pursued with such assiduity, and so many kinds of snares were laid for them, that very few were left. Even at night the men watched for them like cats. A rat was of greater importance than a bullock on shore, and the common price of one was four crowns. They were boiled in water, with all their intestines, which were eaten with the rest of the body. Neither the paws, nor any of the bones that could possibly be made soft, were thrown away. "Our water likewise failed; we had nothing left to drink but a small barrel of cider, of which the captain and officers were extremely sparing. Whenever it rained, cloths were spread, with a bullet in the middle, to catch the water. They even caught that which ran off through the drains of the ship, though more muddy than the water in the kennels. "We were at last reduced to such extremity that we had nothing left but Brazil wood; which, though more dry than any other, many, however, in their despair, gnawed between their teeth. Our leader, Corguilleray Dupont, one day holding a piece in his mouth, said to me with a profound sigh: Alas! my friend Lery! the sum of four thousand francs is owing me in France, to which I would gladly resign my claim for a halfpenny roll and a single glass of wine. "At length the Almighty, taking compassion on so many miserable wretches, extended almost motionless upon the deck, brought us on the twenty-fourth of May, 1558, within sight of the coast of Bretagne. We had been deceived so often by the pilot that we durst scarcely give credit to the first cries announcing this happy intelligence. We were, however, soon convinced, that we were within view of our native land. After returning thanks to heaven, the master of the ship publicly declared, hat. had our situation continued but another day, he had taken the resolution, not to draw lots as has sometimes been done in such cases, but, without informing any person of his design, to kill one of us for the rest to subsist upon. "We found that we were very near Rochelle, where our seamen had wished to unload the ship and dispose of their Brazil wood. The master, after coming to an anchor two. or three leagues from the shore, went in the boat, accompanied by Dupont and some others to purchase provisions at Hodierne, from which we were not far distant. Two of our companions who were of the party, no sooner set their feet on shore, than, impelled by the recollection of their distresses and the fear of being again involved in them, they betook themselves to flight without waiting for their baggage, at the same time protesting they would never return to the ship. The others immediately returned with all kinds of provisions recommending to their famished comrades to use them at first with moderation. "We were now solicitous only to repair to Rochelle, when a French vessel passing within hail, informed us that the whole coast was infested by pirates. On account of our feeble state which would have rendered it impossible for us to make any defence, we unanimously agreed to follow the vessel from which we had received this intelligence. Thus, without losing sight of her we came to an anchor on the twenty-sixth in the port of Blavet." Many of the sailors on landing gorged themselves to such an excess as to produce sudden death. All the passengers survived, and after some suffering, were restored to health by adhering to > temperate and regular course of diet. THE LAW OF ARREST. A TALE FROM FACTS. Once upon a time there lived at Hamburgh, a certain merchant of the name of Meyer. He was a good little man: charitable to the poor, hospitable to his friends, and so rich that he was extremely respected, in spite of his good nature. Among that part of his property vested in other people's hands, and called debts, was the sum of £500, owed him by the captain of an English vessel. This debt had been so long contracted, that the worthy Meyer began to wish for a new investment of his property. He accordingly resolved to take a trip to Portsmouth, in which town Captaines was then residing, and take that liberty which, in my opinion, should never be permitted in a free country, viz: that of applying for his money. Our worthy merchant one bright morning found himself at Portsmouth. He was a stranger to that town, but not wholly unacquainted with the English language. He lost no time in calling on Captain Jones. "And vat," said he to a man whom he asked to show him to the Captain's house, "vat is dat fine veshell yondare." "She is the Royal Sally," replied the man, "bound for Calcutta -sails to-morrow: but here 's Capt. Jones's house, sir, and he'll tell you all about it. The merchant bowed, and knocked at the door of a red brick house--green door with a brass knocker. Capt. Gregory Jones was a tall man. He wore a blue coat without skirts. He had nigh cheek bones, smail eyes, and his whole appearance was eloquent of what is generally termed the bluff honesty of the sea man. Captain Gregory seemed somewhat disconcerted at seeing his friend He begged for a little further time. The merchant looked grave-three years had already elapsed. The captain demurred the merchant pressed-the captain blustered-and the merchant growing angry, began to threaten. Suddenly Captain Jones's manner changed-he seemed to recollect himself, and begged pardon-said he could easily procure the money, desired the merchant to go back to his inn, and promised to call on him in the course of the day. Mynheer Meyer went home, and ordered an excellent dinner. Time passed, and his friend came not. Meyer grew impatient. He had just put on his hat, and was walking out, when the waiter threw open the door and announced two gentle men. "Ah, dere comes de monish," thought Mynheer Meyer. The gentleman approached-the taller one whiped out what seemed to Meyer a receipt. 'Ah, ver well—I will sign-ver well." pany us. 66 Signing, sir, is useless-you will be kind enough to accomThis is a warrant for debt, sir. My house is extremely comfortable-gentlemen of the first fashion go there-quite moderate, too, only a guinea a day-find your own wine." "I do-no-understand, sare," said the merchant, smiling amiably. "I am ver vell off here, thank you." Come, come," said the other gentleman, speaking for the first time, no parlavoo Monsoo, you are our prisoner-this is a warrant for the sum of £10,000, due to Capt. Gregory Jones." The merchant stared-the merchant frowned-but so it was. Captain Gregory Jones, who owed Mynheer Meyer £500, had arrested Mynheer Meyer for £10,000; for, as every one knows, any man may arrest us, who has conscience enough to swear that we owe him money. Where was Mynheer Meyer in a strange town to procure bail? Mynheer Meyer went to prison. "Dis be a strange vay of paying a man his monish!" said Mynheer Meyer. In order to while away the time, our merchant, who was wonderfully social, scraped an acquaintance with some of his fellow prisoners. Vat you be in prison for?" said he to a stout, respectable looking man, who seemed to be in a violent passion"for vat crime?" "I, sir-crime!" quoth the prisoner; "Sir, I was going to Liverpool to vote at the election, when a friend of the opposing candidate had me arrested for £2000; before I can get bail the election will be over." "Vat's that you tell me? Arrest you to prevent your giving an honest vote? Is that justice?" "Justice, no!" cried our friend, "it's the Law of Arrest." "And vat be you in prishon for?" said the merchant pityingly, to a thin, cadaverous looking object, who ever and anon applied a handkerchief to eyes that were worn with weeping. "An attorney offered a friend of mine to discount a bill, if he could obtain a few names to endorse it. I, sir, endorsed it. The bill became due--the next day the attorney arrested all whose names were on the bill, eight in number. The law allows him to charge two guineas each-there are sixteen guineas for the lawyer -but I, sir, alas! my family will starve before I shall be released. Sir, there are a set of men called discounting attorneys, who live upon the profits of entrapping and arresting us poor folks." "Mine Got! but is dat justice?" "Alas! no, sir, it is the Law of Arrest." "But," said the merchant turning round to a lawyer, whom the Devil had deserted, and who was now with the victims of his profession, "dey tell me dat in Englant a man be called innoshent till he be proved guilty; but here am I, who, because von carrion of a shailor, who owesh me five hundred pounts, takes an oath that I owe him ten thousand-here am I, on that schoundrel's single oath, clapped up in a prishon. Is this a man's being innoshent till he is proved guilty, sare?" Sir," said the lawyer primly, "you are thinking of criminal cases. But if a man be unfortunate enough to get into debt that is quite a different thing—we are harder to poverty than we are to crime.' "But, mine Got! is that justice?" "Justice! pooh! it's the Law of Arrest," said the lawyer, turning on his heel. Our merchant was liberated: no one appeared to prove the debt. He flew to a magistrate-he told his case-he implored justice against Capt. Jones. 66 Capt. Jones," said the magistrate taking snuff; "Capt Gregory Jones, you mean!" Ay, mine goot sare-yesh!" "He set sail for Calcutta yesterday. He commands the Royal Sally. He must evidently have sworn this debt against you for the purpose of getting rid of your claim, and silencing your mouth till you could catch him no longer. He's a clever fellow this Gregory Jones!" "De teufel! but, sare, ish dare no remedy for de poor mer chant?" "Remedy! oh yes-indictment for perjury." "But vat use is dat? You say he be gone-ten thousand miles off to Calcutta!" "That's certainly against your indictment." "And cannot I get my monish?" "Not as I see." "An I have been arreshted instead of him!" "You have." "Sare, I have only von vord to say-is dat justice?" "That I can't say, Mynheer Meyer-but it is certainly the Law of Arrest," answered the magistrate-and he bowed the merchant out of the room A SEA SONG. A wet sheet and a flowing sea, And fills the white and rustling sais, And bends the gallant mast, my boys. Away the good ship flies, and leaves O for a soft and gentle wind! But give to me the swelling breeze, And white waves heaving high, my lads, The world of waters is our home, There's tempest in yon horned moon, And hark, the music, mariners! The wind is wakening loud, my boys, CAPTAIN COOK. Mr. Banks, a gentleman of considerable fortune in Lincolnshire, England, was induced to undertake this voyage from curiosity, and an invincible desire of attaining knowledge. He engaged his friend Dr. Solander, a Swede, to accompany him in this voyage. Mr. Banks also took with him two draftsmen, and had besides a secretary and four servants. Lieutenant James Cook was to command the expedition. On On the 26th of August, 1768, the Endeavour sailed from Plym out; the islands of Puerto Santo and Madeira were discovered on the 12th of September, and the next day they anchored in Fonchial Road. The Endeavour sailed thence on the 19th. the 22d, they saw the Islands of Salvages, northward of the Canaries. The 23d saw the Peak of Teneriffe, bearing west by south. This mountain is near 15,400 feet high. On the 29th perceived Bona Vista, one of the Cape de Verd Islands. the 13th of November made sail for the harbor of Rio de Janeiro |