sudden appearance of another being of a similar kind, who was skulking among some bales of goods. His dress and looks betrayed every thing that was abject, depraved, and miserable, and he had a large bloody scar upon one of his cheeks. This second apparition startled us all; however, the mate seized a handspike, and brandishing it over the head of the first, ordered him to tell where he came from." I wanted to get out to America," returned he, in a hoarse and faultering voice; "I had no money to pay my passage, so I hid myself among the cargo." "And who is that behind you?" demanded the mate.—“ A friend of mine," was the reply-" He got on board in the same way as I did.""Villains! devils!" exclaimed the mate; "they must have committed some dreadful crime and fled from justice. Look what countenances! This is a serious business for us. But I shall inform the Captain, and likewise order down several of the crew to guard them."

he

He now hastened to the cabin, and roused the Captain, who, as soon as was made acquainted with the affair, gave directions that the two men should be brought upon deck, where he would shortly attend, and oblige them to give an account of themselves. Meanwhile, the noise of our voices in the hold had awakened some of the emigrants. They easily learned the cause of the disturbance, and of course communicated it to their fellow-passengers, and the whole steerage was soon in a state of commotion. Both men and women got out of their births, and dressed themselves and hurried upon deck; and before the Captain made his appearance there, an anxious and gazing crowd had lined the bulwarks, and surrounded the two prisoners, who surveyed the whole assemblage with an expression of hardened indifference. A large lantern was placed in such a manner as made its light fall chiefly upon them; and different groups of passengers could be seen successively coming within the influence of its blaze, as they crowded forward to catch a distinct view of the disturbers of the public peace. Whisperings, surmises, and exclamations, passed from mouth to mouth, and every one seemed to exceed another in the uncharitableness of his opinions respecting the characters of the mysterious persons before them ; while some

thanked Heaven that they had not been killed and robbed by such despeperadoes, and congratulated themselves that this was the first time they had ever been in the same place with murderers.

66

However, when the Captain appeared upon deck every one became silent, and listened attentively to what he said. The men being placed before him, he scrutinized them from head to foot, and then asked their names, and inquired what countrymen they were. "I am called Isaac Hurder," answered the one we had first discovered, "and was born in Ireland."-" My name is Michael Willans," said the other; " but I don't know any thing about my native place.". And how have you lived since you came on board this vessel ?" demanded the Captain.— "Just as well as we could, please your honour," returned Hurder. "We took all we found, and helped ourselves to any thing that was in the way.""Did you intend to remain concealed till we reached Quebec?" inquired the Captain.—“ No, no,” replied the former, 66

we would have come up from our hiding place, and begged your pardon long ago, but we were afraid to do so till the ship had got out of sight of land; for you might have sent us ashore again in the boat.""And what have you to say?" cried the Captain to Willans, who skulked behind his companion; how came you by that wound upon your cheek ?”—“ May my soul be eternally damned," returned he, " if Hurder didn't give it me this very night!-I was nearly murdered by him. When we first came on board, we agreed to divide equally all the provisions that fell into our hands; but my friend there, curse him! stole two biscuits to-day, and refused to give me one of them. I was half dead with hunger, and so resolved to have my share right or wrong.-We fought about it, and he struck me on the face, curse him! and brought the blood, as you see, and would have killed me, hadn't them men with the lantern stopped him.-But may I be in hell to-morrow if we don't try another bout before long."-" Silence, brutal wretch!" cried the Captain. "What were your reasons for leaving Scotland? -answer this instant.". Why, because we couldn't live there," replied Willans. "My friend, curse him! persuaded me to go with him to Ame

rica, saying as how it was a land of liberty." You tell me falsehoods!" exclaimed the Captain. “I know that you and your companion have committed some great crimes, and fled from justice. You are either robbers, murderers, or forgers; but you shall not escape, for I mean to deliver you over to the civil power the moment we reach Quebec; so either look to yourselves, or jump overboard at once. Get out of my sight; and, after this, take care how you come farther aft than the mizen mast."

The Captain now ordered that the two refugees should be strictly watched, and kept separate from the other passengers, and likewise bid the mate give them a small daily allowance of provisions. He then went down to the cabin, and retired to his birth. The emigrants immediately commenced a discussion upon the events of the night, and the proceedings that had recently taken place in their presence. They all seemed highly dissatisfied with the lenient treatment which the felons, (as they called them,) had met with, and unanimously voted that they ought to have been thrown overboard the moment they were discovered. "I daresay the like of this was never heard of," said a woman"The ship is worse than a jail now we may be robbed and murdered in our beds before morning-It's a shame that such vagrants should be allowed to dwell among Christians."-" Ay, ay," cried an old man ; "we've seen the effect of having bad company among us already-What brought on the storm but these two Jonahs that now walk at large before us? If the Captain had read his Bible he would have used them very differently from what he has done."-" Don't speak of their usage!" exclaimed the female, "for it's too bad. Instead of hanging them, he has ordered that they should get provisions like us. Think of that! We honest folks are obliged to pay a heavy fee for our passage, while vagabonds like them get across the seas without putting down a stiver, and are served with meat besides. Nothing but wickedness thrives in this world." "It's my private opinion," said a man who had not yet spoken," that the Captain is no great things himself. I suspect these two fellows are friends of his own in disguise, and he has taken this method of smuggling

The preacher, already mentioned, delivered another sermon, on the se cond Sunday that occurred on board, and received much applause and commendation from his auditors. Encouraged by this, he began to imagine that he possessed greater influence over the emigrants than he really did, and accordingly presumed to interfere with their amusements, and to admonish them about their iniquities, whenever he felt inclined. They submitted to this for some time without openly rebelling, but his popularity diminished very fast, and his congregation often criticised his sermons among themselves, and occasionally hinted to one another that he was no better than he should be.

One evening, when we had calm weather, and a tranquil sea, a young man came from the steerage with a violin under his arm, and proposed to his fellow-passengers that they should have a dance. All parties agreed to this, and the decks being cleared as much as possible, a reel was soon formed, and the musician played a Scotch strathspey, which seemed equally to delight the dancers and the spectators. However, the preacher suddenly made his appearance, and interrupted the gaiety, by commanding the partakers of it to desist from such a profane and sinful amusement, if they valued their safety now, and their happiness hereafter. This speech excited universal disgust and derision, and a lively young woman rushed forwards, and seizing upon the disturber of the festivity, pulled him into the ring, saying she was resolved to have him for a partner. A loud laugh broke from the bye-standers; the fiddler began to use his bow; several couples joined in the dance; and the astonished offender was dragged through it, notwithstanding his violent resistance, amidst the shouts and excla

mations of those who witnessed the scene. However, he soon recovered his liberty, and darted into the steerage, where he remained during the whole of next day, but never afterwards attempted to preach before his fellowpassengers. On inquiry it was found that he was a tailor, and could neither read nor write. When this became publicly known, those who had at first been his attentive hearers ridiculed him most, and declared that they had always felt convinced of his incapacity, but were unwilling to lower him in the estimation of others by saying so, as long as he did no harm, and only declaimed against sin in a general way.

Meanwhile we were blessed with fair weather and favourable winds, and made rapid progress across the Atlantic. Most of the emigrants had become reconciled to a sea life, and those who still disliked it consoled themselves with the prospect of soon reaching the termination of the voyage. Though day after day passed in monotonous routine, no one seemed ever to wish for the arrival of the morrow, experience having taught us that nothing new was to be anticipated or looked for, while we remained on board. In the absence of all variety, the most trifling circumstances acquired interest and importance. The appearance of a piece of sea-weed, a flock of birds, or a shoal of fishes, excited the earnest attention of the pas sengers, and furnished them with subjects of conversation during many succeeding hours; and it was highly amusing to listen to the different the ories that were brought forward in explanation of such phenomena, by the self-important disputants, as they strolled about the decks, or reclined indolently upon the hen-coops. Discussions respecting the distance we were from Quebec took place every day, and, as the captain and mate disdained answering any inquiries upon this point, the emigrants had recourse to the man with the quadrant, (as they called him,) for a solution of their difficulties. He seemed highly flattered by such marks of confidence, and always told consequentially what number of miles of ocean we had still to traverse, though his hearers, had they recollect ed his previous calculations, would sometimes have been startled to find, that, according to him, we were rece

ding from our place of destination, instead of approaching it.

The two men who had concealed themselves in the hold soon ceased to excite almost any attention. The emigrants studiously avoided the least intercourse with them, and they generally kept near the bows of the vessel during the day, but walked fore and aft at night, when the former had retired to the steerage. They slept under the bottom of the long-boat, no place having been provided for their accommodation below decks.

While crossing the great bank at Newfoundland, the weather was so calm and favourable, that the Captain resolved to lie to for a few hours, that we might have the pleasure of catching some cod. The emigrants, the moment he announced this determination, began to prepare their fishing tackle. Some baited small hooks attached to hair lines, others brought out roads and pirns, and one man producedapocket-book full of dressed flies, and asked the mate if any of them would do. However, they were soon convinced of the inefficiency of the angling apparatus which they had provided, and as the tackle belonging to the ship was distributed chiefly among the seamen, few of the emigrants had an opportunity of participating in the sports. But those who possessed the means of engaging in it, betrayed the most extravagant delight when they happened to catch any thing, and would not allow the fish they had pulled out to be mingled with those that had been caught by others, though the Captain informed them that a general division of the spoil would take place in the course of the day. After laying to some hours, the wind began to freshen, and we set sail. The mate then distributed the fish in equal portions among the steerage passengers, but, although he observed the strictest impartiality, much dissatisfaction prevailed, and almost every one thought his neighbour had been more liberally dealt with than himself. Complaints and accusations were heard upon deck all day long, and the morning's diversion, instead of adding to the enjoyment of those for whose sakes it was projected, gave birth to discontent, envy, and recrimination.

While we were in the Gulf of St Lawrence, the Captain and mate began to be on very bad terms. The

tter kept the key of the store-room, hich contained the provisions, and aily weighed out to the passengers eir respective allowances; but the aptain suspected that he was in the abit of abstracting an extra quantity, nd afterwards privately selling it to e emigrants. Various articles had sappeared at different times, and he rofessed to be unable to explain what ad become of them. This roused the aptain's attention, and, being a viont man, he one day accused the ate of fraud and peculation before the emigrants, and stated, that here were three persons on board ho could give evidence in proof of hat he said. The former denied the arge with boldness, and a furious tercation took place between the vo, which terminated in the mate's questing permission to go forward mong the seamen, or, in other words, resign his situation. The Captain old him the sooner he did so the bet r, and, accordingly, he carried his unk from the cabin that very day, ad took up his quarters in the steer.

ge.

All the passengers felt a deep inte st in this quarrel, for they conceived, om the hints which the Captain had rown out respecting the persons who uld prove his assertions, that their aracters were implicated in it. They erefore discussed the matter at great ngth among themselves, and almost animously agreed that the mate was nocent of the crimes laid to his arge. The females advocated his use with much warmth; for his poeness, good looks, and misfortunes, d won their hearts completely. Some oposed to petition the governor in favour whenever we reached Quec, and a man, who had neither shoes his feet, nor a hat on his head, ged that a subscription should be sed to compensate him for the loss his situation. However, it was filly agreed that a certificate of his nocence and good conduct, signed by ery one on board, would answer the st purpose. Several of the leading rsons soon prepared this document, d went about requesting their fellowssengers to put their names under none of whom made any objection, cept the man with the quadrant, 10, on the paper being presented him signature, said he would have no ing to do with it, unless the longiVOL. X.

tude and latitude in which the events referred to took place, were inserted at full length. No one disputed the reasonableness of this demand, and the business was soon adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties.

The ship remained without a mate during two days, but in consequence of the favourableness of the weather, we suffered little from the want of him. The morning of the third set all things to rights again; for one of the emigrants informed the Captain that he had heard Hurder and his companion whispering together in the store-room the preceding night. On examination, we found that a considerable portion of the floor of the apartment was loose, and that the two fellows could have access to the provisions whenever they chose. They were immediately searched, and several articles being found upon them, the Captain had no longer any suspicion of the mate's integrity, and at once restored him to favour, and begged him to resume his situation, and forget the past. He willingly did so, and received the congratulations of all the emigrants, except those who had drawn up the certificate about his honesty, and who said, they thought the Captain ought to have made him prove his innocence before he reinstated him in his employment.

When a little way above the mouth of the St Lawrence, we were becalmed nearly a whole day within half a mile of a large ship. The emigrants indulged in various speculations about the port she sailed from, her place of destination, her tonnage, her crew, and her cargo; and had got deeply invol ved in hypothetical mazes, when they saw her jolly-boat let down. A num ber of men then stepped on board, and immediately began to row towards us. Our female passengers, on seeing this, descended into the steerage, but shortly came upon deck again, arrayed in clean caps,gaudy ribbons, and Sunday gowns; and endeavoured to attract the admi ration of our expected visitors by talk ing affectedly, and leaning over the bulwarks; while the men stood eyeing them askance, with a repulsive, scru tinizing, and suspicious expression of countenance, very often assumed by the Scotch peasantry when they are on the point of coming into contact with strangers. The boat soon came alongside, and most of the party sprung on

3 N

board our vessel, without salutation or ceremony. They proved to be Englishmen, but any observer would have instantly discovered this from their ruddy, comfortable-looking countenances, which appeared to much advantage when contrasted with the hard, spare, emaciated features, of the people on board our ship. Nautical inquiries soon took place, and our visitors informed us that they were emigrants bound for Upper Canada. This intelligence did not appear to be much relished by our passengers, one of whom immediately stepped forward, and asked if they had any coopers in their party. Being answered in the negative, he expressed great satisfaction, and said he was a cooper himself, and wished to be first in market. This speech excited a laugh, which, in some degree, removed the restraint that had previously prevailed, and rendered both parties more communicative. The Englishmen were then requested to mention what sort of trades-people and mechanics they had on board their vessel, and the emigrants assembled round them, and listened anxiously to the agitating enumeration. When it happened that persons of the same profession were shewn to be in both ships, a loud laugh of derision took place, and a number of uplifted fingers pointed out the unfortunate man who had, in a manner, encountered competitors before reaching the theatre of action; but an opposite discovery afforded delight to none, but the individual who was personally interested, and sneers about good fortune and lucky fools passed between those that stood around him.

The Englishmen, after having given a full account of themselves, and of their purposes and intentions, returned to their own vessel. At night, we got a fine breeze directly astern, and stood up the St Lawrence under all sail, much to the satisfaction of the emigrants, who were exceedingly anxious that we should reach Quebec before the other ship; for they supposed, that if she arrived first, her passengers would take all the land that was to be granted in the vicinity of the town, and render it necessary for the lastcomers to settle far away in the woods. It was useless to attempt to combat this idea, or to state, that the ground destined for them lay in the interior of the country, for they shook their heads

incredulously, and said, they derived their information from a man who had read books upon the subject, and knew all about the matter.

In the morning we found ourselves a considerable way up the St Lawrence, the gradually increasing narrowness of which now permitted us to have a more distinct view of its banks, the farther we advanced. The emigrants contemplated with delight, the fields, trees, cattle, and farm-houses, that occasionally presented themselves on both sides, and spoke enthusiastically of the pleasures of a country life, and wished they could get ashore, to drink milk, and lie on the grass. They seemed quite relieved to discover that the ha bitations, vegetable productions, and general appearance of Canada, were neither comfortless, extraordinary, no revolting. Their spirits got up, and they began to anticipate the blessings and enjoyments which a residence in such a country would be the means of securing to them, and informed each other what particular branches of agriculture they intended chiefly to pursue when they had cleared and improved their farms, and overcome their firs difficulties. The conversation soon turned entirely upon crops, soils, and manure; and weavers, who, before embarking for America, had never been beyond the suburbs of Glasgow talked about the management of land with the greatest confidence, and sug gested the propriety of partially introducing the British system of agricul ture into Canada.

We reached the harbour of Quebe late one afternoon, and immediately dropped anchor in front of the town The emigrants gazed on the rocks, the tremendous battlements, the shipping and the boats hurrying backwards and forwards, with deep interest; while those who had any knowledge of his tory, began to talk of the celebrated siege at which Wolfe was killed, and pointed out, to their admiring auditors, in what manner they conceived the city might yet be taken by an ene my. Others complained how much the prospects around had disappointed them, and said, Quebec was just like a Scotch town, and therefore not worth looking at. One man asserted, tha the fortifications of Edinburgh Castl were much stronger than those they then saw, and this produced a dispute which was interrupted by the arriva