[illegible] to proceed on to Bengal. We arrived in the river
on the 18^th after experiencing a good deal of bad weather
off the Sandheads. I was received by Lord Minto in the most
gracious manner and all my arrangements were ap-
proved of in the most gratifying manner. Your libera-
tion gave the greatest satisfaction, indeed so great was the
wish to obtain your liberty, that any sacrifice that I
had made would have been approved of. At Madras
it was at first believed to be a mistake of the names
from Lord Minto having given me no public instructions
on the subject. I heard from Pringle of your arrival
and detention at the Cape from want of a veƒsel to
proceed on your voyage but it gave me much pleasure
to learn that you had got so far for I was afraid of your
falling in with the cruizing Squadron from the Isle
of France. Since my arrival here all the divisions
of the expedition against the Isle of France ^ ^{have sailed} and from
the number of men embarked little doubt need be