“ The boats advanced in a dense extended line, each gun was brought to bear upon particular parts of them, so that there should be no useless expenditure of powder and shot. The Minerva being a deep-waisted vessel, with a top-gallant forecastle and poop, the boat’s crew did not discover the preparations that had been made for their reception—so they continued pulling on until they were within pistol shot of the ship’s side. At that moment Mackay, to whom all eyes on board the Mincrva were now directed, every thing having been in perfect readiness, gave the signal to “fire.” ”

“ The cables were immediately cut, the sails set, and the Minerva stood out to sea. The breeze was light, however, and before she was beyond the range of the fort, the Aricans, to their utter astonishment, for they could not conjecture what had happened, as no other vessel was in sight, saw the Mincrva bearing briskly down toward Moro-Blanco, a promontory on the south side of the bay, several miles distant from Arica. With the strong military force on board, they could not persuade themselves that there existed a possibility of hcr having been taken by an enemy. ”

“ In a few years afterwards, so effectual had been the exertions of some of them to get rid of their money, that they again found themselves before the mast in Lord Cochrane’s fleet; while others, more provident, established themselves as respectable and substantial citizens. Mackay became one of the most considerable of the merchants and shipowners in Valparaiso, where, for ought that is known to the contrary, he still lives in the enjoyment of his wealth. ”

“ To use a homely simile, the broadside of heavy grape made a commotion among the boats similar to that which is produced by an unexpected shot from a well-loaded fowling piece among a flock of ducks on the bosom of (illegible text) pond. Instead of one such shot, however, five-and-twenty double shots of grape and canister were sent by deliberate aim among the boats of Arica, and each shot struck its allotted portion of the line of attack. At the scene which presented itself when the smoke cleared away, even the drugger’s crew were appalled. ”

“ Soon after Valparaiso had fallen into the hands of the revolutionary forces, a few British seamen resolved to set up as privateers on the Chilian and Peruvian coasts. With this view, having in the first instance, procured the governor’s licence, they purchased an old West Indian drugger boat, (a vessel similar to a lighter in this country) as sorry looking a craft as ever ventured a league to sea, but the small stock of dollars which they had succeeded in scraping together did not enable them to purchase one better fitted tor their purpose. ”

“ By the Indian they were informed that the coast was clear of king’s ships—that an armed merchantman from Old Spain had arrived at Arica (a fortified town still in the hands of the loyalists) a few days before, and that she was lying under the protection of the fort, ready to discharge a valuable cargo. ”

“ It would almost appear, indeed, that instead of there being any general cure for the toothach, every body would require to have his own cure; for though certain preparations have been found effectual in certain cases, nothing is more common than to find these fail when applied to others. ”

“ Here, then, was the Mincrva, and hcr guards and crew, fairly in the hands of our heroes, but they had yet much to do before being absolutely secure of their prize. On looking around them, they discovered that not only were her topmasts struck, but that all her sails were unbent, and her foreyard lying across the forecastle——her deck being, at the same time, “lumbered up” with goods ready for disembarkation next morning. ”

“ Before daybreak they again betook themselves to a hiding place, close on shore, some eight or ten miles distant from Arica; and, ere the sun had been an hour above the horizon, each in his turn had slipped out in the Indian’s canoe to enjoy a stolen peep at the expected prize. Their arms and ammunition were now carefully overhauled. Every pistol received a fresh flint, and its lock a touch of oil. A sufficient quantity of powder was spread out on an old top-sail to dry in the sun ”

“ How true it is, that out of evil oftcn some good will spring; for while I was enduring this thumbscrew on my gums—this gout in my jaw—this rack of nerves--this dcstroyer of brains--amid this desolation I acquired much useful information rcspecting the toothach. One fricnd informed me that half the suffering was occasioned by nervous irritability; for, if I went to a dentist with a detcrmination to have the tooth extracted, the momcnt I entercd the door the tooth would cease to give me pain. ”