NO, 2 LAST CRUISE OF H.M.S. LOO — PETERSON 39 



account for but by some uncommon and very extraordinary current ; as fast as 

 I can get my oftkers together shall send home their depositions. Some of them 

 seem inclinable to go to the West Indies and some to the Merchant Service and 

 some home. 



I have sent home the Mate of the Watch with the Log Book and my Second 

 Lieut. v.fas on board the Snow when cast away but I should have been very 

 happy to have found Captain Hardy ^'^ not sailed that I might have come home 

 directly but as I can't be now and there being a great many chances against my 

 coming home in a merchant ship, without being carried to Spain/^ has deter- 

 mined me to stay here till some opportunity ofifers to come home in a Man-of- 

 War or if I could possibly be indulged with a court martial in America, I shall 

 think it the greatest favour and if found by the Court, which I hope I shall, that 

 I have done my duty as an otlficer on this unforseen unhappy affair, to me as 

 well as to his Majesty's Service, beg their Lordships will be pleased to give me 

 leave to rely on their goodness for my being employed again on His Majesty's 

 service. I have enclosed the deposition of Mr. Wm. Lyford, one of my pilots 

 who has sailed the Gulph of Florida for many years and beg their Lordships 

 will be pleased to let somebody enquire of General Oglethorpe for his corretor.^^ 



I am your most humble servant, 

 Ashby Utting. 

 Port Royal 

 15th February 1743/4. 



^'' Of the Rye, which ship had been ordered to England as convoy to merchant 

 ships going from the Carolina colonies. 



18 The risk of capture of unprotected merchant ships was very great. 

 1^ Recommendation of Lyford. 



