'I this morning at six o'clock anchored under the cloud-cap't top of this extraordinary rock, and found that _Alacrity_ had made a better passage by some hours than either _Ganges_ or _Sybella_ who are all here. I paid my devoirs to Lord Chatham who asked after you, also your old Teetotum G--- who I found in the very act of entertaining the ladies of Gib with breakfast, music and a trip to Algeciras in the _Tribune's_ boats to spend the day. He seems in great force and sorry to leave this part of the world, indeed, they say that love has much to do in the case. I afterwards paid my devoirs to the American Commodore, Jones, who is here in the _Constitution_, and went over his ship; I felt proud to see the ship that had captured our frigate--she is enormous. Her cable and rigging in inches the same as the _Ganges_ by level measurement, for they have taken the pains to examine, but she is now in what I should call a state of nature as bad as I could wish to see a Yankee in, with 450 men on board who look as if they were tired of their work, and the officers say so. 'I have met a very intelligent man just left Cadiz, and have seen and conversed with some of the Spanish Constitutionalists. Spain is in a dreadful state; anarchy, confusion, highway robbery and assassination daily take place. The game is up, if France has got and will keep military possession of Cadiz. The French are disgusted with the whole thing--the country and the people.... Officers and nobles are on the highway. 'I shall sail for Malta on Monday. I am engaged in taking big guns up. _Alacrity_ is the most comfortable vessel I have ever been in. 'Adieu. Love to all. 'Your affectionate and dutiful son, 'C. YORKE. 'I sailed without my Government chronometers, they were so bad I would not take them, but the one C--- has on board is capital and we made the rock to a mile.' * * * * * GIBRALTAR: March 9, 1824. 'MY DEAREST FATHER, 'It is a long while since I have had an opportunity of putting pen to paper to address you, not having been in any Christian Port for some time, nor have I received a single line from any one since I left you. 'I am just arrived at this port having brought Convoy from Malta, and now I am here I think I had better begin at the other end of my story, and so come down to the present time, instead of going back; relating all the little matters just as they are and how H.M. sloop and her crew have been employ'd since I last address'd you from the same place.