42 



on board any other veffel of the fleet which 

 they might be able to fetch, and from which 

 he might have removed to our fliip, any fine 

 day upon the voyage, he ordered the boatmen 

 to carry him back to Portfmouth and there* 

 likewife, inftead of applying to the agent to 

 give him a paffage, in any veffel that might be 

 delayed behind the fleet ; he returned the cow 

 to her home, and wildly took a boat to the Ifle 

 of Wight, fancying that, from fome part of the 

 oppofite coaft of the illand, he might be able 

 to reach the Lord Sheffield. This he had 

 heard mentioned, as barely poflible, and defpi- 

 fing all doubts and difficulties, inftantly em- 

 braced it as certain. 



He paid off the lugger, and hired a dif- 

 ferent boat to carry him to the ifland. This 

 again confumed time, and every moment of 

 delay leflened the flight probability he had of 

 fuccefs. On reaching the Ifle of Wight he 

 had to journey many miles, acrofs the ifland, 

 to attain the port from whence he purpofed 

 to embark. He accordingly hired a. horfe, and 

 rufhing on, as ufual, without thought, forgot 

 to take any perfon to bring it back again. 



t 



