land on our lee beam, that we could not possibly clear the land
on the larboard tack, and having drifted so far to the
eastward, it became a doubt whether we should be able to clear
the Horn Reef, and that there was no time to lose, on which to
resolve either to cut away all our masts and try to hold on by
our anchors, after having run into shoal water, which we have
reason to believe was nearer than our reckoning gave us. Had we
taken such a step our success would have been very doubtful,
although we might previously have cut away our masts, and made
the ship a complete wreck for that purpose, as we had only two
bower anchors and two cables on each, (the bower cables in each
being half worn,) no spare anchor to trust to, the sheet anchor
being broken in the shank, and only an old worn-out bower cable
(kept to be surveyed) which was bent to it. The Defence, I
believe, was differently situated in this respect; but that is
a mere conjecture. Thus the situation of the Cressy was very
alarming, which had most sensibly struck every individual on
board; the officers particularly, who had been so strongly
impressed with our perilous situation for some time before,
lamenting and verbally stating to me their opinion of our
inability and impossibility of being able to render any service
to the St. George, even in any way whatever, risk the Cressy as
much as I would. I desired them all to consult and let me know
their opinion in writing, which they did in the accompanying
hasty scrawl: No. 1, delivered about ten o'clock, and No. 2,
about quarter before eleven. Their sentiments and opinion being
the same as my own on the subject, namely, that we could not be
of any service to the St. George or to any person on board,
whatever might be her fate under the existing circumstances,
and that our destruction was certain if we lost any time in
getting on the other tack,--I then (after having ordered every
thing to be ready to cut away our masts) embraced the
alternative to wear and carry sail to save the ship, which I
did at half-past ten P.M. and passed close to the St. George
with our reefed fore-sail only, in order to induce him to wear,
and give him the opportunity of signifying his wish for me to
remain with him, if he did not approve of what we did, whi