cured
that night, but that we should have every nourishment the house could
afford. He then took his leave, promising that he would return in the
morning, when we might be better able to speak to him.

'He accordingly came in the morning, and inquired what force our ship
was.

'We told him a 74-gun ship, with a company of 600 men. Upon our
inquiring if any more of our shipmates had reached the shore, he
answered no; and we returned most hearty thanks to the Almighty for
our deliverance!

'On Sunday, the 29th, we put our captain into a coffin, and buried him
in Shelton Church-yard, with two seamen alongside of him.

'It was some time, through the bitterness of the cold and the bruises
we had received, before we were able to walk about. As soon as we had
gained sufficient strength, we went down to the beach, where we saw,
scattered for about two miles along the beach, the wreck of the
Defence, but not a corpse was to be seen. We supposed they had drifted
away to the southward and westward, a strong current setting that way.
This opinion was in a great measure confirmed by seeing our officers'
things sold, and other articles belonging to the ship, six miles to
the southward of where we were cast away, when we went to join the few
who were saved from the St. George. On the 13th January, our captain
was taken up again, and carried to Rinkum Church, and placed in a
vault with the honours of war.'

Such was the unhappy fate of the St. George and Defence; only six men
from the latter ship being saved, out of a crew of 600. Two days
afterwards, when the gale had abated, a Danish boat, with two of the
English sailors, went on board the St. George to bring away the
corpses of the admiral and others, but they found the decks had been
entirely swept away. Nothing could exceed the hospitality and kindness
with which the Danes treated the few who were thrown upon their shore.
Nor was the Danish government backward in generosity. The dead were
buried with military honours, and the survivors were sent to England
without exchange. The following letter from Major General Tellequist,
given in his own language, sufficiently shows the deep commiseration
felt by the Danish government, as well as by himself, for the
lamentable catastrophe which befel the St. George and Defence.

'Randus, the 21st of January, 1812.

'Sir,--Though the grievous misfortune which has happened his
great Britannic Majesty's ships of war on the Da