^OS tHE LIFE OF 



of the Commandant. — The author is prejented.v:iih 

 a /word by the Governor-General. 



On the morning of Monday Auguft the 15th, 

 1797, the intimation we had received the day 

 before that we fliould leave the fhip was con- 

 firmed to us, being then nearly in the latitude 

 of 34 S. about 60 leagues from the fhore, and 

 from 80 to 100 from the mouth of Rio Grande; 

 the boat was hoifted out, and every other ne- 

 celTary preparation made. Juft then Michael 

 Richards, a fine boy, about fourteen years of 

 age, and of very refpedable connexions, who 

 was entrufted to the care of Captain Wilcocks 

 before we left Falmouth, and who fmce that 

 gentleman's death had been abandoned by every 

 body, folicited me to procure him permiflion to 

 accompany us. His helplefs fituation deter- 

 mined me to exert myfelf to procure him the 

 melancholy privilege he fo much wifhed, and 

 which feemed entirely necefTary for him : I ap- 

 plied to the mutineers, and was fuccefsful. 1 

 took him under my protedion, which he did 

 not leave till he was reftored to his family. 



In the morning a lift of names, twenty-nine 

 in number, was made out of the perfons whom- 

 it was determined fhould go in the boat ; this 

 was delivered to us, and we were informed that 

 thcfe who had any property might take each 



