42 
SPTLSBURy's voyage to AFRICA. 
be too soon apparent, unless the wisdom of parliament sboulcl io- 
clnte them to repeal the bill. By its continuance, ^ principal nursery 
for our Udvy will be destroyed. The Americans and others will 
supply our colonies at an exorbitant price ; and even then they 
will not iuke our produce, with which we are already overstocked 
almost to oui ruin. 
On the 10th of February we got under weigh for England, 
and the ship was immediately put upon short allowance of water. 
Sunday, the ]f)th, we were obliged to punish three men for steal- 
ing of water, it being now a crnne of the most atrocious nature ; 
and if not immediately stopped, might, in the end, be productive 
of the loss of the cartel. iSîotiïing particular happened until the 
20th, when such an immense shoal of porpoises swam round, 
that the sea appeared covered with them as far as our large 
glasses could reach ; and soon a fin-back whale made his appear- 
ance, and swam some tinie under our bows. This was in 
îat. 9. 56. long. 19- 2. We were still on one quart of water a 
day. 
March Cnd. Several flvinsf fish flew on board. We let the 
people bathe, always lowering a boat down, and keeping a good 
look out. 
March 6th. We fell in with H. M. S. Woolwich, bound to 
the East- Indies, who made us a present of some English com 
beef and potatoes, a present to us highly acceptable, as also a 
supply of water. We sent six men iii her, among which was our 
old steward ; the captain of the Woolwich was at this time lying 
dead. 
March 29th. Saw land about Cape Clear, N. E. by N. seven 
or eight miles ; took on board a pilot, and came to anchor in 
Crook Haven. W^e had no sooner anchored, than the vessel was 
surrounded with boats, bartering for old clothes or rice. This 
sudden change from short allowance of salt provisions to fresh, I 
%vas fearful, would have produced some serious consequences, 
but I was happily disappointed. 1 thought the men would never 
have been salished. Milk, eggs, broiled fowls, &c. were all 
day long; in a state of requisition between decks ; and though 
there was not room for the men to lay side by side, yet now they 
made room for fresh messmates, and tl)S ship was crouded with 
young pigs, torkies, geese, ducks, Scc, as well as lambs ; the 
whole presenting such a scene, as it is impossible to desciibe ; 
the cooks were at work all day long, and all these luxuries were 
independent of their fresh beef- Here one of our ladies, who 
hi-A been with us all this war, was brought to bed of a fine girl : 
we pitied her situation ; and, to add to the scene, one of our men 
having said oa siiore, that the lady wanted a nursC; a poor iintor- 
