On leaving Fernando Noronha we steered for Pernambuco--perhaps, next to Rio, the port of the greatest importance in the Brazils.  On going into the harbour with a strong breeze blowing, the pilot from gross carelessness gave the _Triton_ so hard a blow against a rook that an ugly hole was knocked in her bottom.  It seemed for a moment that the masts would have gone by the board; but the ship, bounding off the rock, glided on as if nothing had happened.  It was a great trial for the temper of Captain Frankland; but he uttered scarcely a word of reproof to the pilot, and as to an oath, I never heard an expression even approaching one pass from his lips all the time I was with him.  The crew were all at their stations, and none stirred from them till the captain ordered the carpenter to sound the well.  He quickly reported that there were three feet of water in the well, and that it was rushing in at a great rate.  All hands on board not absolutely required to shorten sail were ordered to man the pumps, and the _Triton_ was carried in as close to the town as possible, so that she might immediately be put on shore should there be danger of her sinking.  On a further examination of the damage the ship had received, it was found that it would be absolutely necessary to land part of her cargo and to put her on shore before it could be repaired.  It was late in the day before this was determined on, so that nothing could be done that afternoon. All night long the sound of the pumps going continuously kept me awake till towards morning, when I still heard them in my sleep.  A gang of negroes had been brought off to work them in relays, so that the crew were saved the fatigue which they would otherwise have undergone.  I was very glad the next morning when I found the ship hauled close in-shore to a place where, if she did sink, she could not go far, or drown those on board.  Captain Frankland found that it would take a considerable time to get the damage repaired, as it was even of a more serious nature than at first supposed.  He bore the annoyance with his usual calm temper.  I have often thought what a valuable possession is a calm temper, and how worthy of being cultivated.