The store-keeper shew'd me all the provisions, which, considering
there were a thousand to draw their subsistence from it, was a small stock
indeed, and not above six weeks at the present allowance. He told me we
were serv'd equally with the soldiers, and when more stores came, which
they shortly expected, our allowance should be encreas'd. I think, in
reason, this is as much as we can expect. The lieutenant not coming nigh us
since our first landing, I went with the people up to him at the
governor's, about two miles from this port, to endeavour to prevail with
him to get us dispatch'd, acquainting him of the call and necessity there
was for our assistance on board the two distress'd ships at Rio Janeiro. He
said he had spoke to the governor, and could not get us dispatch'd till
another vessel came in. I told him, as the garrison were in want of
provisions, what we were living on here would carry us off, and if any
misfortune should attend the vessel expected in with the provisions, we
should be put very hard to it for a subsistence. He promis'd to acquaint
the governor; on which I took my leave.

February the 17th, this evening came into this garrison three seamen,
giving an account of their belonging to a vessel with provisions and stores
for this place, from Rio Janeiro, that they had been from thence three
months, and had been off the bar waiting an opportunity to come in; that
not having any fresh water aboard, they were oblig'd to come to an anchor
ten leagues to the southward of this port, that a canoe was sent with those
three men to fill the water, but the wind coming in from the sea, and
blowing hard, oblig'd the vessel to put to sea, and leave them ashore, from
whence they travelled here, and believ'd the vessel was gone to St
Catharine's. The governor, not satisfy'd with this report, took them for
spies, and kept them as such. However, in a day or two afterwards, he
dispatch'd a pilot and two seamen for the island St Catharine, to bring the
vessel round, in case she should be there.

I took this opportunity of sending a letter by them to the Honourable
Captain Murray, commander of his majesty's ship the Pearl, at Rio Janeiro;
desiring them to order it to be dispatch'd by the first ship from St
Catharine's to the Rio Janeiro.

"Honourable Sir,

"I take it as a duty incumbent on me to acquaint you that his majesty's
ship the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island on the coast of Patagonia,
in the latitud