4 
AT SEA. 
compelled us lo lie-too* Under these circumstances we continued 
beating against tremendous gales and a heavy sea for four 
days, until the 27th, when, finding our endeavours unavailing 
and several of the ships much endangered by the storm, we bore 
up and returned back to St. Helen's, which our vessel was for- 
tunate enough to effect, without having received the slightest 
damage. On the following day the ship was carried to the 
Motherbank ; and we had reason to be exceedingly thankful at 
getting in, for on the 31st a perfect hurricane came on, that drove 
no less than fifteen vessels on shore in the harbour, which, had 
we remained in the Channel, would in all probability have put 
an early stop to our voyage. So unpleasant a commencement 
was indeed not very encouraging with respect to the final termi- 
nation of our enterprize ; but the imminent danger we had 
escaped compensated in some degree for the inconveniences we 
had suffered. - 
The adverse winds and tempestuous weather continued until 
the 2d of March, when we again set sail with a Brazil convoy, 
under the direction of Captain Smith of the Brilliant. At 
eleven in the morning we passed through the Needles, and at 
four in the afternoon took our departure from the white and 
beautiful cliff of St. Albans. This was the last sight of the 
English coast we enjoyed. The weather was fine, and the wind so 
much in our favour, that on the 10th we crossed the rolling sea 
which distinguishes the Bay of Biscay, and on the 13th came in 
sight of the Island of Porto Santo. The mountains on this island 
are picturesque in their forms, and when the sun sets behind 
them assume great varieties of effect. These we had sufficient 
IB 
