_Whelps._
Sir,--In Howell's _Letters_, Sect. 5. p. 9. the following
words occur:--
"At the return of this fleet two of the _Whelps_ were cast away, and
three ships more."
I should feel obliged to any of your correspondents who may be able to
favour me with an explanation of the word _Whelps_ in this passage.