Every arrangement having been made to ensure the success, and add to the splendour and accommodation of an embassy, which had long engaged a considerable share of the public attention; all those who were to accompany the Ambassador, to the amount of near 100 persons, besides soldiers and servants, joined his Excellency, at Portsmouth, in September, 1792; and on the 26th of that month the Lion sailed from Spithead, with an easterly breeze, accompanied by her tender, and the Hindostan, a large East Indiaman, the latter having on board the presents destined for Tchien Lung, the Chinese Emperor; and those persons of Lord Macartney’s suite who could not be accommodated on board the King’s ship.
The squadron had made but little progress down Channel when the wind became adverse, and soon increased to a gale. The Jackall, being unable to weather Portland, parted company during the night of the 28th, and was left to perform the voyage to the Straits of Sunda by herself, with only nine working hands on board, and those totally unprovided with the means of defending themselves against any hostile attack.
After encountering much bad weather, Mr. Sanders succeeded in reaching Madeira on the 22d October; and there received a letter from Sir Erasmus Gower, expressing great uneasiness for his safety; directing him to lose no time, after completing his provisions, in following him to the Cape de Verds; and, in the event of his not finding him at St. Jago, to proceed without delay to North Island, near the Straits of Banca; where he was to remain until joined by the Lion.
Mr. Sanders had scarcely brought up in Funchal Road before a gale from the S.W. compelled him to slip his cable, and run to sea; where he remained, contending with very tempestuous weather, for a period of seven days, at the expiration of which the wind shifted to the eastward, and enabled him to regain
of untried routes. Numberless applications were made to serve under him upon the present interesting occasion; and young gentlemen of the most respectable families, glowing with all the ardour and enterprise of youth, were admitted on board the Lion, considerably beyond her proper complement of Midshipmen. Three of those gentlemen were placed under Mr. Sanders in the Jackall.
