[On board.H.M.S. Eagle] Monday, 12th. [August]
This Morning, as soon as it was light, wk were gladdened with the Sight of the grand Flight [sic fleet] in the offing. The Joy of the Navy & Army was almost like that of a Victory.
The Fleet came up this Evening to the, number of 107 Sail. What is very extraordinary, they have lost but 8 men in the whole Passage of 14 Weeks; and just before they came to the mouth of the Harbour they fell in with Capt. Davis [Henry Davies] of the Repulse, who convoyed the Remainder of the Embarkation from Portsmouth, though he sailed some Weeks after the Commodore [Hotham]. So large a Fleet made a fine Appearance upon entering the Harbor, with the Sails crouded, Colors flying, Guns saluting, and the Soldiers both in the Ships and on the Shore continually shouting. The Rebels (as we perceived by the Glasses) flocked out of their lurking Holes to see a Picture, by no means agreeable to them.
1. Tatum, ed., Serle's Journal, 62.