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a ftrange fleet in fight. When it appears 

 every one is on the alert, and ready to take his 

 poft, and thus the fignal ferves to prevent fur- 

 prize. But, one idea fo predominates among 

 our party, and we have been fo long abforbed 

 in one great expedation, that the fignal of 

 alarm is become a fignal of joy, and, with the 

 report of a ftrange fleet, we inftantly aflbciate 

 the arrival of our long expeded convoy. 



Early this morning the enfign of alarm was 

 flying at the battery, but apprehenfion was not 

 even the momentary effed ; no fooner did the 

 eye convey the intelligence to the mind, than 

 the heart bounded with gladnefs, and we af- 

 fured ourfelves of the remainder of our Portf- 

 mouth convoy. In this belief we were alfo 

 fandioned by the late arrival of the Rofe E. 

 Indiaman and the Columbus, both of which 

 had failed from Spithead with Admiral Corn- 

 wall is, and likewife by the arrival of La Fa- 

 vorite, a faft failing French veffel of 20 guns, 

 which had been captured by the fleet on its 

 pafiage, and fent in under command of one of 

 our officers — Still our ready conjedures did 

 not convey the fad, for as the unnumbered 

 ftrangers approached, it was difcovered that 



