ch he
might have done by four lights, in a diamond signal No. 30, or
by firing three guns, also night signal No. 30, "Keep your wind
on the larboard tack." Heavy and severe as the gale was, there
was considerable light, as we had a moon; although not seen,
yet it enlightened the atmosphere so as to enable us to see
every mast, sail, or any object that was above her hammocks: we
were so close in passing, that we could in moderate weather, at
such a distance, have conversed with great ease; and were about
a quarter of an hour in passing her; so that his not making any
signal, and his still keeping the St. George's head on the same
tack, I considered I had his approbation to use every endeavour
to clear the land and save the ship from being wrecked on the
lee shore.

The remainder of Captain Pater's narrative need not be given, as it
relates only to the proceedings in his own ship, and his arrival in
the Downs on the 30th December; neither need we give the opinions
alluded to, as they are a repetition of that of the Captain, and
signed by the five lieutenants, the master, the pilot, and the purser.
The first account of the wreck of the St. George and Defence was
received by a flag of truce, sent by the Danish General Tellequist
from Randers, that on the night between the 23rd and 24th of December,
a few miles to the southward of the Holmes, the fatal catastrophe took
place. The Danish commander-in-chief, after expressing much sympathy
and feeling on the sad disaster, informs Captain Maurice that the
bodies of Captain Atkins and other officers had been found and
interred with military honours, but they had not then discovered the
body of the Admiral. It appeared from the account of the survivors,
eighteen in number, (twelve belonging to the St. George and six to the
Defence,) that the St. George struck about one o'clock on the morning
of the 24th, and soon afterwards the Defence, a short distance to the
northward of her. The anchors in both ships were immediately let go,
and the masts cut away; the St. George came for a short time head to
wind. About four she parted in the middle; the sea making a fair
breach over the ships, many of the crew were washed overboard, while
others were killed or frozen to death where they had tied themselves
to the weather-railing, among whom were the Admiral and his young and
gallant friend Captain Guion. It is related that one