been visible.
On account of the cross sea, which appeared to impede the progress of
the vessel, and the lightness of the wind, her course was kept east by
north until two o'clock, when it was changed to E.N.E. At four
o'clock P.M. it was calculated that they had run about nineteen miles,
and that they must be nearly abreast of Cape Frio, and about
twenty-four miles distant from it. The weather clearing up at that
time, they discovered a large ship, with all sail set, standing in
shore, and no land being visible, they concluded that they were still
further from land than they had reckoned, and therefore they changed
their course again to N.E. by E. At five o'clock the people were
mustered at quarters, and then a looming of land was seen to the
N.N.W., which, according to their calculation, was the direction Cape
Frio would bear; and there being no land near it that could have the
same appearance, the reckoning was considered correct, and a prudent
proportion of sail was made, regard being had to the state of the
weather, and the course they were steering. Between six and seven
o'clock P.M. the rain again began to fall; the fog returned, and
became gradually so thick, that it was impossible to see the length of
the ship.

At eight P.M. the watch was mustered, and the men placed at their
stations to keep a vigilant look-out, while the officer of the watch
went forward himself to see that the sails were well trimmed, and that
every one was on the alert. At half-past eight, when the captain had
retired to his cabin, and was waiting for the usual evening report
from the master, a midshipman entered with the startling intelligence
that land had been seen close ahead, the ship at the time going at
the rate of eight or nine miles an hour.

Captain Burgess was on deck in a moment; he ordered the helm to be put
'hard a-port,' and was told it had been done. The next instant the
jib-booms and bowsprit were heard to crash; the captain hastened to
the gangway, and was just in time to see the foremast go. Scarcely had
he called to the men to stand clear, when all the three masts fell
aft, one after the other, covering the deck with masts, yards, sails,
and rigging, and in their fall killing some and dreadfully mangling
others. Within a few feet of the ship rose a stupendous black rock,
against which the surf was raging violently. The rock was so
perpendicular, that both the fore and main yardarms were (before they
fell) scraping aga