70 



chafms, and crafhing amidft the fliattered 

 bowels of the earth. Thefe fecret terrors, you 

 will believe, fubfided with the ftorm ; yet 

 all, in fobereft reafon, vowed they had never 

 known the like before. 



The injuries done were lefs than might 

 have been expected. Some of the fhips and 

 boats neceffarily fujBfered ; a few houfes were 

 unroofed ; and, amidft the devaftation, the 

 windmill, at Gofport, was blown to the 

 ground. It was, at firft, faid that many lives 

 were loft, — but, happily, we do not find this 

 report confirmed. 



The Weft-India fleet, the fleet for Gib- 

 raltar, and the Channel fleet, are all detained 

 by tempeftuous weather and contrary winds ; 

 and there are fome among us who, from the 

 pacific tendency of the King's fpeech, and 

 other circumftances, which they imagine to 

 be favorable, would perfuade themfelve§ that 

 our great expedition will neve^ fail ; or, that, 

 if it (hould get under v^eigh, negociations for 

 peace will prevent it from reaching the Weft- 



