V 



.163 



purchafe In the water, but they tofs and rol! 

 about, at the mercy of the waves, like empty 

 barrels floatiog upon the furface. 



At the period of feparating from the 

 fleet we knew not our place of deftlnatlon, 

 and hence it became expedient to open the 

 fealed infl:ru6tions : from which we difco- t 

 vered that Carlifle Bay, in Barbadoes, was 

 fixed as the general rendezvous of the fleet. 

 Here, therefore, all our attradions lie, and to 

 this port we are endeavouring to fleer ; but 

 adverfe winds, and uoprofperous gales per- 

 petually oppofe our progrefs. It is now more 

 than three weeks from the date of our de- 

 parture, and we are yet beating about much 

 nearer to you than you imagine, having, hi- 

 therto, advanced, on our pafiage, only twelve 

 degrees of longitude, and three of latitude. 

 But in whatever latitude or longitude — amidft 

 whatever ftorms or dangers, I am always 



Yours« 



M 2 



