146 WRECKS ON THE PURBECK COAST. 



to have been tlie line of conduct adopted that few could regret 

 that the vessel, found on her arrival at Southampton to have 

 been seriously damaged, was subjected, after all, to the payment 

 of considerable salvage. Had the wind not shifted, had the sea 

 arisen, with the sick and crowded polyglot passengers still on 

 board, one cannot but feel that a very different result might 

 have attended the refusal to place them in safety, and that 

 Encombe, in 1854, might have witnessed a tragedy such as 

 that which gave to Seacombe a sad celebrity in 1786. ^ 



The "Halsewell" East Indiaman, of 758 tons burden, left 

 the Downs on January 1st, 1786, carrying as passengers on 

 the commencement of her third voyage to Bengal, seven young 

 ladies, including two daughters of the Commander, Capt. Pierce, 

 and one gentleman. The total amount of persons on board, is 

 supposed to have been been about two hundred and forty, among 

 whom were a number of soldiers going to India. 



On the 2nd. she was becalmed off Dunnose, the south east 

 point of the Isle of Wight ; but a south breeze, snow, and frost 

 set in at night. On the 3rd, a gale from E. N. E., began, but 

 the wind shifted at night to the south, and damage was done to 

 the ship. It was now found that a leak had been sprung, and 

 the pumps were set to work. On the 4th, the water had gained 

 from five to seven feet in the hold, the mizeii and main masts 

 were successively cut away, and the fore top-mast lost. At 

 eleven, a. m.. Berry Head, the S. E. point of Torbay, was seen 

 at a distance of four or five leagues, and the ship bore up for 

 Portsmouth. 



On the 5th, at noon, Portland was seen bearing N. by E., 

 distant two or three leagues. At eight p. m., it blew a strong 



1 For the account of the loss of the " Halscwell," I am indebted 

 through the kmdness of our Patron, Mr. Bond, to a "Circumstantial 

 Narrative" published at the time, and which seems to have excited 

 much interest, if it truly reached, according to its title page, a seven- 

 teenth Edition. The facts of the Narrative are most touching, its 

 sentimentality worthy of a place in any museum of stuffed platitudes. 

 "Thus perished the Halsewell, and with her, worth, honour, skill, 

 beauty, amiability, and bright accomplishments; never did the angry 

 elements combat with more elegance; never was a watery grave filled 

 with more precious remains ! " 



