WHELPS

To J.J., who inquires about "*Whelps*," and refers to Howell's *Letters*, sect. 5. p. 9., I beg leave to suggest more precision in his future references. The passage is in one (viz. the viii.) of the 42 letters of the 5th section; but in the last and best edition (Lond. 1754) it is p. 204. I note this to inculcate the necessity of accurate references and mention of the edition quoted. As to the query itself, I can answer that the "*whelps*" were a class, perhaps I might say a *litter*, of light men-of-war of the fifth rate, which were so called, perhaps, after one named the "Lion's Whelp," in…