46 TIMELY ARRIVAL. 



the French Government, recently declared 

 war against us. About three days after our 

 arrival we were joined by two new seventy- 

 fours, the "Albion," and the "Sceptre," 

 from England, sent out to reinforce the 

 squadron in the East Indies, under Admiral 

 Rainier. This was considered a very timely 

 arrival for us, as, unless we had been rein- 

 forced, we must have remained there for, 

 although three days must elapse between 

 the sailing of two hostile fleets from a neu- 

 tral port, we could not have left without 

 the certainty of being overtaken by the 

 enemy, as several of our convoy were very 

 dull sailers. As it was, we now considered 

 ourselves quite a match for them, and, 

 should they dare to pursue us, had made up 

 our minds to give them a warm reception. 

 Nevertheless, while we were laying there to- 

 gether, every civility passed between the 

 senior officers of the two hostile fleets. In- 

 dependent of balls, and fetes, and dinners 

 on shore, given by the Portuguese autho- 



