My gratitude to these kind and good people will not easily fade from my heart.
At noon I was already on board, and had leisure to admire all the gay flags and streamers with which the French frigate anchoring here had been decked, to celebrate the anniversary of the July revolution.
I endeavoured to turn my attention as much as possible to exterior objects, and not to look at our ship, for all that I had involuntarily seen had not impressed me very favourably.

I determined also not to enter the cabin till we were in the open sea and the pilots had left our sloop, so that all possibility of return would be gone.
Our crew consisted of captain, steersman, two sailors, and a cabin-boy, who bore the title of cook; we added that of valet, as he was appointed to wait on us.
When the pilots had left us, I sought the entrance of the cabin,--the only, and therefore the common apartment.

It consisted of a hole two feet broad, which gaped at my feet, and in which a perpendicular ladder of five steps was inserted.

I stood before it puzzled to know which would be the best mode of descent, but knew no other way than to ask our host the captain.

He shewed it me at once, by sitting at the entrance and letting his feet down.