therefore we desired his consent to sell her, believing the money she would bring would be sufficient to carry us all off.  To this proposal the lieutenant consented.  We then apply’d to the master of the vessel, to know what he would have for our passage; his demand was forty shillings per man, of which we acquainted the lieutenant, who told us he could not see what we could do, and, on second consideration, would not give his consent to sell the boat, for when sold, he did not think she would fetch the money.  Those words of the lieutenant put us all to a stand, especially after he had but now given his consent to sell her, and in so short time to declare the reverse was very odd; tho’ indeed it did not much surprise us, because this gentleman was never known to be over stedfast to his word.  Seeing no possibility of carrying the people off without selling the boat, I told the lieutenant, if he left them behind, I could not think but so many of his majesty’s subjects were sold, and believ’d he had made a present of the vessel to the governor.  At this the lieutenant paus’d for a while, and then said, he had not money to carry himself off without selling his coat.  I reply’d, There was no occasion for that, when he had a gold watch.  The next morning went to the lieutenant again about our going off; he acquainted us, that the brigadier had order’d things in another manner; that myself, and nine more, being the persons desirous of going, should be dispatch’d in the first vessel, and every thing found us; that he, the lieutenant, was to tarry behind with the rest of the people, and to come in the next vessel, an estimate of the charges being made out; and he also told us, he had a severe check for requesting to go first himself, and offering to leave the people behind.

Sunday, March 28th, I embark’d on board the St Catharine’s brigantine, with the carpenter, boatswain, the two mates, the surgeon of marines, the cooper, and six of the people, the provisions laid in for us were two casks of salt beef and ten alcadoes of farina.

Wednesday the 31st, we sail’d for Rio Janeiro, with the wind at W., steer’d S.E. and S.E. by E., until over the bar; then E. by N., and E.N.E., with a fine gale, and clear weather; there is not above two fathom and half water on the bar at high-water; when you are in, it is a fine commodious harbour for small vessels; it is a low land, of a sandy soil:  Here is abundance of fine cattle, with fresh-water fish, melons exceeding good, plenty of water, and the best milk I ever tasted.

Thursday, April the 8th, little wind at S.W., and fair weather.  At ten this morning anchor’d before the town of St Sebastians.  The Portugueze pilots, who have been in England, call the land here the Isle of Wight; and indeed it is very like it, tho’ not so large, being only eight miles in length.  This is a very secure harbour for shipping; a stranger may go in or out without any difficulty.  At this place I was ashore, and think it as delightful and pleasant a place as ever I saw in America, abounding with fruit, as oranges, lemons, bonanoes; also with yams, potatoes, fish, and fowl.