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(Page 1) on Board H.M. Ship Porpoise Feb 7th 99

Sir,

I take the liberty of informing you of our arrival at Portsmouth after Beating about for eight Days on our Passage from the Downs and encountering Gales of Wind. During which time I was obliged to keep the Garden close shut up to prevent the Sea from Breaking in upon it — and so unfavorable has the Weather been that there is hardly now a tender Plant left alive the Olives and Carobs are the only ones I have any hopes of — for the Vines and Hops and the other hardy things they can have received but little hurt from the Frost and as they are not in a growing State the confinement cannot have been of much hurt to them.

Feb. 9. 1799.