256] 
ten, the firlt divifion went to the 
pumps. At this time the captain 
ordered refrefhments to be allotted 
to each man, taking particular care 
that the grog fhould not be made 
too ftrong. Every man received a 
dram for the firft fupply, with bifs 
cuit and cheefe, which feemed-to 
give them frefh fpirits. The rum 
above was foon nearly expended ; 
but the captain thought it would be 
extremely dangerous to open the 
hold to get at more, for fear of the 
men’s getting at it. Wine and water 
was accordingly given in lieu, 
At midnight, the water had in- 
creafed to fix feet, and it was then 
blowing a very ftrong gale. At 
day-break a few hands were fet 
about filling one of the lower ftud- 
ding-fails with oakum, and the off- 
watch were ordered to get it under 
the fhip’s bottom, which was found 
to be extremely diticult. The leak, 
however, gained upon us near a 
foot of water during this applica- 
tion. By unwearied exertiors at the 
pumps it became reduced, and con- 
tinued diminifhing till near eleven 
o’clock, when the water was reduced 
to only nineteen inches. 
At half paft eleven we were, how- 
ever, unhappily informed that the 
leak -had again gained upon us 
fome inches, and continued to do fo, 
more or lefs, for a fhort time.— 
Another fail was then prepared fora 
fecond fothering, which again en- 
couraged our hopes. At noon the wa- 
ter was 27 inches,the fhip’s head about 
W. the wind blowing very hard. 
Dec. 25. It ftill continued to 
blow a ftrong gale, the fea running 
extremely high, often breaking over 
the fhip with great violence. Be- 
tween one and three in the after- 
noon, the fecond fothering was got 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
under the fhip’s bottom. About this 
time feveral of the crew became 
almoft unable to perform any duty. 
The weather was likewife uncom-< 
monly piercing. At four the water 
again gained on us; when Mr. Cle 
ments went down by the way of the 
rudder into the gun-room, and from 
thence into the bread and {pirit 
rooms, to endeavour to difcover the 
leak, but without effeét. Jt was then 
thought fit to endeavour to {cuttle 
the deck clofe aft, which, being out 
of the roll of the water; would en- 
able us to get up and heave over- 
board fome more of the cargo. 
Accordingly, the captain, the 
chaplain, the purfer, and two men; 
were employed in this bufinefs, but 
unfortunately endeavouring to heave 
up a cafk, it fell back on the cap~ 
tain, and bruifed his hand in fo 
fhocking a manner, as to difable 
kim from giving any farther af- 
fiftance. ‘This endeavour was then 
given up, and all hands were again 
fet to the pumps. 
At five the water increafed to 
four feet, and at midnight to four 
feet and ahalf. At this time the 
ftarboard pump became difabled, 
from the wrench breaking; and the 
leak from that time gained upon us 
very faft. 
At four in the morning the water 
was reported to have ticreafed to 
fix feet, and at fix to feven feet. 
About this time the people began 
to break off occafionaily from the 
pumps, and to fecrete themielves, 
and could only be kept to their duty 
by threatening to have them thrown 
overboard. During the night, the - 
fore and main-top-fails were fhiver- 
ed by the violence of the wind, and 
the fhip left entirely at the merey 
of a moft tremendous fea, the dread= 
