122 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Finally, the conclusion that the wreck took place somewhere on the 

 coast of the island of Cape Breton is corroborated by the last circum- 

 stance mentioned. Having run to sea fourteen leagues, they for a part 

 of two days cruised up and down with the wind from the south, and they 

 supposed the land on their lee finding soundings at 40. 45 and 50 fathoms. 

 If they had run that distance south from Sable Island they would have 

 been in the Gulf stream, where they could not have obtained soundings 

 under one or two hundred fathoms or probably more. But to the north 

 of it and off the southeastern coast of Cape Breton along its whole length 

 extend a succession of banks with just such depths of water as is here 

 given. It is a ctirious coincidence that while the author tells us that the 

 lead brought up " oazie sand" and according to one edition, "bi'own 

 shell " and to another " broad shell." but probably both misreadings for 

 " broken shell," the " Sailing Directions "' state that on the western edge of 

 this bank the soundings show "pebbles and broken shells." 



All the circumstances then concur to show that the wreck could not 

 have taken place on Sable Island, and to confii'm the statements of 

 Hayes, that the direct point of their destination was Cape Breton ; that 

 near it the wreck took place, and that it was from that point they sailed 

 on their return. 



I may add here that the description given of the scene and circiim- 

 Btances of the wreck seem to imply that they had run into some harbour, 

 cove or bay. Thej^ had been running west northwest, with the fog so 

 thick that they could not see a cable's length ahead, when suddenly they 

 found themselves among shoals, and a little after the}^ passed what one 

 man believed to be white cliffs, but which they afterward deemed, and 

 which we know from the coast, must have been the sea breaking on the 

 land. Continuing, the " Delight " struck, not upon the rocks, but upon the 

 ground. The other vessels putting about to run out to sea, passed over 

 shoals with five, four and even only three fathoms of water upon them. 

 This has all the appearance of their having got into some harbour and 

 w^orked their wa}^ out again. 



Can we fix more definitely the spot ? The writer, with the ])ious 

 design of enabling those who should come after him to discover the fiats, 

 and mark them on charts for warning to others, has given us the courses 

 and distances sailed, according to the reckoning of the most competent 

 seamen on board. Yet we cannot certainly determine the scene of the 

 event ; but all the circumstances agree with the conclusion that it was 

 Louisbourg Harbour, and render it extremely probable. 



1. Louisbourg is near the position they would be according to the 

 reckoning of those on board. By the masters, as we have seen, the 

 wreck took place in latitude 45° 57' N., and longitude 60° 12' W. Louis- 

 bourg is in latitude 45° 54' N. and longitude 59° 52' W. 2. Louisbourg 

 Harbour exhibits such shoals as described, the charts marking the tlepth 



