( 3*9 ) 



perfifted, and many of his companions foon came 

 into his opinion : the officers would ftill have 

 laughed at them, but they were in flich numbers, 

 and made fuch a noife, that at laft the captain or- 

 dered foundings to be tried. 



Six fathoms of water were only found; the only 

 fate part we could then have taken, was to call 

 anchor immediately, but there were none in rea- 

 dinefs. It was propofed to wear the fhip, and per- 

 haps it was ftill time, had expedition been ufed ; 

 but they amufed themfelves with founding again, 

 when no more than five fathoms were found. The 

 lead was caft a third time, and then there were 

 only three. Conceive to yourfelf, Madam, a parcel 

 of children, who faw themfelves hurried on to a 

 precipice, and had ail their attention employed a- 

 bout difcovering its depth, without taking any 

 meafures to avoid it : fuch was precifely our cafe. 



Immediately a confufed noife arofe, every one 

 crying with all his might, fo that the officers could 

 not make themfelves heard, and two or three mi- 

 nutes after the vefTel ftruck : that inftant a ftorm 

 arofe, followed by rain which laid the wind, but it 

 foon fprung up again at fouth, and blew hard- 

 er than before. The (hip immediately began to 

 (lick fall by the rudder, and there was great 

 reafon to fear that the mainmaft, which at every 

 ftroke fprung up to a good height, mould beat 

 out a hole in her bottom ; therefore it was imme- 

 diately condemned in form, and cut away, the 

 captain according to cuftom, giving it the firft 

 ftroke with a hatchet. 



The lieutenant upon this went on board the 

 fhallop, in order to difcover in what place we 



were, 



