Cuxhaven, Thursday, Feb. 7th, 1799.
MY DEAR LORD,
I cannot think of leaving this place without first acquainting you
of our safe arrival here, after experiencing a thousand dangers and
difficulties in consequence of our ship having run aground on the
Newerk bank, at the entrance of the Elbe.
Mr. Grenville, I am delighted to be able to assure you, is in good
health, notwithstanding the extreme fatigue he has undergone since
Thursday last. The few hours he stays here being entirely occupied
with writing letters of business, he fears he shall not have time
to write to you from hence. The same reasons, my dear Lord, will
deprive me of the honour of giving you, at the present moment, the
details of our misfortunes. The officers and crew are all saved
with the exception of thirteen seamen, and one woman and child, who
were frozen to death in attempting to gain Newerk from the wreck.
We are without a change of any one article of dress, and we fear
there is little probability of saving any part of our baggage. We,
however, proceed on our journey in a few hours to Berlin, from
whence it shall be my first care to write to you the particulars of
the melancholy events of the last week. Mr. Wynne is quite well,
and has on every occasion of danger and difficulty shown the
greatest fortitude and discretion.
I beg to be recalled to the remembrance of Lady Buckingham. Believe
me, my dear Lord, to be ever, with the most grateful attachment,
your Lordship's most obliged and most devoted servant,