Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-28
as ever seem iillfnina-

auu DFiiuAht>11 was ever seen 1ttuIl3iQa-
ting the horizon in every direction, to an extent
OF no less than so miles, and casting that kind OF
blce light over us. which is Of all others, most
'luridIy horrible. She burnt and continued to
flame in this style for about an hour or two,
when we lost sight of the obiect-in cloud OF
smoke.
Neither Nelson, nor Mr.. Bell, our medical
friend, who had accompanied us, had saved their
coats, the tail of mine with n pocket handlter-
chief, served TO keep Sophra's feet warm and
we made breeches for the children with our
ncckclotis. Rain now came OF, but Fortunate
~ 1t was not of long continuance, and we got
dry again-t,e night became serene and star
hght.-We were now certain of our course and
the men behaved manfully-they rowcd inccs-
sanity and with good hearts and spirits, and ne
yer did poor nortals look out more for day.
light and for land than we did. Not that our
sufcrings grounds of complaint were any
thing to what has often befel others, but from
Sophia's delicate health, as well as my own, and
the stormy nature coast. l felt perfectly
convinced we were unable To undergo starvati-
on, and exposure tn the and weather ril:iny
days, and aware OF the rapidity Ut the currents,
feared we might fall to the southwark OF tue
port.
AT daylight, we recognised the Coast and Rat
Island, which gave us great spirits, and though
we found ourselves much To the southwark of
the port, weconsiJered ourselves almost at home
Sophia had gone through the night better than
could have been expected, ana we continued 10
pull on with all our strength. About or o.
clock, we saw ship standing 10 us froan the
Roads, they had seen the flame on shore, and
sent out vessels in all directions TO our relief
and there certainly came Minister of Pruvi-
dence M the character of "a. Minister of the
Gospel, Tor the first person recosnzd was one
OF our Missionaries. They gave us I; bucket of
water, and we took the captain OH board as a
pilot The wind, however, was adverse, and we
could not reach the shore, and took 10 the ship,
where we got some refreshnent, and shelter
from the SUI.
BY this time, Sophia was quite exhausted,
ia'ntlnS continually. About tyo o'clock, we
landed safe and sound, and no words of mine
can do Justice To the expression of fceiug
sympathy, and kindness, with which we were
hailed by every one. If any proof had been
wanting that my administration had been salts
factory, here we lad il unequivocally from all
there was not a dry eye;-and as we drove
back to our former home, loud was the cry of
''God be pr;siscd.n
''But enough; and / will only add, that
we are now greatly recovered, in good spirits,
and busy at work IN getting ready made clothes
Tor present use. We went to bed at three i'm
the afternoon, and did not awake till this
morning. Sophia had nearly sound sleep,
and with the exEertion of hruise or two and a
little pam IN the bones from fatigue, we have
nothing to complain OF.
The property which | have lost, 90 the most
Moderate estimates cannot be less than e 20, 600
might almost say 100000 But that which
have TO regret above all, lis my papers and draw.
ngs; all my papers of every description, incIu-
ling my notes and observations, With memoirs
md collections sufficient for full and ample his
DRY, not only of Slnnatra, but of Borneo, and
very other island in these seas nv intended
ccount of the establishment OF SINGAPORE the
history of my own administration, grammars
dictionaries, and last, not least, grand map of
oumatra, on which had been employed stree
ny fIrst ARRIVAL here and on which, for the last
ix months, had bestowed almost my whole un-
tivIded attention; this, however was not all
iii Tiy recoliectio'ls in natural history and ny
splendid collection OF drawings upwarsiso of thou
sand In number, with all the valuable papers i,nu
notes OF my friends Arnold aud Jack; and to
conclude, will merciy notice, that there was
scarce an Unknown animal, bird, beast or fish
or an interesting plant, which we had not on
board. living tapir, 4 new species of tiger
splendid piieasants, &c. sc. all domesticated for
The voyage. We were, in short, in this respect,
perfect Noali's Ark. ALL all has perisi,ed
but, thank God, our lives have been spared, ant.
we do not repine.
Our plan is 10 get another ship as soon as pos
sible, and think you may still expect us in Ju-
~ There is a chance of ship, called the La
iy Flora, touching here on her way home, and
there Is a small ship in the Roads, which NAV
oc converted into packet, and take us home, /
haVc Captain and crew at cornmandn
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