out that they had forgotten the English jack for the boat . The signal-man ran to the colour-box and began
fumbling about , saying it was not in readiness . " Ob / ' said Mr South , who had been averse to the excursion from the first , " stick a needle and thread to it , and fling it down to them ; it will serve to amuse the Captain on the way / ' This ifr&s said close to my elbow , and it naturally occurred to me that I must either admire him for his independent spirit , or thank him for the compliment of supposing me above tale-bearifrg .
The man did as he was ordered , and away they went to g&t pines , bannanas , and cigars , shoot parrots , and stretch their legs . And now , before proceeding any further , let Hie take - tn $
Untitled Article
Mexican Sketches * S 3
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1837, page 23, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1827/page/25/
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