53 



they were neither foes, nor Portfmouib 

 friends. 



On this occafion, as on many others, we 

 were both pleafed and furprifed to,obferve the 

 acutenefsof our men of the ocean in difcover- 

 ing the nature and extent of a diftant fleet, at 

 fea. Before we could well diftinguifh a fhip 

 from a brig, our tars, from the cut of the fails, 

 proclaimed it an Englifh convoy, but not that 

 of Admiral Cornwallis, From the mode of 

 fetting the canvafs, from the form of the fhip, 

 the figure of the marts, or fome flight circurn- 

 ftance, attaching to different veffels, but totally 

 imperceptible to us, they had no hefitation in 

 declaring, while yet at a great diftance, that 

 inftead of the fleet from Spithcad, it was our 

 long-wilhed for convoy from Cork, 



To us this was even better and ftiil more 

 joyful news, and we had foon the gratification 

 of finding it corredh The whole fleet is now 

 at anchor in the bay, and has brought to us a 

 large body of troops, deftined for St. Domingo, 

 under the command of General Whyte. This 

 being peculiarly our divifion of the expedition, 

 we had twofold pleafure in greeting its arrival^ 



