y of water and provisions, of which
they seemed to be in immediate want, and at the same time sent his
own carpenter on board them, to examine into the truth of every
particular; and it being found, on the strictest enquiry, that the
preceding account was in no instance exaggerated, it plainly appeared,
that there was no possibility of preserving the Gloucester any longer,
as her leaks were irreparable, and the united hands on board both
ships, capable of working, would not be able to free her, even if
our own ship should not employ any part of them. What then could be
resolved on, when it was the utmost we ourselves could do to manage
our own pumps? Indeed there was no room for deliberation; the only
step to be taken was, the saving the lives of the few that remained on
board the Gloucester, and getting out of her as much as was possible
before she was destroyed. And therefore the commodore immediately
sent an order to Captain Mitchel, as the weather was now calm and
favourable, to send his people on board the Centurion as expeditiously
as he could; and to take out such stores as he could get at, whilst
the ship could be kept above water. And as our leak required less
attention, whilst the present easy weather continued, we sent our
boats with as many men as we could spare, to Captain Mitchel's
assistance.

The removing the Gloucester's people on board us, and the getting out
such stores as could most easily be come at, gave us full employment
for two days. Mr Anson was extremely desirous to have gotten two of
her cables and an anchor, but the ship rolled so much, and the men
were so excessively fatigued, that they were incapable of effecting
it; nay, it was even with the greatest difficulty that the
prize-money, which the Gloucester had taken in the South-Seas, was
secured, and sent on board the Centurion: However, the prize-goods
on board her, which amounted to several thousand pounds in value, and
were principally the Centurion's property, were entirely lost; nor
could any more provision be got out than five casks of flour, three
of which were spoiled by the salt-water. Their sick men, amounting
to near seventy, were removed into boats with as much care as the
circumstances of that time would permit; but three or four of them
expired as they were hoisting them into the Centurion.

It was the 15th of August, in the evening, before the Gloucester was
cleared of every thing that was proposed to be removed; and though