I2 From PORTSMOUTH 
our company ; and here we embarked in the commiflioners 
yatch. The ftru&ure and elegance of this fmall veffel feem to 
vie with each other ; the whole is converted into apartments, 
yet it is furprifing, from her external appearance, how much 
room and convenience there is in her. 
The brightnefs of the iky, the coolnefs of the air, the gentle 
breezes, all confpired to afford delight ; but unluckily the winds 
proving contrary, we were obliged to quit this agreeable man- 
ner of failing, and take to our lix-oar’d barge. O what a 
falling off was here! You who had been fo often rowed in 
O 
pomp, by ten white-fhirted, black-capp’d, joyful mariners, was 
now, by a hard deftiny, condemned to plow the waters, for 
twenty tedious miles, with fix poor dockmen! — So a traveller, 
who was out of humor, might tell the ftory : but in truth they 
were flout fellows, and performed their duty well ; there was 
no want of room in the boat, and we were much obliged to 
MifsH * * * * 
Your good humor began immediately to difplay itfelf ; and 
tho’ a low’ring iky came on, every object was plealing : and we 
no longer lamented the lofs of the yatch, from which we foon 
rowed out of light. Paffing by the villages of stubbington 
and helhead on the right, the isle of wight appears on the 
left with all the charms which woods and lawns with a beauti- 
ful inequality of ground, and the livelieft verdure, can exhibit. 
At the height of tichfield river, whofe waters reach about 
twenty miles to west mean, the northweft point of the isle 
3 0F 
