-NEW SOUTH W A L E S. ao 
reduced the confolidated crews of both in the remaining ^{Iv^^ 
tranfport to fuch a ftate of weaknefs, that without imme- ^ 
diate affiftance they muft have perilhed even in port, or . . 
would have been driven adrift again, from total inability 
to take the neceffary fleps for their ov/n prefervation. 
On the thirteenth of Auguft, five feamen of the Alex- Augu<\ 13, 
I " 8 8 
ander Vv^ere already on the lick liii, complaining of pains 
in the legs and breaftj with their gums fo fvvelled, and 
their teeth fo loofe that they could not without difficulty 
eat even flour or rice. The Vvxather v/as now very variable, 
ot'ten fultry, at other times fqually, with occalional 
fhowers. The fliips vy-ere probably at no great difi:ance 
from fome land, as birds were frequently feen in great 
numbers; and on the i6th the Friendfliip made the Auguft 16, 
fignal tor feeing land, but it could not be defcried from 
the Alexander. Sharks were alfo caught with the hook, 
and now and then fome floating wood and vegetables ■ 
were obferved. On this day the two tranfports pafled 
the equator. On the 24th, Lieutenant Shortland found 
by obfervation, that a current had fet the fliip to the weft 
north-weft or north-weft by v/eft of her account, at the 
rate of eleven miles a day fmce the 13th, when the laft 
lunar obfervation had been taken. 
The fcurvy gained ground rapidly in the Alexander, 
notwithftanding the precautions of fmoking the fliip^ 
wafliing with vinegar, and diftributing porter, fpruce- 
beer* 
