103 



friendly quarter, the pidure was beautiful, as 

 it was grand and animated. On paffing 

 round, or, to ufe the fallors' term, on doubling 

 the point of the Ifle of Wight, all the fhips 

 feemed to fall into regular fucceffion, forming a 

 line of numberlefs extent — each elevating her 

 fails, into view, over the territory of the ifland, 

 as though they were contending which fliould 

 be longeft feen ; or, as if driving to rival the 

 clouds, in their travels through the fkies, con- 

 fcious that they,too, bore, within them, their 

 thunder, and their lightning. 



It was a pleafmg fpeflacle to every be- 

 holder, and thofe who felt as Engliflimen ought, 

 derived, from it, fenfations peculiarly grateful. 

 To witnefs fuch a fleet fuU-fwelling, from 

 our little ifland, into- the broad ocean, to fight 

 our battles in a far difl:ant country, conveyed 

 ideas of greatnefs and power, which were 

 calculated to raife a juft ambition in every 

 Britifli bofom. The fliips of war and tranf- 

 ports exceeded two hundred fail. T'iie im- 

 menfe fhip, the Commerce de Marfeilles, cap- 

 tured at Toulon, is at the head of the convoy, 

 with the admiral, the commander in chief 



H 4 



