138 



The captain affures me that I behaved 

 uncommonly well, upon the occafion ; but I 

 fear all the merit due to me was merely ne- 

 gative, for I am not fure that my condu(Sfe 

 was not more the effeft of refignatlon, than 

 of fortitude. Seeing that no effort, no power 

 that I poireiTed, could, in any degree, aid our 

 fafety, I refigned myfelf, in implicit obe- 

 dience, to the captain's better judgment ; 

 and, without expreffing, indeed I might 

 fay, without harbouring ufelefs fears, fat 

 calmly prepared for any refult that might 

 occur. 



To reach the Lord Sheffield was abfo- 

 lutely impofTible ; for the wind and tide were 

 both in concert with the ftorm, to prevent 

 it : and to return to Portfmouth was, Icarcely, 

 lefs difficult, or lefs perilous, from the in-^. 

 ability of our little boat to refift the enor- 

 mous following waves, impelled by all the 

 force of the gale and the tide. 



In this critical dilemma it was decided 

 that we fhould bear away, and fteer for the 

 neareft fiiip there was any hope of pur being 



