LETTER XVI. 



Convoy fails on the (^th of December. Author promzCes i9 

 make notes on the paffage for his friendy if the fea will let 

 him* Splendid appearance of the convoy. It meets with 

 tembefluous weather. Defcribtion of ajiorm at fea, Ele^ 

 ments hofiile to the expedition. Gale repeated. Lord 

 Sheffield left alone upon the ocean — Preve?ited from giving 

 relief to a Jinking Jljip, A melancholy and aJUidJingfcene 

 tnfues^ 



Lord ShefEeld, at fea, Dec. 31. 

 At length we are at feu ! the convoy failed 

 from Spithead and St. Helens, the day after 

 I fent you my lad letter, and I now lift my 

 pen to you upon the bofom of the wide 

 Atlantic. From the time of the ever me- 

 morable attempt of the fleet to proceed upon 

 th& voyage, in the month of November, the 

 adverfe winds, which had driven it back, 

 in fo fliattered and difaftrous a condition, 

 detained it, in harbour, until the 9th inftant, 

 when it again put to fea under a ferene 

 Jky, and propitious breezes ; but, notwith- 

 ftanding thefe favorable appearances, we 

 have, fince, had a mod haraffing and peril* 

 ous fuccclTion of ftorms, one having, fcarcelyj 



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