deaux, bound to Boston. The master
informed, us that the channel was full of the enemy's cruisers, who were
looking out for our West-India fleet, then expected home. Though we felt
persuaded that our cruisers would counteract their designs, Mr. Raven
determined, from this information, and from the wind having long hung to
the eastward, to stand to the northward. From this time to the 18th our
weather was very unfavourable, and our wind mostly contrary. On the 18th
we saw the rock laid down in the charts by the name of Isle Rokal, being
then in the latitude of 57 degrees 51 minutes N and longitude 13 degrees
56 minutes W. The rock then bore N 23 degrees distant eight miles and a
half. Our foul wind continued many days; but on the 23rd we found
ourselves off Innishone on the north part of Ireland. Here a man came
off, who, to our inquiries respecting the progress of the war, answered,
that he knew nothing about war, except that the strongest party always
got the better of the weakest, thus uttering a truth in the midst of the
profoundest ignorance. We now determined to steer for Liverpool, at which
port, after much anxiety, we arrived in safety on the 27th.

On the 29th the judge-advocate delivered at the Duke of Portland's office
the dispatches with which he was charged.

He now learned, that previous to his arrival in London there had sailed
for New South Wales, exclusive of the ships _Sylph_ and _Prince of
Wales_, _Ganges_ and _Britannia_, the _Lady Shore_ transport, having on
board two male and sixty-six female convicts. On the 6th of last November
the _Barwell_ sailed, having on board Mr. Dore, the present
judge-advocate of that territory, and two hundred and ninety-eight male
convicts. The _Britannia_, a ship belonging to the house of Enderby and
Co. sailed on the 17th of last February with ninety-six female convicts
on board. This ship went out with orders to try the whale-fishery on the
coast of New South Wales for one season. If this should succeed, the
settlement and the public at large will owe much to the spirited
exertions of the house of Enderby to promote a beneficial commerce from
that country.

The king's ships on that station being ill calculated for the services
expected from them, having on board expensive complements of men and
officers, and consequently but little room for cattle; and being beside
so defective and impaired by time as to be unsafe to navigate much
longer; two others have been provid