10 



A DIARY OF THE 



have felt the hopelessness of our situation, there 

 was evinced that steady attention to the orders 

 which were given, free from confusion or the 

 slightest disobedience. How frequently did we 

 afterwards remark on the fatal result that must 

 inevitably have followed any rash attempt which, 

 under the influence of terror, might have been 

 made, to quit the wreck, and, I trust, with feel- 

 ings of humble thankfulness to the providential 

 mercy which had thus far preserved and di- 

 rected us. 



The main-deck ports had been caulked in for 

 our voyage round Cape Horn, and had fortu- 

 nately not been started. The main-deck hatch- 

 ways were battened down ; but it was necessary 

 to scuttle the lower deck, from the quantity of 

 water taken in over all. From the drawing of 

 the ship through the sand, the hand-pumps con- 

 stantly going, enabled us to keep her sufficiently 

 free to allow us to get up a considerable quantity 

 of dry biscuit, which was put into some of our 

 empty water-casks: some ball-cartridges were 

 also got up, and placed in the dryest situation 

 on the main-deck. Yet, at this time, so slender 

 was the hope of saving ourselves, or any thing 

 belonging to us, that the ship's accounts, with a 



