WHITE'3 JOURNAL OF A 
thus far but for the fuccour given them by myfelf and my 
afliftants. 
9th. Wind variable, and weather hazy, damp ^nd dark ; 
with fome vivid flafhes of lightning, fucceeded by diftant 
peals of loud thunder. On the morning of this day died 
Edward Thomfon, a convidt, worn out with a melancholy 
and long confinement. Had he lived, I think he would 
have proved a deferving member of fociety, as he feemed 
fenfible of the impropriety and imprudence of his former 
life, and fludious to atone for it. 
i oth. The wind variable, and weather dark and gloomy, 
with a very troublefome high fea. About two o'clock 
P. M. we had one of the mofl fudden gufts of wind I ever 
remember to have known. In an inftant it fplit our main- 
lail'j and but for the adivity fhewn by the failors, in let- 
ting fly the fheets, and lowering the top-fails, the mafls muft 
have gone over the fide. The Prince of Wales, who was 
clofe to us, had her main yard carried away in the 
flings. Fortunately for us the fquall was of fhorf dura- 
tion, other wife the fhips muft have fuffered confiderably 
fjom the uncommon crofs fea that was running ; which 
we 
