16 



' Occurrences in the Navigation 



strait being performed to our satisfaction, the boat returned t<> 

 tbe frigate. 



On the 27th the wind freshened from the SW. with terrible 

 squalls, the sea also growing furious, so that the vessel, which 

 bad hitherto remained at single anchor, began to drive towards 

 the land. In this situation it was resolved to let-go another 

 anchor, that we might neither lose the ground we had gained, 

 nor expose the launch, Avhich was a little way a-head ; and 

 which it was equally impossible to take on-board as it was im- 

 prudent to abandon to her fate. The weather continued iri; 

 this way till the 29th, at 4i p.m. when, after a furious gust of 

 "wind, one of our cables gave Avay, and the ship began to driv6; 

 on the other anchor: we immediately got out a third, which 

 brought her up. However, she had already driven so much, that 

 the poisit of Miera remained behind us only about two miles ofF,> 

 and rigiit across the direction ol the wind. In tiiis situation we. 

 bad only the alternative, either to depend on the resistance of 

 our two cables, or instantly to get under sail before, by driving 

 a little farther, it should be utterly out of our power so to do. 

 This last operation, in the present state ol the vessel, considering 

 that the violence of the wind would not admit us to set much 

 sail, became equally difficult and dangerous. It was however 

 determined to attempt it, even at the hazard of losing our 

 launch. We therefore cut away the two anchors, and got under 

 sail, executing the whole wilh such alacrity and success, that,' 

 by means ol the current, and the good qualities ot the vessel,', 

 we got safely out of this most imminent danger, although at the 

 expense of the greatest sacrifices which in our circumstancest 

 could be made. In this most unfortunate event we lost tfiree 

 anchors, and more than four cables, which filled us with appre- 

 hensions for the final success of tlie enterprise. But a slight 

 consideration of all circumstances will show, that tlie above 

 steps were indispensable; and that the fury of the wind, which 

 occasioned our heavy loss, was little to be expected, especially 

 in a place where the greatest part of former travellers had an- 

 chored before us. We now ran out of the strait, and imme-- 

 diately stood out to the northward, until we got under the lee 

 of the land, to take in our launch, in which we fortunately sue-, 

 ceeded, but not without much pains, iii which the boat suffered 

 great damage, and was reduced to the worst condition. The 

 winds continued ail night from the westward with such fury, 

 tiiat we \yere able only to set the mizen stay-sail ; so that in 

 the morning we had been driven above sixteen leagues from 

 the coast. 



We hiid now remaining for performing ouji: undert^iking onlj 



