nish coast perhaps
already may be known to your Excellency; nevertheless, whereas the
opposite case may be possible, I will not omit hereby to make you
acquainted with the sorrowful accident, assuring you that I am
very compassionating.

'The 24th of last month, in the night, the English ships of the
line, St. George and Defence, are splitted upon the western
coast of Jutland, and the violent waves made it impossible to
bring the wretched crews any assistance. From both ships are
saved but thirteen persons, who are cast on shore by the sea
with goods of wreck. Some of them are sick, and at present under
care. A part of the dead bodies are driven to land, and interred
with as much ceremony as the circumstances would admit.

'All possible pains have been taken to find out the bodies of
the officers, in order to show them military honours, by the
obsequies upon the churchyard.

'Two bodies of officers were found, and buried with military
honours. Among these was the body of Captain Atkins, commanding
the Defence, which is deposited in a church till I receive the
further ordaining from my most gracious sovereign.

'I complain much that the body of Admiral Reynolds has not yet
been found, for all the pains which are taken on this purpose.

'Agreeably to the charitable sensibility of the Danish nation,
the inhabitants have been very grieved to see the English
warriors in such a distress without being able to assist them;
and I am very sorry, Sir, that I cannot give your Excellency of
this accident an account less sorrowful.

'With great esteem, I remain, Sir,

'&c. &c, &c.,

'TELLEQUIST.

'To Governor Maurice.'

The body of Rear Admiral Reynolds was found a few days after the date
of the above letter, and deposited with military honours near that of
Captain Atkins, in Rinkum Church.

The surviving officers and men of the St. George were tried by a
court-martial at Sheerness, and were acquitted of all blame with
reference to the loss of that vessel.

With respect to the loss of the Defence, the court was of opinion that
she was lost by getting on shore on the western coast of Jutland, in
company with his Majesty's late ship St. George, in consequence of the
noble and heroic determination of the captain to stay to the last by
his admiral, at a moment of extreme danger and distress, conduct
whi