aiZ A VOYAGE TO 
c A p. Had the Alexander been at this time a very few days 
^— -r— ' fail more diftant from Batavia, flie miift inevitably have 
been lofl, not from any flrefs of ¥/eather, or danger of 
■ coafts or flioals, but merely from inability to condiidl 
her into port, as every man on board mufc have been 
No7. 17. totally difabled. On the 17 th of November only one 
man was fit for work, befides the officers ; a very little 
longer continuance would have reduced her to the con- 
dition of floating at the mercy of winds and waves, with- 
out any poffibility of affifting, impeding, or direding her 
courfe. At fix that evening, the wind being too fcanty 
to carry her into the roads of Batavia, an effort was made 
by all indifcriminately who were able to work, and an- 
chor was caft between the iilands of Ley den and Alkmara ; 
foon after a gun was fired, and a fignal made for 
Nov. 18. affifiance. At two in the afternoon on the i8th, as no 
' afliftance arrived, the fl:ill greater effort of weighing an- 
chor was tried, and the talk performed with the utmoft 
difficulty ; after which, Handing in with the fea breeze^ 
the fiiip came again to anchor at five, in nine fathoms. 
' . The boat was now hoifted out, and fent to beg affifiance 
from the Dutch Commodore, the crew of the Alexander 
being fo much reduced as to be unable to furl their 
own fails. A party was immediately fent to affifi, 
and fix of the Dutch feamen remained on board all night, 
. ' Icfl: any blowing weather fiiould come on. Never, per- 
haps, did any ffiip arrive in port more lielplefs, without 
being 
