GIBRALTAR. 
489 
myself in a civilized country. The fleet was convoyed by Captain 
Mowbray in the Active frigate. It was an additional pleasure to me to 
discover, that he was brother to my friend, Captain Mowbray, whom 
I had known at Ceylon, as aid-de camp to Mr. North. 1 dined on 
board his ship, as we were obliged to lay to, all day, for some trans- 
ports which were not ready for sea. 
September 1 7. — After a pleasant passage, we on this day reached 
Gibraltar, having on our way seen Sicily, Sardinia, several of the 
capes of Africa, and , at length, the coast of Spain, along which we 
ran from near Carthagena. On the 1st we had a stiff gale from N.W. 
but in general, the weather was fine, and the Diana sailed so well 
that we had the pleasure of being always near to the Active, and 
frequently went on board her, while both vessels lay to for the rest 
of the convoy to come up. On the last day we had a fine breeze 
from the eastward, which lasted us till we got round Europa Point 
late in the evening, when it died away. 
September 56. — Early in the morning, after my arrival, I landed, 
and went to pay my compliments to General Drummond, the acting 
Lieutenant Governor, who very politely offered me the use of the 
Convent, which is the official residence of the Governor, an offer 
which I willingly accepted, for Gibraltar is too crowded to afford 
much accommodation for strangers. I was considerably indisposed, 
and unable to visit many of the works, but, occasionally, rode with 
the General to view the different spots which have been cultivated 
by the garrison. The extent of ground, laid out in gardens, excited 
my surprise, and the beauty of several of the country-houses well 
repaid the labour of getting at them. The most beautiful belongs to 
the Navy Commissioner, Captain Middleton ; it is situated on the 
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