on the decline in Europe, is at length beginning to be shaken in the
colonies of the Catholic powers: some recent instances which have taken
place at Teneriffe, evince it very fully. Were not a stranger, however,
to be apprized of this, he would hardly draw the conclusion from his own
observations. The Bishop of these islands, which conjunctively form a
See, resides on the Grand Canary. He is represented as a man in years,
and of a character as amiable as exalted, extremely beloved both by
foreigners and those of his own church. The bishopric is valued at ten
thousand pounds per annum; the government at somewhat less than two.

In spite of every precaution, while we lay at anchor in the road, a
convict had the address, one night, to secrete himself on the deck, when
the rest were turned below; and after remaining quiet for some hours,
let himself down over the bow of the ship, and floated to a boat that
lay astern, into which he got, and cutting her adrift, suffered himself
to be carried away by the current, until at a sufficient distance to
be out of hearing, when he rowed off. This elopement was not discovered
till some hours after, when a search being made, and boats sent to the
different parts of the island, he was discovered in a small cove, to
which he had fled for refuge. On being questioned, it appeared he had
endeavoured to get himself received on board a Dutch East Indiaman in
the road; but being rejected there, he resolved on crossing over to
the Grand Canary, which is at the distance of ten leagues, and when
detected, was recruiting his strength in order to make the attempt. At
the same time that the boats of the fleet were sent on this pursuit,
information was given to the Spanish Governor of what had happened,
who immediately detached parties every way in order to apprehend the
delinquent.

Having remained a week at Teneriffe, and in that time completed our