LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN, 
ON THE COAST OF CAFFRARIA, AUGUST 4,1782; 
With the Particulars relative to the unfortunate survivors of 
the Wreck. 
In the melancholy catalogue of human woes, few things ap- 
pear more eminently disastrous than the general fate of the 
Grosvenor's crew. Slilpwreck is always, even in its mildest 
form, a calamity which fills the mind with horror; but, what 
is instant death, compared to the situation of those who had 
hunger, thirst, and nakedness to contend with; who only es- 
caped the fury of the waves to enter into conflicts with the 
savages of the forest, or the greater savages of the human, 
race ; who were cut off from all civilized society, and felt the 
prolongation of life to be only the lengthened pains of death? 
The Grosvenor sailed from Trincomale, June 13, 1782, 
on her homeward bound vo5^age, and met with no memorable 
occurrq^ice till the 4th of August, the fatal day on which she 
went on shore. 
During tbe two preceding days it had blown very hard, the 
sky was overcast, so that they were unable to take an obser- 
vation ; and it is likewise probable, that from their vicinity to 
the shore, they had been carried out of their course by cur- 
rents. The combination of these circumstances may account 
for the error in their reckoning which occasioned the loss of 
the ship. It appears that Captain Coxson had declared, a 
few hours before the disaster took place, that he computed the 
ship to be at least one hundred leagues from the nearest land, 
and this opinion lulled them into a false security. 
John Hynes, one of the survivors, being aloft with som.e 
others in the night-watch, saw breakers ahead, and asked 
his companions if they did not think land was near. In this 
opmion they all coincided, and hastened to inform the third 
mate, who was the ollicer of the watch. The infatuated 
young man only laughed at their apprehensions ; upon which 
one of them ran to the cabin to acquaint the captain, who in- 
stantly ordered to wear ship. But before this could be ac- 
complished, her keel struck with great force; in an instant 
every person on board hastened on the deck, and apprehen- 
sion and horror were impressed on every countenance. 
