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tremendous gale I ever experienced at sea. It commenced immediately after twelve o'clock, at which time we were close upon the island of Nevis, with the wind blowing directly on the land; the darkness was also intense, and the rain fell in torrents. The previous state of the atmosphere gave us no indication of the approaching storm, and before the hands could be got aloft to take in sail, our fore-topmast stay-sail was blown to pieces. An attempt was made to put the ship about, but she missed stays, and we were left to the mercy of the wind on a lee shore. The most decisive measures alone could now prevent our striking, in which case, from the nature of the cargo, the ship must, on that rocky shore, instantaneously have gone to pieces. Captain Sharpe, therefore, finding that the vessel would not tack, with a promptitude, energy, and skill, which cannot be too highly applauded, ordered all sail possible to be set, and had her close hauled to the wind; determined, as his only resource, to get what way he could upon the ship, and make one bold effort for weathering the island. Hav

ing but ill recovered from a slight feverish attack I had suffered at Grenada, I was the only person remaining below, all the others being on deck, prepared, in case of extremity, to make the best shift they could for themselves. Half dressed I sat up with difficulty in my birth, every moment expecting to feel the vessel strike; whilst chairs, trunks, portmanteaus, &c., were tumbling from side to side of the cabin in the utmost confusion. In the midst of this disorderly and menacing uproar, the captain's speaking-trumpet was continually heard on deck, intermixed with the rattling of ropes, shouting of sailors, and whistling of the wind through the rigging; making altogether the most appalling tumult I ever heard. About half past three o'clock the squall began to moderate, and on the approach of day, to our infinite joy we found ourselves clear of Nevis and the reef, having trailed close along the shore, but with so much rapidity as to prevent the vessel making much lee way.

Having thus happily weathered the gale, we early on the forenoon of the 17th again

arrived at Saint Bartholomew's, where we were without interruption permitted to anchor, in consequence of there then remaining so few military on board. The inhabitants, although considerably surprised at the Britannia's revisiting the island, found no difficulty in discovering the true cause of our return; they were aware of the apprehensions we had entertained previous to our first departure, of both the disinclination and inability of the patriots to realize our expectations, and naturally imputed the Britannia's reappearance to a confirmation of those fears.

Immediately after our arrival, Mr. Hudson engaged a schooner, and sailed for Saint Thomas's, for the purpose, as we understood, of making the requisite arrangements preparatory to the execution of the intended speculation; however, previous to departing he expressed his determination of returning within a few days, in order to meet Colonel C who had not yet arrived. Shortly after Mr. H. sailed, Colonel Gilmore took a final leave of us, and proceeded for the same destination on board a

French ship, taking with him all his baggage.

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The Dowson, whose prolonged absence excited much conjecture and surprise, did not arrive until a few days subsequent to Mr. Hudson's return to St. Bartholomew's. It appeared that this vessel, on her passage from Grenada, had been driven out of her course, and touched at the islands of Santa Cruz and Saint Thomas's, for provisions, and her delay was occasioned by the adventures she encountered at the latter place, where a party of her officers, including Colonel Campbell, were arrested, the ship's jolly-boat seized, and the sailors imprisoned. The Dowson was likewise for a short period in the possession of Captain Westrop, of His Majesty's sloop of war Childers. With the cause of these events and detention I was never informed. After some time, the parties were released, and the ship again restored to them, with peremptory orders for their immediate departure from the island; and so determined was the Governor to enforce a prompt submission to this mandate that he ordered a shot to be fired

at her from the fort before she could get under weigh, which the Dowson, when on point of sailing, returned from an eighteen pound carronade.

Mr. Hudson's manner, on returning from Saint Thomas's, strongly indicated his having failed in making satisfactory arrangements at that island, and Colonel C

appeared in a great measure to have withdrawn from the previously concerted project, and to have relinquished the idea of further intercourse with this gentleman, who still, however, continued to entertain hopes of being able to prosecute his plan, and again renewed his solicitations to me and my friend Captain for our personal support; but our determination was fixed, and we therefore declined any sort of co-operation, at the same time insinuating to him our suspicion of the piratical nature of his project. To this observation he made no reply, but appeared tacitly to acknowledge the correctness of our conjecture.

In a few days after, the actual nature of the enterprize became a subject of general

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