might be;
because we could not help remembering that this magnificent fleet
was sailing in an enemy's bay, and that it was filled with troops
for the invasion of that enemy's country. Thus, like a snowball,
we had gathered as we went on, and from having set out a mere
handful of soldiers, were now become an army, formidable as well
from its numbers as its discipline.

The shoals and sandbanks which abound on the outside of the bay,
continue to encumber the navigation after it is entered, and the
fleet was in consequence compelled to anchor every night. This
proceeding unavoidably occasioned much delay. The first day's
sail carried us only to the mouth of the James river, and the
second to the mouth of the Potomac; but, on both occasions, we
brought up at too great a distance from the beach to permit
perfect or distinct view of either of these rivers. Opposite to
the latter, indeed, we remained for a night and a considerable
part of the following day, and the sky being remarkably clear, we
saw something more of it than we had been able to see of the
other river. It appeared to be a fine piece of water making its
way through the centre of huge forests, and, though the current
is in reality strong, flowing on without any apparent motion.
But it would have been impossible to trace its course, even had
we been nearer to the shore, above a few miles, on account of its
numerous windings, the first of which, overshadowed as it is with
wood, shuts it out from further observation. By continuing here
so long, we had begun to conjecture that a landing somewhere on
the banks of this river was in contemplation. In this, however,
we were deceived, for about one o'clock the fleet was again
under sail, and moving towards the Patuxent, a river which
empties itself into the bay, several miles above the Potomac.

THE PATUXENT.

It was singular enough, that the ships had scarcely begun to lift
their anchors, when the sky, which had hitherto continued clear
and serene, became suddenly darkened and overcast with heavy
clouds: and the water, which before had been as smooth and bright
as a mirror, began to rise in black waves tipped with foam,
though there was not a breath of air to fill the
sails. Hurricanes are, I believe, not unfrequent in this part of
the world, and it was expected that these changes in the sea and
sky foreboded the arrival of one; but they passed by without
producing any violent results, and when we brought u