September. 'V’^' Thou mayeft be fure that I was greatly pleafed with'
^uctl an opportunity of gratifying my curiofity, and readily accepted
his invitation. We were on board feveral hours, but I am too
great a novice in fea matters to give thee any tolerable defeription
of a man o f war: indeed I had it not in my power, if I had ability,
for, being an abfolute ftranger tp every body, (the Doftor totally
engrofled by his old Ihip-mates) I could not with propriety alk
any particular queftions. Thus far I can tell thee, that the decks;
and indeed every palfage and gangway, are kept as neat and
clean as a good country houfewife would her trenchers: they
have not near fo many people on board as in time of war, but
even then, I am told they are equally attentive in regard to clean-
linefs. This, I believe, was far from being the cafe formerly, till
abfolute neceflity convinced them of its utility. In abfolute
governments one, perhaps, might fee inferior ranks o f people kept
in due fubordination, though an Englifhman can ill brook it,
liberty and freedom being with him innate principles j but the
Captain of a man of war is, I undcrfland, more abfolute than the
moll defpotic monarch. Prudence may, fometimes, make this
exertion of power neceflary, as a man of war, (like a common
fewer) is the receptacle for the moll profligate and abandoned o f
mankind. We dined on board, along with upwards of twenty
Midlhipmen, Doctor s Mates, See. and every thing was conduct ed
with the utmoll regularity and decorum, accompanied with a
politenefs which I was far from expediting at fea, and which, I
believe, is not always the cafe; harmony and decorum, nay, common
decency, being pretty often kicked out of doors. In regard
to Portfmouth I can fay but little, being there only a few hours.
I am told it is the bell fortified o f any place in the kingdom, and I
am apt to believe it. Exclufive of the dock-yard, and other public
works carried on here, the .town is inconfiderable, though it is
the
the largell in this part of the country. In time of war, the people 1785.
at inns, and places of public refort, are particularly exorbitant
in their charges, finding, I fuppole, that proverb verified, that
“ Sailors get their money like horfes, and fpend it like afles.” This,
however, is not always the cafe, for I flipped and fpent a very convivial
evening with our Firlt Mate, and a relation of Captain
Dixon’s, at the Star and Garter, which is reckoned one of the
dearell houfes, and we found every accommodation excellent, and
their charges very moderate. Here are a number of Jews, who
principally live in one llreet, called Jews-llreet, and a great many
prollitutes of the lowed clafs, who always have a plentiful harvell
in time of war, from the wages and prize-money of unwary
failors.
Our bufinefs at this place (fuch as filling up our water, procuring
fliip’s ftores, &c.) being compleated, we lhall fail from
hence the firll fair wind ; but thou mayefl expedl a continuation
from Guernfey, at which place we Ihall touch. Adieu, thine, &c.
©- PITHEAD, 7 W . B.
14th Sept, j
L E T T E R V.
A GREE ABL E to my promife, Inow lit down to give thee
a continuation of our progrefs, though it blows fo very
hard, and the Ihip has fo much motion, (notwithftanding our
being at double anchor) that I fcarcely can write intelligibly. We
3 2 left