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Mrs. Jowett, (the wife of the missionary of that name) has been extremely serviceable herein; indeed, she is spoken of as a person of very superior endowments both of mind and heart.

The children were arranged according to their respective classes in the Albergo de Provence, and examined by Lady Hastings in person. The account which she gave of their progress was gratifying; and I do most sincerely hope that the result will be commensurate with the endeavours and praiseworthy intentions of her ladyship.

The Albergo de Provence I formerly alluded to as the garrison ball-room. As a building it is scarcely worth notice; but many of these knightly residences are of splendid dimensions, and of the most ornate style of architecture.

Tuesday, 26th April.-About six o'clock, P.M. the Marquis of Hastings and the whole of his family came on board the Cambrian, accompanied by his staff, and a large concourse of boats filled with English residents and natives of Malta, whom curiosity and respect had drawn to witness the embarkation. The firing then commenced, and continued, at in

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tervals, till we quitted the harbour. It was nearly dark when we passed the last battery, and the vivid flashes of the cannon, as it "spoke to heaven," produced a fine striking effect. The Sirocco has since blown, and every appearance indicates a swift and agreeable voyage.

Thursday Morning, 28th April. A circumstance occurred last night which has created much merriment. In the suite of the Marchioness was a rubicund complexioned damsel," a fair hot wench in flame-coloured taffeta," of five and fifty years, peradventure, (but I am an ill judge of these matters) who might have been our admiral, for she "bore the lantern in her poop-but it was in the nose of her." She was the lady "of the burning lamp," and wandered forth at midnight, bullying the sentry, and making a portentously clamourous appeal to the slumbering organs of the crew. The Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings were aroused by her vociferations-in fact, she had surprised and taken possession of a cabin appropriated to the latter, and pertinaciously refused to evacuate her post-a military manœuvre which she had no doubt acquired at Malta. The Marquis asserted that

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she was drunk, and recommended her being put into irons; the Marchioness that she was mad, and therefore had more occasion for the doctor, who was sent for accordingly. But the damsel was valorous and resolute: she solemnly protested that she had swallowed only one bottle of Marcella, and certain delicate morsels of bread and cheese-("one halfpennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack”—monstrous !) and could not possibly be drunk, admitting that she was "half seas over;" but a sailor, notorious for his devotion to grog, observing her condition, piously remarked "that he never saw any one half so drunk in his life!" The thing being so, she was ordered to her cabin; and this morning, whether ashamed of the subsequent night's misconduct, or meditating another discussion of the Marcella and cheese, her door was locked, and access unto her shining presence thereby rendered impracticable. Apprehensive of a more fatal catastrophe, a servant was directed to look in at the port-hole which formed the window of her apartment: but all fears were soon dissipated, and she has since blushed rather bluer than ordinary!

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Communicated this morning with the "Gannet," an eighteen gun sloop of war from England.

Thursday Evening.—I am every day called upon to admire the intellectual resources of Lady Hastings. Entering con amore into the various scenes to which her high destiny has summoned her, she has been always prepared to meet the exigencies of the period, and to draw from every object a beneficial and edifying character. During her ladyship's residence in India, the zeal with which she prosecuted the most arduous undertakings for the improvement and happiness of the natives, has the testimonial of every traveller of the time; and I fancy that I am continually discovering some gratifying trait of kindness of heart and strength of intellect. The schools that she established at Barackpore, marked in their progress by the most inveterate prejudices, evince at the same time the spirit with which she commenced, and the humanity and judgment with which she pursued her career. The difficulty of procuring books that the jealousy of the national priesthood would admit, was long a main obstacle to her ladyship's efforts, and this was at length

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overcome only by giving herself up to the wearisome labour of compiling, or rather of composing books to which no exception could be taken on the score of doctrine. An object of this nature could arise but from the purest and most amiable feelings; and when I observed to her that the undertaking strongly indicated how much she had its welfare at heart, she answered-" that it was true; that a thing of such a description-of such deep and vital interest, must necessarily be had at heart by those who had any heart at all.”—I am proud to be the humble instrument of recording these sentiments: I should be proud of it, originating in any class of life, but in a station of such commanding influence-in a sphere where the weight of them is felt as soon as they are uttered, and where a thousand causes contribute to give them an additional efficacy, I am inexpressibly happy! For to say truth, I am something of Sir Edward Coke's opinion, and disposed to think that

Ubi non est scientia, ibi non est conscentia *.

*Institutes, Cap. 63. Fourth Part.

VOL. I.

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