An opportunity offered of testing her sailing qualities a few days after I had the honor to constitute her whole crew.
One morning, at daylight, as we were steering to the southward on a wind, a sail was made on the lee bow.

It proved to be a large ship with two tiers of ports, not more than three or four miles off, steering to the westward.

As soon as we were seen, the ship hauled her wind, spread every sail, and seemed determined to ascertain our character and business in those seas.

Captain Moncrieff, with perfect propriety, resolved, if possible, to prevent the gratification of such impertinent curiosity.

The British cruiser sailed remarkably well; and if we had been under her lee, our voyage would have ended before it was fairly begun.