ad continued for a
considerable time. His bowsprit had been at two different times
over our quarter-deck, but never so far forward as to enable us to
secure him. All this time we were approaching the shore, and we
were then, I am certain, within two miles of it. I had been
cautioned by the master, whose abilities and great assistance I
must ever gratefully remember, more than once, of the shoal water,
and I had repeatedly called for and sent after the pilot; and I am
sorry to inform your Lordship he did not appear. Thus situated, in
three and a half fathoms water, and steering towards danger, there
was no time to hesitate; and, with the advice of the master, I
wore, and brought to under the mizen, with her head off shore,
until we could get the courses and other sails taken in, not having
then a brace or bowline left, and being fully determined to renew
the action in a few minutes. We had scarcely wore, when his
foremast, main-top-mast, main-yard, and main-top fell, leaving his
mainmast without rigging; and the ship at the same time took a
large heel, which made us all conclude she had struck the ground.
It was then half-ebb, and I firmly believe, had we pursued him, in
less than ten minutes we must have run aground. She had fired a gun
to leeward, seemingly to claim the protection of the port, which
was answered by three from the garrison. I was at this time
preparing to wear again, to anchor alongside him; but Mr. Unwin,
the purser, bringing me some orders found in Captain Pownoll's
pocket, among which was one relative to the observance of
neutrality, I did not think myself justified in renewing the
attack. I therefore continued lying to, to repair our damages. Our
masts are much wounded, the rigging very much torn, and several
shot under water, by which we made two feet water an hour.

"Your Lordship will, I hope, pardon me, for troubling you with the
relation of private feelings. The loss of Captain Pownoll will be
severely felt. The ship's company have lost a father. I have lost
much more, a father and a friend united; and that friend my only
one on earth. Never, my Lord, was grief more poignant than that we
all feel for our adored commander. Mine is inexpressible. The
friend who brought me up, and pushed me through the service, is now
no