NOTES ON SABLE ISLAND—MACDONALD. 15 
“Contrary to the mind of the expert Master Cox, on Wed- 
nesday, 27th August, we bore up toward the land. Those in the 
doomed ship continually sounding trumpet and drums. Whilst 
strange voices from the deep scared the helmsman from his post 
on board the Frigate. 
“Thursday, the 28th, the wind arose and blew vehemently 
from the south and east,—bringing withal rain and thick mist, 
that we could not see a cable length before us. And betimes we 
were run and foulded amongst flats and sands, amongt which 
we found flats and deeps every 3 or 4 ship’s lengths. /me- 
diately tokens were given to the admiral to cast about to 
seaward, which being the greater ship, and of burden 120 tons, 
was performost upon the beach. Keeping so ill a watch they 
knew not the danger before they felt the same too late to 
recover, for presently the Admiral struck aground, and had soon 
‘ her stern and hinder parts beaten in pieces. The remaining two 
ships escapad by casting about E.S.E., bearing to the south for 
their lives, even in the wind’s eye. Sonnding on while 7 fathom, 
then 5, then again deeper. The sea going mightily and high.” 
In the wreck of the “ Delight,” or “ Admiral,’ as she was 
called, upwards of 95 perished, 12 only escaped, and afterwards 
reached the Nova Scotia coast and were carried by some French 
vessel to England. 
In 1598, the Marquis “De la Roche” obtained a charter 
from Henry III. to colonize and Christianize New France, and 
sailed in May of that year. Arriving off this coast, and fearing 
that his people,—consisting of 40 convicts from the French 
prisons—might escape, he landed them on Sable Island until he 
could make arrangements to settle on the main land. On returning 
he encountered a furious gale which, in 15 days, drove him on 
the French coast. He had scarcely landed, when he was thrown 
into prison by an enemy, and was prevented from communicating 
the result of his voyage to the king. Five years after, the king, 
receiving intelligence, ordered the pilot who had led them thither 
to proceed to Sable Island and learn their fate, which was found 
to be deplorable. Out of the forty landed five years previous, 
only twelve remained alive. 
Finding themselves alone, and deserted, as they thought, by 
the very one whom they looked to for liberty and comfort, they 
