4 AT SEA. 
The Court of Directors have greatly incommoded us by ordering 
the Minerva to keep company with the Lord Eldon, Captain Sweet, 
another extra East Indiaman. This is a perpetual source of delay, 
as she cannot keep up with us ; I however console myself with the 
hope, that the first foggy gale will separate us ; a circumstance, 
that would almost reconcile me to a storm. I was assured, before I 
left England, that the Minerva was an admirable sailer, by Captain 
Durham, who convoyed her to England. His character of her is 
perfectly true ; she beats every thing near her, and is only five 
hundred and forty tons, yet moves through the water with very 
little effort, though the swell is at this moment considerable. 
June ^8. — The wind for the last week has continued very favour- 
able, blowing a sufficient gale to take us through the Bay of Biscay 
at the rate of two hundred miles in the twenty-four hours, although 
frequently obliged to lie to for the Lord Eldon. We are now in lat. 
33° 19', and in sight of Porto Santo, one of the Madeiras. All the 
maps, except Arrowsmith's, are incorrect in the position of these 
islands. Laurie and Whittle place them above half a degree too far 
north. Heather's error is less ; but Arrowsmith stands pre-eminent 
here, as in every other point of geographical accuracy. The fresh 
breeze at N. E. has prevented our being oppressed by the rapid 
change of climate : after sun-set the deck is so cool, that, if we sit 
still, we require additional clothing. 
June 2,9. — According to our expectation, at rising this morning 
we were in full view of the Island of Madeira. The approach was 
beautiful ; the rich blue of the sea, contrasted with the dark 
brown of the lofty rocks, which presented an insurmountable 
barrier to the waves; the fogs of the morning covering the 
DSf 
