•280 FROM GUAHON TO ST. HELENA. 



Somerset, who was, however, at his country-seat, 

 and would not return till the next day. 



The 1st of April. After I had been honoured 

 by a visit from the captain of the French corvette, 

 L'Uranies, M. L. de Freycenet *, who was about 

 to make a voyage of discovery, I went to Lord 

 Somerset, who invited me to visit him at his seat, 

 Newland, which lies five miles from the town. The 

 Table Mountain was covered with white clouds, 

 a certain sign of an approaching storm, and it be- 

 gan to blow with such violence in the evening, 

 that nobody could come to the ships though they 

 were only fifty fathoms from shore, and I was 

 obliged to remain for the night on shore. 



The 2d. It was impossible for me to reach the 

 ship yesterday, but it Avas still more so to-day ; I 

 was even forced to give up my visit to Lord 

 Somerset, as it was generally asserted that the villa 

 could not be reached in this storm, which threw 

 up immense masses of sand, and even little stones. 



The 3d. The storm raged with still more fury, 

 no person ventured out into the street. My boat, 

 which w^as lying on the shore, was driven away by 

 the wind, and very much damaged : several ships 

 in Table Bay were torn from their anchors, though 

 they had lowered the topsails and yard to the deck. 

 This storm reminded me of the hurricane which 



* Freycenet is known from BiuuUn's Voyage, whom he ac- 

 conipaiiicd as lieutenant. 



