SAFETY AT THE SEASIDE.
Angst 14th
This day arrived The Farrel Sloop which made a little addition of strength to our little Squadron. Signals from the Ships & shore have been this day settled, & Glopeester Lodge is render'd as secure as circumstances permit & make
necessary. There are constant Patrols all night round it. The Dragoons- extend- their Patrols further & are attentive round the Back Water, & to the Beach & Bridge towards LullWorth. The Bucks Militia add also to the security of the further side of the Back water, & this sentries Patrol along the Esplanade & have a Captn's. Guard all night near the Lodge, The Frigate & Sloops furnish armed boats who row abt. all night. Every precaution seems proper to prevent invasion
which- is by no means unlikely to be offer'd— Perhaps the
place would be more secure from it; if some small Vessels were to be station'd to watch the Bay at the Back of the Chissel Bank & others should keep out in the Offing as far & as late as they could in the Evening & then return, which look out
would make it very difficult for any Vessels, intended for this place to reach it before day light should discover their motions. The Battery at the Look out is a strong one & is well placed & supplied with Ammunition. This is an other good security & would prospect the Bay & scower the Beach very effectively.- These' are the advantages of the means of defence & pro- tection'which have been thought- of at this place. - Per Contra,
We saw this Evening the Commanding Officer of the Naval Force, sent to protect & to be Vigilant on this Service, incap- able of Duty from intoxication. In the Evening their M: & the R.F. walked on the Esplanade & Went thro' the same ceremonies as on the Terrace at Windsor ; In the Evening cards at Gloucester Lodge.
Augst. 17th.
The King walked out at Seven o'Clock this Morning Went to the look out & from thence saw The Prince of Bouillon (Captn. D'auvergne's) Black Squadron in Portland Road. The heaviness of the morning 4 the mist which was flying around & had cover'd the top of Portland Island, deprived Us of the prospects, which might have been seen & admired from here. , Return'd to Breakfast, not however before unluckily We met The Marquis of Buckingham, with whom the K. stood talking on the Esplanade abt. 39 m. of an hour in a milling rain without stirring a step— . A Qr.. before eleven. the day getting worse, all the R.F. except the Q. went to Church, where We heard a service indifferently perforna'd. I was not pleased with the addition the singers had to assist their Voices. They were accompanied by some indifferent instruments, among which were Fiddles & a Bass. After the Sermon & the concluding Prayer I was quite surprised & displeased with the Music & Voices striking up God Save The King.
After Church the weather improved which tempted the King to a Walk or rather to a stand still on the Esplanade of near Two Hours. Return'd to Glocester Lodge at a Qr. before four, to be dress'd by Four for dinner & at which Time the K.' is set.
In the Evening, I avoided the Walk on the Esplanade having had a full dose of it in the Morning, & with the addition of a beginning of a severe Cold as the reward of my attendences.
Augst. 18th.
With the assistance of a paper of directions & a small dose of James's Powder I gave a good check to the beginning of a Cold which threaten'd to ba troublesom. .
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