esage that their future exertions would fulfill my most
sanguine expectations.... I could not but feel that the same
encouragement was not afforded by some from whom I had most reason to
expect both it and assistance; for although I had now been for six
weeks engaged in work, drudging on in the double capacity of carpenter
and blacksmith, I had not a single voluntary offer by them of any
article that might be useful to me. Nor was the kindness of my friends
very encouraging; for they almost universally endeavored to dissuade me
from venturing on an enterprise which everyone considered hopeless; to
all of which remonstrances my only reply was, that my mind was made up,
and that I should not withdraw from it."

The _Lightning_ sailed to begin operations at Cape Frio on the 24th of
January, 1831, with a Brazilian launch in tow, "and _La Seine_, French
frigate, in company, going to visit the place as a matter of
curiosity." At the scene of the wreck were found the sloop of war
_Algerine_, a schooner as tender, and a complement from the _Warspite_,
which were engaged in saving such stores and spars as had drifted
ashore. The theater of Captain Dickinson's ambition as a
treasure-seeker was hostile and forbidding, a coast on which it seemed
impossible to tarry except in the most favorable weather. As he
describes it, "the island of Cape Frio is about three miles long and
one in breadth, is the southeastern extremity of Brazil, and separated
from the mainland by a narrow strait or gut about four hundred feet
broad, having very deep water in it, and through which, the land on
each side being very high, the wind constantly rushes in heavy gusts,
and a rapid current runs. This island is entirely mountainous, and
nearly covered with an almost impenetrable forest, and the whole coast
on the sea side of it is formed by precipitous cliffs, washed by very
deep water close to the shore; and on the harbor side, with the
exception of a sandy bay, is very steep and rugged."

The little notch in the seaward cliffs, into which the frigate had been
driven, was named Thetis Cove by Captain Dickinson who explored it
vainly for traces of the wrecked hull. Either she had been washed out
into deep water, or had entirely broken up. Two months had passed
since the disaster, and the only way of trying to find the remains of
the vessel was by means of sounding with a hand-lead until the diving
bell could be rigged. The depth of water ranged