raft to carry
out a bower anchor should it moderate; but the intense cold, and the
still increasing gale rendered it impossible.

'About half-past eleven A.M. the stream cable being then taut ahead,
the wind W.S.W., with a very heavy sea, the ship canted suddenly with
her head to the southward, where we had deep water; we immediately set
our courses, jib and driver, and for some time had the must sanguine
hopes of getting her off, but were unfortunately disappointed, and as
the ebb made we were obliged again to furl sails.

'As the ship was then striking very hard, with a heavy sea breaking
over her in a body, we cut away the topmasts, not only to ease her,
but to prevent their falling upon deck; we also endeavoured to shore
up the ship, but the motion was so violent that four and six parts of
a five-inch hawser were repeatedly snapped, with which we were lashing
the topmasts as shores, through the main-deck ports. At about eight
P.M., fearing the inevitable loss of the ship, as the water was then
gaining on the pumps, I availed myself of the first favourable moment
to land the sick, and a party of marines and boys with some
provisions,--this could only be effected at a certain time of tide,
even with the wind off shore,--and employed those on board in getting
upon deck what bread and other provisions could be come at.

'Though the water was still gaining on the pumps as the flood made,
the wind coming more round to the northward, we again set our
foresail, but without the desired effect. As the stream anchor had,
however, come home, the wind was too doubtful to attempt to lighten
the ship.

'On the morning of the 30th, it being moderate, with the wind off
shore, we hove our guns, shot, and everything that could lighten the
ship, overboard, reserving two on the forecastle for signals. As the
flood made, we again set what sail we could, and hove on the stream
cable,--though, with all hands at the pumps, we found the water
increase in the hold as it flowed alongside; and it was the prevailing
opinion that the ship would have foundered if got off. Being now
convinced, from concurring circumstances, as well as the repeated
representations of the carpenter, that the ship could not swim, the
water having flowed above the orlop deck, and much sand coming up with
the pumps, we desisted from further attempts to get her off the shoal,
and continued getting such stores and provisions as we could upon
deck.

'Towards the aft