i8 



After breakfaft we went on fliore to make 

 our marketings and to learn all the additional 

 news brought by the fleet, which had now 

 come to anchor. The ftreets of Bridge-town 

 were crowded, and the markets over-run with 

 ftrangers. Not a fifh — nor a joint of meat 

 was to be had. A fingle chicken was all we 

 could procure. 



Barbadoes is the beft fupplied of all our 

 colonies to windward of Jamaica. The ifland 

 Abounds with provifions and ftock ; but from 

 the late repeated, and multiplied arrivals, and 

 from a numerous fleet being fo long detained 

 in the bay, the demand has been fo great 

 that a degree of fcarcity, or, at leaft, that mark 

 of it, an increafed and extravagant price begins 

 to prevail. 



In the courfe of the day on which the fleet 

 of merchantmen arrived, a fadly terrifying 

 fcene occurred in the harbour. The found of an 

 alarm-bell was heard, from one of the tranfports, 

 and a dread fenfation was inftantly difTufed 

 throughout the bay. All hands haftened upon 

 deck, and every (hip appeared thronged with 

 anxious multitudes, eagerly looking out for the 



