During these two voyages, Mr. Bowditch had been engaged in trade for himself; and having thereby gained a little property, he wished to remain at home and enjoy the blessings of domestic life, from which he had been separated at the age of ten years, when he left the abode of his parents. In accordance with this wish, on the 25th day of March, 1798, he married an excellent and intelligent woman, named Elizabeth Boardman. But in a few months he was again called to a seafaring life. His young and beautiful wife was already beginning to show symptoms of that disease which eventually removed her from her husband and friends. It was a hard struggle for the tenderly attached couple to separate; but duty called the husband, and obedience to duty was always his watchword. Accordingly, by August 15, 1798, he was prepared for sea, in the same ship, with the same owner, Captain Derby, and his friend Captain Prince. On this occasion he went as joint supercargo. It was on the 21st of August—nearly five months from the date of his marriage—that he bade adieu to his wife. He never saw her again. Full of devotedness to him, she, however, urged him to do what he thought right, unconscious that she should never more embrace him. During his absence she died at the age of eighteen years.
VOYAGE TO SPAIN.
One of the objects of the present voyage was to go to Cadiz, the chief southern port in Spain. It was rather dangerous at this time for any vessel to sail towards Europe, as the revolution in France had taken place only a short time before, and most of the nations of Europe were beginning to rise against that country; but as Spain was united with France, an English fleet was hovering about the Straits of Gibraltar. The consequence was, that it was of great importance to avoid all vessels, for fear of meeting a privateer.
On the 19th of September, after nearly a month’s voyage, they came within sight of the shores of Spain; and at seven A. M. the next day, they discovered the English fleet, under command of Earl St. Vincent, several leagues to the eastward of them. On this same day they were boarded by the captain of an American vessel, who informed them that the privateers were very numerous in the straits.
CADIZ.
By Mr. Bowditch’s Journal we learn the following:—
“On Thursday afternoon, 20th of September, the winds continued light and variable to the westward. Captain Prince steered directly for Earl St. Vincent’s fleet, and at two P. M. the Hector, of seventy-four guns, Captain Camel, sent his lieutenant on board, ordering us to bear down to him. Captain Prince went aboard, was treated politely, and received a passport to enter Cadiz.” On the 21st, at four P. M., anchor was cast in that harbor.
The state in which poor Spain was at this time was miserable enough. There was but one newspaper in the whole kingdom, and that was printed at Madrid. Everything was degraded about that once noble and brave-hearted people. Upon the appearance of Cadiz the Journal says thus: “The streets of the city, although narrow, are very neatly paved, and swept every day, so that they are very clean. They have broad, flat stones at the sides. All the houses are of stone, with roofs but little sloping. There are fortifications all around the city.”
BATTLE OF THE NILE.