( 3'4 ) 



cated himfelf, have infpired him with fuch a con- 

 fidence, that I mould be much furprized if in the 

 end he does not come badly off. 



Our firft pilot feems to be a little riper than 

 thefe two officers, and greatr ftrefe is laid upon his 

 knowledge of the gulph of Florida, which he has al- 

 ready once paffed through. This, however, is but 

 little for an acquaintance with the moft dangerous 

 paffagein the American feas, where fhip- wrecks hap- 

 pen by thoufands. Befldes, I am afraid, that an air 

 of felf fufliciency I perceive in him, may produce 

 fome fatal confequences. He has twp fubalterns 

 ■who are good men ; and we have fifty failors of 

 Bretaigne, a little mutinous, indeed, but ftrong and 

 vigorous, moft of them having been at thecod-fifhe- 

 ry, which is a good fchool : their marine officers 

 feem to me to be men of fenfe and execution. 



In the mean time, notwithstanding all the delays 

 I have fpoken of, we anchored on the fecond in 

 the evening, within -fide of the bar; we paffed it 

 on the third, but for want of wind could get no 

 farther. Yefterday we were flopped the whole 

 day, and this night we had a gale of wind at fouth, 

 which made us thankful we were not at fea fo near the 

 Ihore. I hope, Madam, to write you in a fhort 

 time from St. Domingo, at which place our veffel 

 is to take in a cargo of fugar, which lies ready for 

 her. I take the opportunity of a coafter going up 

 to New Orleans, to fend you this letter by a veffel 

 which is bound directly to France. 



I am, &c. 



LETTER 



