as little hope
of being saved. About eight o'clock, the ship seemed likely to go to
pieces, and the after part lying lowest, Captain Dixon ordered every
one forward,--a command it was difficult to comply with, from the
motion of the mainmast working on the larboard gunwale, there being no
other way to get forward. Mr. Cook, the boatswain, had his thigh
broken in endeavouring to get a boat over the side. Of six boats not
one was saved, all being stoved, and washed overboard with the booms, &c.

'Soon after the people got forward, the ship parted at the gangways.
The crew were now obliged to stow themselves in the fore-channels, and
from thence to the bowsprit end, to the number of 220,--for, out of
the 240 persons on board when the ship first struck, I suppose twenty
to have previously perished between decks and otherwise. Mr. Lawton,
the gunner, the first who attempted to swim ashore, was drowned;
afterwards, Lieutenant Witson, Mr. Runice, surgeon, Mr. McCabe,
surgeon's mate, Mr. Staudley, master's mate, and several men, were
also drowned (though they were excellent swimmers), by the sea
breaking over them in enormous surges. About thirty persons had the
good fortune to reach the shore upon planks and spars, amongst whom
were Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam, master's mate. On Monday night,
our situation was truly horrible; the old men and boys were dying from
hunger and fatigue; Messrs. Proby and Hayes, midshipmen, died also.
Captain Dixon remained all night upon the bowsprit.

'Tuesday morning presented no better prospect of relief from the jaws
of death. The wind blew stronger, and the sea was much more turbulent.
About noon, our drooping spirits were somewhat revived by seeing
Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam hoisting out a boat from one of the
merchant ships to come to our assistance. They attempted several times
to launch her through the surf; but she was a very heavy boat, and the
sea on the beach acted so powerfully against them, they could not
effect their purpose, though they were assisted by nearly one hundred
of the merchant sailors and Portuguese peasants. This day, several men
went upon rafts made from pieces of the wreck; but not one reached the
shore: the wind having shifted, and the current setting _out_, they
were all driven to sea, and amongst them our captain and three
sailors. Anxious to save the remainder of the ship's company, and too
sanguine of getting safe on shore, he had ventured upon the sp