We dined with an English merchant, an old friend of Captain Frankland's, who treated us most sumptuously.  He told us of a curious disease which had lately attacked the vines, and which he feared would ultimately destroy them.  The grapes growing on the diseased vines, instead of ripening, wither up and rot.  He said that he had urged the inhabitants of the island not to depend solely on their vines, but to endeavour to produce other articles for which their soil and climate was especially suited.  Among other things he introduced the mulberry-tree, by the cultivation of which large numbers of the silk-worm might be bred, and silk in great quantities exported.  Under the present system, when the vines fail, as the people do not grow sufficient corn in the island for their support, they are at once reduced to a state of famine.  But I must not prolong my description of Madeira.  It is a very lovely island, and has a very delicious climate, and produces all sorts of nice fruits; and though the inhabitants have rather a fancy for being dirty, the English residents set them a better example, and have introduced comforts and conveniences which make the country a very pleasant abode. The island is about thirty-seven miles in length by eleven in breadth, and contains perhaps 60,000 inhabitants.