e 17th December, and proceeded, in consort with the Defence and
Cressy, to convoy a homeward-bound fleet of merchantmen.

On the 23rd, another north-westerly gale was encountered, on the coast
of Jutland. At midnight, signals were made to wear, but owing to the
disabled state of the St. George, this was found impossible. In the
hope of bringing her head round to the wind, an anchor was let go, but
the hawser, catching under her keel, tore away the temporary rudder,
and snapped itself with the strain, and again the ship fell off. The
captain gave orders to strike the lower yards and topmasts, and to
lighten the vessel. Between five and six in the morning of the 24th,
the report of a gun was heard from the Defence, which was supposed to
have got on shore about two miles and a half off. A short time after,
the St. George struck, and drifted towards the shore, and from this
moment all hope of saving the ship vanished.

Upon examining the well, the carpenter reported ten feet water in the
hold; and this rose so rapidly, that in the space of half an hour it
reached the lower deck, driving the people to the main deck. Admiral
Reynolds and the captain used every effort to encourage the men to
remain steady to their duty, as the only chance of preserving their
lives. At ten o'clock, the sea swept the main deck, so that all hands
were obliged to seek refuge on the poop. All the boats, except the
yawl, had either been stove or washed overboard. As an instance of the
obedience and discipline of the crew of the St. George, three or four
men came forward, and asked permission to attempt to reach the shore
in the yawl: this request was at first granted, but as they were about
to lower her into the sea, it was considered impossible that the boat
could live, and the men were directed to return to their posts.
Without a murmur, they instantly obeyed; and as if Providence had
rewarded this implicit obedience and reliance upon their officers, two
of these men were of the few that were saved.

It is impossible to describe the suffering of the helpless crew. Their
numbers, originally about seven hundred and fifty, had been terribly
thinned by the severity of the weather, and the surging of the waves,
which every instant burst over them. At eight o'clock in the evening
of the 24th, fourteen men took the boat and attempted to pull from the
wreck, but they had not gone many yards when she upset, and her crew
perished. The mizenmast still stoo