Sailed on 14th. The usual course was to have crossed the southerly trade wind on the port tack, but our good Captain, to please Sir George Cockburn, Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty, attempted the nearer-looking line off the coast of Africa. Shortly after sailing, all our picnic-party, with exception of Granville and myself, were down with fever. Winser, a good lad, our servant, was the first to die. He was followed by S. H. Crawford, Col. Vol. Our good Captain felt these deaths. His airy cabin was converted into a hospital. My turn came later. All officers who owned cabins kindly gave them up. I was put into Lieutenant Charles Nash’s, who took all the care he could of me. As was then the practice, they bled me in both arms and shaved my head. Cockroaches were numerous. There was a sad stillness about the ship, and I could hear the firing as the last sad ceremony on committing the bodies of departed messmates to the deep. The two seniors of our picnic-party, the surgeon and the schoolmaster, were the third and fourth to die. After I was down, I sent a message to my chum, Bridgman Simpson, but it never reached him. We lost the following officers: James Napper, surgeon, aged 40 years; James Hislop,[3] schoolmaster, 28 years; Green West, midshipman, 15 years 7 months; Henry Stuart Crawford, 15 years; Arthur Bridgman Simpson, 15 years 7 months; Charles William Thornton, 14 years 3 months; John Augustus Aldham, 15 years 3 months. They all died between October 14 and November 15, 1827. A tablet to their memory may be seen in the garrison chapel, Portsmouth. [3] A distinguished Scotch poet. [Sidenote: Dec. 17.] As might have been expected, water and provisions grew short. Those who dined with the Captain had to send their allowance of water to his steward. We arrived in Table Bay, _sixty days_ from the Cape de Verds. The account of our African fever soon spread. Fortunately, my old shipmate, Lieutenant Christopher Smith, had informed his sister, married to Puisne Judge Burton, that I was in the _Tweed_; they at once kindly received me. Oh, the luxury and comfort! I soon forgot that it had been my turn next to die. The _Tweed_ had to go round to Simon’s Bay. The kind Captain was glad to leave me in such good quarters. As I gained strength I preferred crawling about by myself. There was a large garrison at the Cape, and officers spoke kindly to the sickly mid. Living in the country at Wynberg were the Deputy-Adjutant-General, Colonel and Lady Mary Fitzroy. One afternoon when home for tea I found that Lady Mary had visited Mrs. Burton and claimed me as a relation, and dwelt on the healthiness of Wynberg in the summer. I did not fancy leaving such kind friends as the Burtons had been to me in my time of need, but all was arranged without my being consulted, and that evening a carriage conveyed me away.