85
1822 Sunday Sept 1st
On deck at 4 1/2 to see the royal squadron 8 or 10 miles ahead of us descried 2 steamers in company with the royal yatch, Royal George that belonged to his late majesty. One of the steamers belongs to govnt., the other, the James Watt of Leith, had the royal yatch in tow. Fine sunrise - a beautiful morning. At 8am passed another fine 44 guns, or upwards, frigate. On deck again after breakfast at 8 1/4 and then passed the Royal Sovereign, a beautifully proportioned frigate, the stern windows very much gilded and rather finely finished externally altogether. Of course, we knew nothing of the interior. We are now, 8 1/4am, 8 miles from the Nore. There is a good wind and the squadron gets on as fast as we, but we shall come up with them in the river. Our subscription and payment answered the purpose last night. The captain told me we came up to the Yarmouth sands about 8 last night, and got clear of them about 12 i.e. ran 50 miles in 4 hours but for this we could not possibly have come up with the squadron and if we were not detained by it, we could now manage Tower Stairs London by 1pm. 9 1/4 am just pasing the Nore light, one single light floating, mounted on a vessel such as on the N sands. The Thames said to commence at the Nore light and reckoned 63 miles, by water, from London Bridge I suppose. We near the yatch fast, the wind not so fair for his majesty, and we have put on more steam. The bathing place of Southend like a little village or town, about opposite the Nore light. At 10 1/2 saluted
