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No. 14, Moor Place Lambeth
27th Sept. 1798
Dear Sir,
I fear that my leaving Town so abruptly as I did on the 14th August, will have rather surprised you, for I trust you are afraid I would have taken nothing in hand, that I could possibly have avoided, without first informing you of it. In the present instance it was on His Majesty's Service, and I was in honor bound to secrecy. I had a very small Cutter belonging to Dover to make my Voyage in, and with much fatigue from constant contrary winds & bad weather I have had a return of a most dreadful Batavia Headach & intermiting Fever.
Lord Chatham has been pleased to say he is highly satisfied with my proceedings.
The War between Sweden & Russia has cost the former nine Line of Battle Ships & two of 44 guns, besides small Vessels, and one Admiral taken. he Russian superiority is very great having from 26 to 33 sail of the Line, eight of which are three Deckers. I saw 26 of the Line at Revel, while the Swedes whole force consisting of 15 Line of Battle Ships of two Decks besides frigates & Gally Fleet, lay at Sweaburg, in the Harbour of Helsingfors[Helsinki].
The Sphynx was to have sailed for the Cape