1785. I amazed to fee the lea rolling in billows mountains high, and
September. roarjng jn a mofl; tremendous manner, every wave fufficient to
Jfwallow up our little veffel.
The next day the waters had recovered their ufual ferenity, and
all Nature feemed to be as it were renovated. How forcible is
that fimile of the good old Patriarch, when defcribing the fickle-
nefs of his fon: “ He fhall be (fays he) unftable as water.’’
Thou wilt forgive me thefe trifling digreffions; when they rife to
tthe end of my pen, (if I may be allowed the expreflion) I never
check them; and thou, perhaps, wilt like them better than the
:moft ftudied paragraphs.
My letter fecms fwelled to an unreafonable length, therefore I
fhall only obferve at prefent, that we came to anchor at this place
on the 8th in the afternoon,, after a very agreeable day’s fail.
Thou mayeft expect a. further continuation the firft opportunity.
Thine, &.c.
W . B.
SpiTHEAD, 7
Sth September. $
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E, E T T E R IV ,
r r ^ H I S place is fituated betwixt Portfmouth and the Ifle of
I Wight, and is about eight or ten miles over. It is only a
harbour for veflels that drop in occafionally, or fuch of his Majefty’s
jeftys (hips as are deftined for immediate fervice, The place for
veflels that are laid up, or repairing, being up a narrow creek,
which divides Portfmouth from Gofport.
One of the firilobjedtsrthat prefented itfelf to'my view, on our
firft coming to anchor, was the malls of the Royal George', which
Ihip, thou mayeft remember, went to the. bottom a few years ago.
It is a melancholy reflection, that near fifteen hundred poor fouls
Ihould perifh in a moment, many of whom were of the firft families.
There are a number of line of battle fhips at anchor here, the fight
o f which is quite a novelty to-meS; but that which renders the
prolpecl from hence completely charming, is the beautiful land-
fcape which' the Ifle o f Wight affords. Nothing in Nature can
prefent a more deleftable appearance, than the enchanting verdure
o f its fields and meadows. I can fay nothing of its infulated
appearance, but am told, that it is at leaft equal to the coaft ; if
lb, it muft be a moft defirable refidence for thofe who are fond of
a country retirement.
Spithead is a moft excellent market for the farmer to difpofe of
his various produce, the number of fhips conftantly lying here
confuming more than they can poflibly furnifh them with, and
for which they in general obtain good prices, (particularly in time
o f war) though we laid in both live ftock and other neceflfaries for
our mefs very reafonable, fuch as hogs, geefe, fowls, rabbits, ducks,
and hams; cheefe, butter, onions, potatoes, &c. &c.
Amongft the men of war at anchor here, is the Goliah, of 74
guns, Captain Sir Hyde Parker. Mr. Lauder, (our Surgeon) had
been Surgeon’s Mate on board her, and having a number of acquaintance
there, he very kindly invited me to go on board along
B with