chap. in. GALLANT CONDUCT OF AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN. 65 
party. At length, after much suffering, on the 5th of Sep¬ 
tember, when the scanty provisions would scarcely have 
sufficed for another day, and when many had become too 
weak to walk to the nearest place where water could he 
found, a ship previously seen reappeared, and sent a boat to 
the shore. This vessel proved to be the “Monmouth,” Ameri¬ 
can whaler, commanded by Captain Ludlow, who, with the 
greatest promptness and kindness, rescued the whole party 
from a most appalling death, and brought them to Mauritius, 
the nearest port, which they reached in three weeks after 
leaving the scene of their fearful disaster. 
The government immediately appropriated to the use of 
the shipwrecked company the houses at the quarantine station, 
and took measures to provide for their wants. The inhabitants 
of Port Louis manifested a prompt and generous sympathy, 
not less honourable to themselves than it must have proved 
cheering to the destitute strangers. In company with Mr. 
and Mrs. Kelsey, I visited them soon after their arrival, and 
found amongst those with whom I conversed a deep feeling 
of devout gratitude to Grod for their wonderful and almost 
miraculous escape from death in one of its most appalling 
forms—that of starvation. Besides this, were feelings of 
inexpressible thankfulness to Captain Ludlow, his officers and 
crew, by whose humane and intrepid exertions they had been 
rescued; while his subsequent conduct, his sympathy and 
ceaseless attention to their comfort, had sweetened the 
bitterness of their cup, and reinspired them with confidence 
and hope. Supplies of clothing were readily provided by the 
inhabitants of Port Louis. On the day of their landing, and 
as soon as their destitute circumstances were known, ladies in 
their carriages repaired to the place with packages of women’s 
and children’s apparel. Gientlemen sent the contents of their 
wardrobes, or purchased and forwarded such articles as seemed 
most needed and suitable. The Eev. Mr. Voller, a Baptist 
F 
