43^ 



themfelves morebleffed, nor hailed in more joy- 

 ous greetings this hallowed day than the anxious 

 multitude at BarbadoeSc It was only yefterday 

 that 1 took rip my pen to announce to you a 

 glad arrival, and I have now to mention one 

 ftill more happy. Before breakfaO: this morn- 

 ing a fignal appeared at the fort, implying that 

 a fhip oF war-was in fight ; and about eight 

 o'clock a proud frigate, withfaiis fwelling to the 

 breeze, cut her liquid path filently into the bay, 

 and dropped her anchor in the mid ft of the 

 fleet. A general feeling of joy^ inftantly, 

 fpread throughout the harbour. It was the 

 Arethufa, with Sir Ralph Abercromby, and 

 the officers of his ftaff on board. A fignal 

 was made from the agent, and all the fhips 

 in the bay immediately manned their yards, 

 and rigging to hail, and to welcome, in loud 

 falutation, our long-expeded commander in 

 chief. Three heart-felt cheers w^ere, raptu- 

 roufly, fhouted from every veflel, and as cor- 

 dially echoed by the Arethufa's company. 



The fcene thus Introduced was novel 

 and peculiar. It was, alfo, highly intereftinp-. 

 The yards, the tops, the mafts and rigging 

 of all the vefTels being covered with men, they 



