262] 
received us in the moft friendly 
manner. As foon as were along- 
fide, feveral of them jumped in, and 
aflifted in keeping the boat from be- 
ing ftove. 
This fhip was named the Vif- 
countefs of Britannie, a French mer- 
chantman, Martin Doree, matter, 
with part of Walth’s or gsth regi- 
ment, from the ifle of France, to 
touch at the Cape of Gocd Hope for 
a fupply of water and provifions, on 
ther way to Europe. The officers of 
this corps were unbounded in their 
friendfhip and attention towards us, 
affording us every poffible comfort, 
and even giving up their beds for 
our ufe. 
Jan. 18. At noon anchored in 
Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope. 
But to return to the fhip.—She 
continued fome days in the fame 
ftate as at the'departure of the boats, 
at the mercy of the winds and waves, 
without a rudder, and every inftant, 
in danger of being fiwallowed up in 
the abyfs, Attempts, however, 
were made by the crew, occafion- 
ally, to reduce the water, when their 
ftrength permitted, and thus, by 
wonderful exertions, was the Guar- 
dian kept afloat, till a Dutch packet- 
boat from the Spice iflands and Ba- 
tavia, providentially fteering a high 
foutherly Jatitude, fell in with her, 
afforded her aid of men and materi- 
als, and enabled her to make good 
her way back to the Cape of Good 
Hope, and kept her company during 
her courfe. ‘The Guardian was full 
400 Jeagues from the Cape, when 
the fell in with the ifland of ice. 
Authentic Account of the Lofs of the 
Vanfittart Indiaman. ° 
UNDAY the 23d of Auguft, 
{landing acrofs the channel to- 
5 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
wards the Banca fhore, at a quarter 
patt four P.M. fent the cutter ta 
found to windward of the fhip, 
there being an appearance of fhoal- 
water, and brought to with the main 
top-fail aback, to wait for her. At 
a quarter palt five fhe returned, and 
informed us that the appearance a- 
rofe from a large quantity of the 
{pawn of fifh on the furface of the 
water; at which time fhoaled, fud- 
denly from 17 to ro fathoms, and 
then to feven, in a fingle caft of the 
hand lead. 
Anchored immediately with, the 
{mall bower, and clewed all up as 
fait as poffible ; but, in fwinging to 
her avchor, the fhip took the ground 
abreaft of the mizen chains. Sound- 
ing around her, we found fix fa~ 
thoms at her bows, five at the gang- 
ways, in the mizen chains one-fourth 
lefs three ; but under her ftern four 
one-half fathoms. — Immediately 
furled all the fails, and brought-to 
upon the {mall bower, to endeavour 
to heave the fhip a-head; but the 
anchor coming home very fait, de- 
fitted. ‘The cutter founding around 
the fhip, found deep water every — 
where to leeward of her. Set the 
head-fails, and dowfed the cable, 
upon which fhe fwang off to her 
anchor, and no where* along-fide 
found lefs than five fathoms, though ~ 
abreaft the larboard mizen chains; 
in throwing the lead a little way 
farther out from the fhip, found only 
four fathoms upon a rock, from 
which the lead tumbling, it fell inta, 
five fathoms. The fhip making 
water, turned the people to the 
pumps. 
By the cutter’s foundings, it ap- 
peared that there was deeper waten 
two or three fhips’ lengths right 
aftern. Veered away the whole 
cable, and riding a-head to wind, 
which was at E.S.E. found no 
where 
ws 
