nection, for the latter teemed in the icy latitudes just as much as when Cliquot's pleasant beverage was in request. I can only say that the hungry author who "loved a teeming wit as he loved nourish. ment," would have been more than satisfied had he occupied my seat.

The living on board ship is generally good; that on ours was excellent. In order that my readers may be able to judge for themselves in this matter (which, to some passengers, is a point of extraordinary importance), I subjoin one of our bills of fare. I may mention that the whole of the dishes noted in the bill of fare did not appear on the same day (though the greater part did); there was a little variation made each successive day, and only one kind of soup appeared each day.

On leaving Melbourne (said our Gazette) we had on board, 2 oxen, 1 milch cow, 30 pigs, 150 sheep, 2 lambs, 1 calf, 56 turkeys and geese, 250 ducks, 550 fowls, and 4540lbs. of fresh meat, besides salt and preserved meats, tins of soup, fish, and other prepared provisions.

And now, kind reader, with a sincere regard for your digestive organisation, and also for my own (for my gastronomic recollections are becoming almost too vivid), I will pause, and resume the thread of my discourse in the last Chapter.

CHAPTER XVI.

Voyage Home continued-The Ship's Birthday— Grand Banquet-Thrilling Speeches-Passing the Azores Amateur Artists-Advice to SeaVoyagers-Farewell.

It was on a balmy and lovely day-three days after crossing the line-that our noble old ship entered her nineteenth year, so that the first thing I did on this joyous morning, before sitting down to breakfast, was to pay my devoirs to the Captain, and wish him very many happy returns of the day. The juveniles celebrated the occasion by dancing vigorously to the music of an orchestra enlarged and improved especially, I believe, for this great day; and the drum (made by the ship-carpenter out of sheep

skin) beat loudly and sonorously for several hours, thereby keeping the whole ship alive, and of course delighting the hearts of all musical amateurs on board!

A grand banquet was given to celebrate the occasion, and at 10 P.M. (the children having retired to rest) we all sat down to it. The gentlemen were especially favoured, each being allowed the privilege of taking in to supper any lady he pleased, which was quite a charming little variety, after having had the same neighbours every day during the voyage. The banquet was worthy of the occasion. Beef, mutton, and the ordinary sustenance of life were quite discarded; and, as we entered the saloon, we thought Aladdin's lamp must have been at work, for the table had been magically metamorphosed into a choice menagerie of milk-white swans, beauteous dolphins, ferocious wild boars and native dingoes, the latter looking dangerously life-like.