Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-17

DLAts
You will be surprised by find
ing this letter dated from the above place,
instead of from Bordeaux, but SO it is,
fate altered our course and carried us
TO this sequestered spot, where we HOW
lay.
We went to sea with very fine breeze
on the 22d of October last, which howe
yer, on the Goth increasing to a gale, blew
so violently as 10 toss our ship about like
:, feather, and make her draw SO much
water as to oblige the sailors to work the
pump every quarter ofan hour, and after
wards through the night without ceasing.
You may conceive how all the passen-
gers felt, and what effect the continued
noise of the pump made on their ears.
The gale towards morning abating, the
iabour at the pump however still continu-
ing as hard and as fast as ever; all the
passengers on board man after man,
like frightened hares stepped on deck and
with an investigating eye, now looking at
The pump, now at the captain, came soOn
70 "A resolution TO return back, and made
arequest TO that effect. The captain
however, would not consent TO It-but,
the water seeming to gam more and more
on us every moment, he determined at
last to sail to the nearest Island, which
was the Bermudas, for repairs; we offered
the day time at the pump, to assist
The already worn out sailors. Like sol
tiers liz the fieldwe were now all on duty,
from the first passenger down to the last,
from his ENcelency down to the Mon
sieur, Mister and Citizen. His Excellen-
CIV the Ambassador of France, and
his Consul General, nobly took the lead
III that laudabie enterprise. They and
we, all pumped for our lives with the
greatest pleasure imaginable, two per-
sons at time for quarter ofan hour,
for the period of six days-that is to say,
from Monday the 9th of October until
Saturday night the ID of November,
when We all were agreeably relieved by
our safe arr. at this Port.
The ship was searched and the leak
discovered to be bored hole which had
been left open. The bends of the ship
at the same time also having opened a
little, occasloned by the last gale as they
say, is going 10 have a newcoat of plank;
one side ofthc sinpis already covered, the
other side was begun Yesterday, g. will be
finished, as they expected, in about 10
days, when we shallimmediatcly proceed
TO sea again.
There is, they say, perpetual spring
and summer at these Islands, the great
est winter being no more than hail
name of the Eermudas, and cluster of
larger aHd smaller Islands, consisting in
number. as it is pretended here, of 800,
.ofot so many as there are days III the
year. Standing on an eininenceyou may
count great number of them. The
length OF all the Bermudas is from 20 to
20 miles. The soil of all consists of a
rock sand, producing spontaneously
small cedar, palms, aloss, sour oranges,
and lemon trees as also page trees, bear
Ing fruit, IT cooked, tasting like ap-
pies.
Imported trees are the cocoa, bearing
here no fruit, the bananas, coffee, cotton,
peach apple, aud willow tree. In the gar
dens you find beans, cabbage, common
and sweet potatoes, &c. Offish there is
sgreat quantity, as also of turtle. The
quadrupeds are hogs, cows and goats, but
no wild animal is TO be found. Poultry is
plenty, as also a variety ofbirds, of which
There Is some have otmet with in Penn
yfvania.-Other provisions, as -four, In
dian Corn, and all kind of liquors, are
brought from abroad. The number of
inhabitants is about 900, the greatest
part ofwhch are coloured people, either
tree or slaves. The houses, excepting
some few two stories, are all one story
high, built ofthe highland soft sand stone
OF this place, and are arranged within.
comfortable enough, the roofs OF all the
houses are white washed, which gives
them winter look AS If they were showed
upon. The white habitants look alto
bether like the Americans, they are 20
lite, but somewhat stingy people, the lat
Ter owingno doubt to their circumscribed
and poor situation. The price of things
are every where high at these Islands.
For board for small bed aud small room
only, have TO pay five dollars week.
l am painting some portraits for past
time, OH paper only, which not only pays
allmy expenccs, but at the same time also
furnishes me with rich addition of wine
and porter, for my stock of liquors on
board the ship.
You meet every where one fertilization
alter another, all garrisoned. This place
Is OF great impoi; dnce to the English in
time of war, with the Americans. as |
4 now strikingly enough observe. NJ. Ser
funer boards at the same house, where
Com. Decatur did, when he was prison.
erof war at this place.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 10.
Last evening about six O'Clock, person Of
respectable Appearance purchased at the cor
ser OF Seventh and Cherry-strcet a pair of
olOckings, aud while the young ladyin the store
vas IN the act Ofgiving change, he dashed the
Igghtents of a fine box of Snuff in her face
81 ~ er cries caused immediate pursuit, and
~; ~ william dropped book, containing a con-
5Jtuerable sum OfmOney he had taken from the
'aWWer, and which very fortunately was diScov-
,t, III the street by an homestead, who immedi-