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William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
every sea we shipped over our quarter during the first gale, they certainly would be drowned; but was
agreeably surprised, when the gale was over, to find them very little the worse for their severe ducking.
April 14th. - For the last eight days we have been beating against an easterly wind, a few leagues
to the westward of the chops of the channel, subject to continual alarms from french cruisers, of all
situations the most disagreeable. This evening we had soundings at 80 fathom, and a favourable change
of the wind to the westward.
On the 15th we saw an american-built ship standing athwart us, by her course and appearance evidently a
french prize, bound to Brest. She had her anchors over her bows, and most likely had been but a few days
from some port in St. George's Channel. About five hours after we were boarded by the Spitfire, british
sloop of war; we informed the lieutenant of the exact course of the prize, and he immediately gave chace.
The next day we made the Bill of Portland. Our passage up the channel was very pleasant, till within six
leagues of Dover, when we once more encountered a violent easterly gale, which, for the fifth time,
reduced us to our courses. Night coming on, and not being able to procure a pilot, we were a little
uneasy. The gale abating the next day, a pilot came on board. He had the conscience to demand three
guineas to put me on shore! but took one third of the sum, which I think he deserved, as we were six
hours making this harbour. I found the custom house officers, and their myrmidon porters, exactly as
Smollet has described them; two of these gentlemen had the impudence to charge me half a
guinea for bringing my trunk seventy yards. - So ends my tour. I am once more landed in Old England,
after an absence of three years and nine months, with a plentiful lack of money and some
experience! -
Farewell.
Yours, &c.
THE END.
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