Friday,May 16th.
On board the good ship CAMPERDOWN,500miles North-west of Table-Bay.
I embarked this day week,and found a good airy cabin,and all very comfortable.Next day I got the carpenter's services,by being on board before all the rest,and relashed and cleeted everything,which the 'Timmerman',of course,had left so as to get adrift the first breeze.At two o'clock the Attorney-General,Mr.Porter,came on board,escorted by bands of music and all the volunteers of Capetown,QUORUM PARS MAXIMA FUIT;i.e.Colonel.It was quite what the Yankees call an 'ovation'.The ship was all decked with flags,and altogether there was LE DIABLE E QUATRE.The consequence was,that three signals went adrift in the scuffle;and when a Frenchman signalled us,we had to pass for BRUTAUX ANGLAIS,because we could not reply.I found means to supply the deficiency by the lining of that very ancient anonymous cloak,which did the red,while a bandanna handkerchief of the Captain's furnished the yellow,to the sailmaker's immense amusement.On him I bestowed the blue outside of the cloak for a pair of dungaree trowsers,and in signalling now it is,'up go 2.41,and my lady's cloak,which is 7.'
We have had lovely weather,and on Sunday such a glorious farewell sight of Table Mountain and my dear old Hottentot Hills,and of Kaap Goed Hoop itself.There was little enough wind till yesterday,when a fair southerly breeze sprang up,and we are rolling along merrily;and the fat old CAMPERDOWN DOES roll like an honest old 'wholesome'tub as she is.It is quite a BONNE FORTUNEfor me to have been forced to wait for her,for we have had a wonderful spell of fine weather,and the ship is the NE PLUS ULTRAof comfort.We are only twelve first-class upper-deck passengers.
