This is a reproduction of a book from the McGill University Library collection. Title: A narrative of the loss of His Majesty’s packet the Lady Hobart, on an island of ice in the Atlantic Ocean, 28th of June 1 803 Author: Fellowes, W. D. (William Dorset) Publisher, year: London : J. Stockdale, 1803 The pages were digitized as they were. The original book may have contained pages with poor print. Marks, notations, and other marginalia present in the original volume may also appear. For wider or heavier books, a slight curvature to the text on the inside of pages may be noticeable. ISBN of reproduction: 978-1-926671-22-2 This reproduction is intended for personal use only, and may not be reproduced, re-published, or re-distributed commercially. For further information on permission regarding the use of this reproduction contact McGill University Library. McGill University Library www.mcgill.ca/library S. Goibneli,, Printer, lUtle Queen Street, Holl^oMji INTRODUCTION. Oh his Majefty's Service. St.John’s, Newfoundland, July 9, 1803. Sir, It is with extreme concern I have the honbur to inform you of the total lofs of his Majefty’s Packet Lady Hobart, under rtiy command, on the morning of the 28th June, at Tea, in lat. 46° 33' north, and long. 44° oo / weft from Green- wich, on an ifland of ice. The accompanying Narrative of our proceed- ings, from the time of the fhip’s foundering, will, I truft, be a fufficient teftimony to their Lord- fhips, that no exertion on my part, or that of my officers and fhip’s compatiy, was wanting, both as to preferving the fhip from finking, as well as the total impoffibility of facing the difpatches. A 2 ( 4 ) The fufferings and hardfliips undergone by us all, have been indeed greater than it is poffible for my pen to defcribe. After remaining three days at Ifland Cove, the place where vve firfl: made the land, there being no medical affiftance for the people, I embarked in a fmall veffel I hired for the purpofe, and ar- rived here yefterday. With the exception of t women and myfelf, they are Hill in a moft wretched condition, and feveral it is feared will lofe their toes and fingers. As fo on as they are in a ftate to be moved, I intend proceeding from hence in a fchooner to Halifax, with a view to obtain a pafifage in one of the Packets, as there are no veflels about to fail from hence for England, and none that could accom- modate fo great a number. I truft their Lordihips will approve of what I have confidered it my duty to do by thefe unfor- tunate men. ( s ) Brigadier-general Skerritt has been fo kind as* to give us quarters in the garrifon, and has iffued rations for our fupport, as well as maintenance to Halifax, at the expenfe of Government, for which 1 ihall give receipts. I fhould be wanting in gratitude were I not to make particular mention of the kind and humane attentions we have all experienced from General Skerritt, the officers of the garrifon, and many of the inhabitants of St, John’s. 1 have the honour to remain Your moft obedient Servant, William Dorset Fellowes. F. FreeJing , Efq. General Poft Office, iSth Auguft 1803. Dear Sir, Having laid your affe&ing and interefting Narrative before my Lords the Poll mailer Ge- neral, I am commanded to fend you a copy of their Lordfhips’ minute thereon. ( 6 ) I a flure you I enter fully into all their Lbfd- fhips’ feelings for your paft fufFerings, and enter- tain the fame lertle of your patience, fortitude, and perfeverance ; and I beg you to believe I have pleafure in witneffing the promotion which has fo quickly fucceeded the moment of your diffi- culties and dangers. My Lords cannot fail to take into their fa- vourable conliderafion the very meritorious con- dud of your officers and crew. Believe me with great regard. Dear Sir, Yours moll faithfully, Cap tain Fellow es. F. Freeling. We have perufed this Report with a mixed fentiment of fympathy and admiration. We are fatisfied, that in the lofs of the Packet and of the public correfpomdencc, no blame is imputable to Captain Fellowes, to bis officers, or to Ins tea- ( 7 ) men. In their exertion after the flu’p had ftruck on the floating mafs of ice, and in their fubfe- quent conduft, they appear to have fhewn all the talents and virtues which can diftinguith the naval character. Let a proper letter be written in our names to the friends and family of the very worthy French officer who perifned. And wefhall be folicitous to learn the entire recovery of the other paflen- gers, who mef fuch dangers and fufFerings with the moft exemplary fortitude. Mr. Freeling will return the Narrative to Cap- tain Fellowes, with our permiffion to him to communicate it to his friends ; or, if he fhall think proper, to give it to the public. It cannot fail to imprefs on the minds of all who may read it, the benefit of religion and the confolation of prayer under the preflure of calamity; and alfb an awful fenfe of the interpofition and mercies of Providence, in a cafe of extreme peril and difirefs. To feamen it will more efpecially fhew that difcipline, order, generofity of mind, good ( 8 ) temper, mutual benevolence, and patient exer- tion, are, under the favour of Heaven, the bell fafeguards in all their difficulties. With refpeft to Captain Fellowes, we feel highly gratified in having it in our power fo immediately to give to him a promotion, which we have reafon to believe will be particularly ac- ceptable. (Signed) Auckland, Augufi 1 6, 1803, C. Spencer. NARRATIVE, &C. o n the 2 2d of June 1803, we failed from Hali- fax for England, fleering a courfe to the fouth- ward and eaftward, to clear Sable Ifland. On the 24th, hauled to the northward, to pafs over the northern part of the Great Bank of Newfound- land, with the intention to keep well to the northward, that we might thereby avoid the enemy’s cruifers. On the 26th, at feven A. M. being then on the Grand Bank, in lat. 44 0 37', and long. 5i°2o' weft, Cape Race bearing N. N.W. | W. 128 miles diftant, difcovered a large fchooner under French colours, ftanding towaids us, with her deck full of men. From her manner of bearing down upon us, we concluded the had been ap- B ( 10 ) prized of the war, and that (he took us for a merchant brig. Cleared fhip for a&ion. At eight being within range of our guns, fired a fhot at her, when the flruck her colours. Sent on board and took pofleflton of the vefifel ; the proved to be l’Aimable Julie, of Port Liberte, of eighty tons burden, new and ftrong built, bound thither from the itland of St. Pierre, laden with fait fifh, and commanded by Citizen Charles Rofle. After taking out her captain and crew, I gave the prize in charge to Lieutenants John -Little, and William Hughes, of his Majefty’s navy (who were palTengers in the Lady Hobart, and who moft handfomely volunteered their fervices): with them I fent two of our own feamen, and two prifoners, to alfift in navigating the prize. At ten A. M, faw two fchooners ahead ; fired a gun, and brought them to : on finding them to be Englifh, and bound to St. John’s, I divided the French prifoners between them, excepting the captain, mate, and one boy, the captain’s C n > nephew, who requeued very earnedly to remain on board the Packet. Tuefday, 28 th June . — Blowing hard from the tvedward, with a heavy fea and hazy weather, with intervals of thick fog. About one in the morning, the fhip then going by the log at the rate of feven miles an hour, druck againft an ifland of ice, with fueh violence, that feveral of the crew were pitched out of their hammocks. Being roufed out of my Jleej) by the fuddennefs of the ftock , I indantly ran upon deck. The helm be- ing put hard a-port, the fhip druck again about the ched-tree, and then fwung round on her heel, her dern-pod being Hove in, and her rudder carried away, before we could fucceed in our at- tempts to haul her off. At this time the ifland of ice appeared to hang quite over the fhip, forming a high peak, which mud have been at lead: twice the height of our mad head ; and we fuppofe the length of the idand to have been from a quarter to half a mile, s 2 ( X* > The fea was now breaking over the ice in a dreadful manner, the water ruthing in fo faft as to fill the hold in a few minutes. Hove the guns overboard, cut away the anchors from the bows, got two fails under the fhip’s bottom, kept both pumps going, and baling with buckets at the main hatchway, in the hope of preventing her from finking ; but in lefs than a quarter of an hour lhe fettled down to her fore- chains in the water. Our fituation was now become moft perilous. Aware of the danger of a moment’s delay in hoift- ing out the boats, I confulted Captain Thomas of the navy, and Mr. Bargus, my matter, as to the propriety of making any further efforts to fave the thip; and as I was anxious to prelerve the mail* I requefted their opinion as to the pofiibility of taking it into the boats in the event of our being able to get them over the thip’s fide. Thefe gentlemen agreed with me, that no time was to be lofi in hoifting them out* and that, as the vef* fel was then fettling faft, our firft and only con- fideration was to endeavour to preferve the grew.. ( «3 ) And here I muft pay that tribute of praife which the fteady difcipline and good conduct of every one on board fo jufily merit. From the firft moment of the fhip’s ftriking, not a word was uttered expreffive of a defire to leave the wreck : my orders were promptly obeyed ; and though the danger of perifhing was every infiant' increafing, each man waited for his turn to get into the boats with a coolnefs and compofure that could not be furpafled. Having fortunately fucceeded in hoifiing out the cutter and jolly-boat, the fea then running high, we placed the ladies in the former. One of them, Mifs Cotenham, was fo terrified, that fhe fprung from the gunwale, and pitched into the bottom of the boat with confiderable vio- lence. This accident, which might have been produ a reliance upon a good Providence, enabled us to endure our calamity ; and we animated each other with the hope of a better fate. While we were employed in deliberating about our future arrangements, a curious circumflance occurred, which, as it was productive of corili- derable uneafinefs to us all, deferves to be par- ticularly mentioned here : at the moment when the {hip was finking, fhe was furrounded by what teamen term a fchool, or an incalculable number of whales, which can only be accounted for by their being known, at this particular fea- fon, to take a direction for the coafl of New- foundland, in queft of a fmall fifh, called Cape- land, which they devour. We were extremely apprehenfive, from their near approach to the boats, that they might firike and materially da- mage them ; frequent inftances having occurred in that fithery of boats being cut in twain by the violence of a tingle blow from a whale : we therefore thoqted, and ufed every effort to drive them away, but without effect ; they continued, as it then feemed, to purfue us, and remained c ( 18 ) about the boats for the tpace of half an hour, when, thank God ! they difappeared without having done us any injury. Having at length furmounted dangers and dif- ficulties which baffle all defcription, we rigged the foremaft, and prepared to fhape our courfe in the beft manner that circumfiances would admit of, the wind blowing from the precite point on which it was neceflary to fail, to reach the nearefl: land. An hour had fcarcely etapfed from the time the fhip flruck, till fhe foundered. The difiribution of the crew had already been made in the following order, whiph we after- wards preferred. In the cutter, of the following dimentions, viz. twenty feet long, fix feet four inches broad, and two feet fix inches deep, were embarked three- ladies and myfelt ; Capt. Richard Thomas, of the navy ; the French commander of the fchooner ; the mafter’s mate, gunner, fie ward, carpenter, and eight feamen ; m all eighteen people; which, together with the provifions, j ( *9 ) brbught the boat’s gunwale down to within Hk. or (even inches of the water. From this con- fined fpace, fome idea may be formed of our crowded fiate ; but it is fCarcely poflible for the imagination to conceive the extent of our fufFer- ings in confequence of it. In the jolly-boat, fourteen feet from Item to (tern, five feet three inches broad, and two feet deep, were embarked Mr. Samuel Bargus, mat- ter ; Lieut. Col. George Cooke, of the ift reg. of guards ; the boatfwain, failmaker, and feven feamen ; in all eleven perfons. The only provisions we were enabled to tav6 confifted of between forty and fifty pounds of bifcuit i one demijean, or vetfel, containing five gallons of water ; a fmall jug of the fame, and part of a fmall barrel of fpruce beer; one demi- jean of rum, a few bottles of port wine, with two compares, a quadrant, a fpy-glals, a fmall tin mug, and a wine-glafs. The deck lantern, which had a few fpare candles in it, had been likewife thrown into the boat, and the cook C 2 ( 20 ) having had the precaution to fecure his tinder- box, and fome matches that were kept in a bladder, we were afterwards enabled to fleer by night. The wind was now blowing flrong from the weftvtard, with a heavy fea, and the day had juft dawned. Eftimating ourfelves to be at the diftance of 350 miles from St. John’s, in Newfoundland, with a profpedt of a continuance of wefterly winds, it became at once neceflary to ufe the ftritfteft economy. I reprefented to my companions in diftrefs, that our refolution, once made, ought on no account to be changed ; and that we muft begin by fuffering privations, which I forefaw would be greater than I ventured to explain. To each perfon, therefore, were ferved out half a bifcuit, and a glafs of wine, which was the only allowance for the enfuing twenty- four hours, all agreeing to leave the water untouched as long as poilible. * .During the time we were employed in getting, but the boats, I had or- dered the m; after, to throw the main hatch tar- pauling into the cutter; which being afterwards ( 41 ) ,-cut into lengths, enabled us to fbrm a tempo- rary bulwark againft the waves. I had alfo re*- minded the carpenter to carry with him as many tools as he could : he had accordingly, among other things, put a few nails in his pockets, and we repaired the gunwale of the cutter, which had been ftove in hoifting her out. Soon after daylight we made fail, with the jolly-boat in tow, and flood clofe- hauled to the northward and weft ward, in the hope of reaching the coaft of Newfoundland, or of being picked up by fome veflel. Pafled two iflands of ice, nearly as large as the firft. We now faid prayers, and returned thanks to God for our deliverance. At noon, obferved in lat. 46° 33' north ; St. John’s bearing about W. | N. diftant 350 miles. fVcdnefday, June, 29. — This day was ufhered in witfi light variable winds from the fouthward and eaftward. We had pafTed a long and fleep- lefs night, and I found myfelf, at the dawn of day, with twenty -eight perfons looking up to me with anxiety for the direction of our courfe, as Well as for the diftribution of their fcanty ( 22 ) allowance.* On examining our^ provifionS, we found the bag of bifcuit much damaged by fait water; it therefore became neceflary to curtail the allowance, to which precaution all cheer- fully aflented. It was at this moment that I became more alive to all the horrors of our lituation. We all returned thanks for our pa ft mercies, and offered up prayers for our fafety. A thick fog foon after came on ; it continued all day with heavy rain, which as we had no means of collecting, afforded us no relief Out crowded and expofed lituation was now ren* dered more diftreffing, from being thoroughly wet, no one having been permitted to take more than a great coat or a blanket, with the clothes on his back. Kept the oars in both boats going conftantly, and fleering at W. N. W. courfe. — All hands anxioufly looking out for a ftrange fail. At noon ferved a quarter of a bifcuit and a glafs ( 23 ) of rum to each perfon, St. John’s bore W. by ^ N. diftant 310 miles. No obfervation. One of the ladies again read prayers to us, particu- larly thofe for delivery after a ftorm, and thofe for fafety at fea. Thurfday , June 30.r- : At daybreak we were all fo benumbed with wet and extreme cold, that half a glafs of rum, and a mouthful of bifcuit, wereferyed out to each perfon : the ladies, who had hitherto refufed to tafte the fpirits, were now prevailed upon to take the dated allow- ance, which afforded them immediate relief, and enabled them the better to refift the feverity of the weather. The fea was moftly calm, with fhick fog and fleet ; the air raw and cold : we had kept at our oars all night, and we conti- nued to row during the whole of this day. The jolly-boat having unfortunately put off from the fhip with only three oars, and having but a fmall fail, converted into a'forefail from a top- gallant fleeringfail, without needles or twine, we were obliged to keep her conftantly in tow. The cutter alfo having loft two of her oars in ( *4 ) hoilting out, was now fo deep in the water; that with the lead fea fhe made little way, lb that we were not enabled to profit much by r the light winds. Some one from the jolly-boat called out that there was part of a cold ham, which had not been difcovered before : a fmall bit, about the lize of a nutmeg, was immediately ferved out to each perfon, and the remainder was thrown overboard, as I was fearful, of its increaling our third, which we had not the means of afr fuaging. At noon we judged ourfelves to be on the north-eaftern edge of the Grand Bank, St. John’s bearing W. by N. * N. diftant 246 miles. No obfervation. Performed divine fervice. Friday , July 1. — During the greater part of the lad twenty- four hours it blew a hard gale of wind from the weft-foutli-weft, with a heavy confufed fea from the fame quarter ; thick fog ( *5 ) and fleet throughout ; the weather exceffitfely cold, for the fpray of the fea freezing as it flew over the boats, rendered our fltuation truly de- plorable. It was at this time that we all felt a moft painful depreflion of fpirits : the want of riouriftiment, and the continued cold and wet weather, had rendered us almofl incapable of exertion. The very confined fpace in the boat would not allow of our ftretching our limbs ; and feveral of the men, whofe feet were confi- derably fwelled, repeatedly called out for water. On my reminding them of the refolution we had made, and of the abfolute neceflity of our per- fevering in it, they acknowledged the juflice and propriety of my refufal to comply wuth their defire, and the water remained untouched. At the commencement of the gale we flood to the northward and wefiward ; but the cutter was fo low in the water, and had fhipped fo much fea, that we were obliged to cafi off the jolly-boat’s tow-rope, and we very foon loft fight of her in the fog. This unlucky circumftance was productive of the utmoft diftrefs to us all. D ( *6 ) We had been roufed to exertion from a double motive ; and the uncertainty of our ever meeting again the companions of our misfortunes, pro- duced in us the moft lively afflidtion. To add to the mifery of our fituation, we lofl with the boat not only a considerable part of our ftores, but with them our quadrant and fpy-glafs. At about four A. M. the gale increafing, with a prodigious heavy tea, we brought the cutter to by heaving the boat’s fail loofe over the bow, and veering it out with a rope bent to each yard- arm, which kept her head to the fea, fo as to break its force before it reached us. In the courfe of this day there were repeated exclamations of a iirange fail, although I knew it was next to an impoffibility to difcern any thing, owing to the thicknefs of the fog ;, yet they were urged from the feveral feamen with fuch apparent certainty of their objedl, that I was induced to put the boat before the wind to convince them of their error ; and as I then faw in a very firong point of view the confequences of fuch deviations, I took occafion to remon- % ( *7 ) firate with them upon the fubjedi ; I reprefented with all the force of which I was capable, that the depreflion arifing from difappointment infi- nitely overbalanced the momentary relief pro- ceeding from fuch delufive expectation, and I exhorted them not to allow fuch fancies to break, out into exprefiion. Under all thefe circum- ftances, the ladies particularly, with a heroifm that no words can defcribe, afforded to us the beft examples of patience and fortitude. We all joined in prayers, which tranquillized pur minds, and afforded us the confolatory hope of bettering our condition : on thefe occafions we were all bare-headed, notwithfianding the inceflant fhowers. At noon St. John’s bore W. by N. | N. difiant 148 miles. No obfer- vation, Saturday, July 2. — It rained hard during the night, and the cold became fo fevere, that al- moft every one in the boat was unable to move. Our hands and feet were fo fwelled, that many of them became quite black, owing to our con- fined flate, and the confiant expol'ure to wet » 2 ( *8 ) and cold weather. At daybreak I ferved out about the third of a wine-glafs of rum to each perfon, with a quarter of a bifcuit, and before noon a fmall quantity of fpruce beer, which afforded us great relief. During the fird part of this day, it blew drong from the fouthward and wedward, with foggy weather ; towards noon, moderate breezes from the northward and eadward. At half pad eleven A. M. a fail was difco- vered to the eadward, danding to the north- wed. Our joy at fuch a dght, with , the imme- diate hope of deliverance, gave us all new life. I immediately ordered the people to dt as clofe as poffible, to prevent our having the appear- ance of being an armed boat ; and having tied a lady’s thawl to the boat-hook, I raifed myfelf as well as I could, and, from the bow, waved it as long as my drength would allow me. Having hauled clofe to the wind, we neared each other fad, and in lefs than a quarter of an hour we perceived the jolly-boat. Our not ( 2 9 ) having recognifed her fooner, was owing to an additional fail having been made for her, put of one of my bed fheets , which had been acci- dentally thrown into the boat, and was fet as a bonnet to the forefail. I cannot attempt to defcribe the various len- fations of joy and difappointment, which were by turns exprefled on all our countenances. As foon as we approached the jolly-boat, we threw out to her a tow-rope, and bore away to the north-weft. We now mutually inquired into the ftate of our refpe£tive crews, after the late dreadful gale: thofe in the jolly boat had fuffered from fwelled hands and feet, like ourfelves, and had under- gone great anxiety on our account, concluding us to have perifhed. The moft fingular circum- ftance was, their having fleered two nights with- out any light ; and our meeting again after fuch tempeftuous weather, could not have happened but from the interpolation of Providence. Fear- ing a ftmilar accident, we made a more eqnal ( 30 ) diftribution of* our provifion ; and having re- ceived from the jolly-boat two bottles of wine and fome bifcuit, we gave them fome rum in return. Our hopes of deliverance had now been buoyed up to the higheft pitch. The excitement arifing from our joy began perceptibly to lofe its effect; and to a ftafe of artificial firength fucceeded fuch a defpondency, that no entreaty, nor argument, could roufe fome of the men even to the common exertions of making fail* To the French Captain, and feveral of the people who appeared to have fuffered moft, I i)ow, for the firft time, ferved out a wine glafs full of water. I had earneftly cautioned the crew not to tafie the fait water, but fome of the unhappy men had, neverthelefs, taken large draughts of it, and became delirious ; fome were feized with violent cramps, and twitching of the ftomach and bowels. I again took oecafion to point out to the reft of them the extreme danger cf fuch indifcretion. ( 3 « ) Performed divine fervice. At noon St. John’s bore W. by N. | N. diftant iio miles. No ob- fervation of the fun. Sunday , 3. — The cold, wet, hunger, and thiril, which we now experienced, are not to be de- fcribed, and made our fituation very deplorable. At eight P. M. having a flrong breeze from the fouthward, we flood on under all the canvafs we could fpread, the jolly-boat following in our wake, and pulling her oars to keep up with us. The French Captain, who for fome days had laboured under a defpondency which admitted of no con- folation, jumped overboard in a fit of delirium, and inflantly funk. The cutter at this time was going through the water fo fafl, and the oars being lafhed to the gunwale, it would have been impoflible to attempt to fave him, even had he floated. One of the other prifoners in the jolly-boat became fo outrageous, that it was found neceflary to lath him to the bottom of the boat. f 3* > melancholy fate of the poof Captain, whom I had learnt to efteem, affected me at firft more fenfibly, perhaps, than any other per- fon ; for on the day on which I was making the diftribution in the boats, and was confldering in which I fhould place him, he came to me with tears in his eyes, to implore me not to leave him to perifh with the wreck : T allured him that I never had entertained fuch an idea ; that as I had been the accidental caufe of his misfortunes, I would endeavour to make his tituation as eafy as I could, and that, as we were all expofed to the fame danger, we would furvive or perifh to- gether. This aftbrance, and the hope of being fpeedily exchanged, if ever we reached the land, Operated for a while in quieting his mind; but bis fortitude foon forfook him, and the raw fpirits to which he had not been accuftomed, pro-;, ducing in him the mo ft dreadful intoxicating ef- fects, hurried on the fatal event. We were all deeply affected by this circum- ftance; the moft trifling accident or difappoint- ment was fufflcient to render our irritable ftate ( 33 ) more painful ; and I was feized with fuch melan- choly, that I loft all recollection of my fituatien for many hours ; a violent fhivering had feized me, which returned at intervals ; and as I had refufed all fuftenance, my ftate was very alarm- ing : towards night I enjoyed, for the firft time, three or four hours found fleep, a perfpiration came on, and I awoke as from a dream, free from delirium, but painfully alive to ail the horrors that furrounded me. The fea continued to break over the boats fo much, that thofe who had force enough, were obliged to bale without intermiffion. Thofe who o fat in the ftern of the cutter were fo confined, that it was difficult for any one to put his hand into his pocket, and the greater part of the crew lay in water upon the boat’s lpottom. The return of dawn brought us no relief but its light. The fun had never cheered ns but once during the whole of our perilous voyage ; and thofe who had a few hours of interrupted fleep, E ( 34 ) awoke to all the confcioufnefs of wretchednefs and mifery. A very heavy gale of wind came on from the fouthward, with fo tremendous a tea, that the greatefl vigilance was necefTary in managing the helm, as the flighted deviation would have broach- ed the boats to, and confequently mult have hur- ried on our detlrudlion. Wc fcudded before, it ex- pecting every returning wave to overwhelm us ; but, through the providence of Almighty God, we weathered the ftorm, which began to abate to- wards night. We had nearly run the diffance we had fuppofed ourfelves from St. John J s ■, but, owing to the thicknefs of the fog, we were pre- vented from di teeming to any great extent. Towards evening we paffed feveral pieces of rock-weed, and foon after Captain Thomas faw the wing of a Hackdown, an aquatic bird that frequents the coaft of Newfoundland, and is much eaten by the hfhermen. This event alForaed us great hopes ot our approaching the ( 35 ) land ; and all hands were eagerly employed in obferving what paflfed the boats. About this time a beautiful white bird, web-footed, and not un- like a dove in fize and plumage, hovered over the matt-head of the cutter ; and notwithftanding the pitching of the boat, it frequently attempted to perch on it, and continued fluttering there until dark. Trifling as this circumflance may appear, it was confidered by us all as a propitious omen. The impreffive manner in which it left us, and returned to gladden us with its prefence; awakened in us a fuperflition, to which failors are at all times faid to be prone : we indulged ourfelves on this occaflon, with the molt canto - latory affurances, that the fame Hand which had provided this folace to our di ft redes, would extri- cate us from the danger that furrounded us. There being every reafon to conclude oUrfdves well in with the land, the few that were able to move, were now called upon to make' a 1 alt ef- fort to fave their lives by rowing, and taking E 2 ( 3 6 ) advantage of the little breeze we then had. It was flrongly urged to them, that, if the wind fhould come oft the fhore in the morning, and drive us to leeward, all efforts to regain it might then be too late ; as, independent of our feeble ftate, the provifions, with every economy, could not laff more than two days; and that the water, which had as yet remained untouched (excepting in the inftances before mentioned), could not hold out much longer. We had now been fix days and nights, contlantly wet and cold, without any other fuflenance than a quarter of a bifcuit and one wine-glafs of fluid for twenty-four hours. The men who had appeared totally indifferent as to their fate, fummoned up refolution, and as many as were capable of moving from the bottom of the boats, applied to the oars. Monday, \th. As the day dawned, the fog became fo thick, that wc could not fee very far from the boat. During the night we had been under the neceflity of calling off the jolly-boat’s tow-rope, to induce her crew to exert themfelves by row- ing. We again loll fight of her, and I perceived C 37 ) that this unlucky accident was beginning to ex- cite great uneafinefs among us. We were now fo reduced, that the mod trifling remark, or ex- clamation, agitated us very much. I therefore found it neceflary to caution the people againfl being deceived by the appearance of land, or calling out till vve were quite convinced of its reality, more efpecially as fog-banks are often miflaken for land. Several of the poor fellows, however, repeatedly exclaimed they heard break- ers, others the firing of guns ; and the founds we did hear refembled the latter fo much, that 1 concluded fome veflel had got on fhore, and was making fignals of difirefs : the noife afterwards proved to be the blowing of whales, of which we faw a great number. Soon after daylight, the fun rofe in view for the fecond time jfince we quitted the wreck. It is worthy of remark, that during the period of feven days, that v\e were in the boats, we never had an opportunity of taking an obfervation, either of the fun, moon, or fiars, nor of drying our clothes. The fog at length beginning to dif- 2 ( 3 » ) perfe, we infiantly caught a glimpfe of the land, within a mile diftance, between Kettle Cove and Ifland Cove, in Conception Bay, fourteen leagues from the harbour of St. John’s. Almoft at the fame moment we had the inexpreffible falisfac- tion to difeover the jolly-boat, and a fchooner in fhore {landing off towards us, I with it were poffible for me to deferibe our fenfations at this interetling moment. From the confiant watching and fatigue, and from the languor and depreffion anting from our exha u ti- ed Hate, fuch accumulated irritability was brought on, that the joy of a fpeedy relief af- fected us all in a moft remarkable way : many burtl into tears, fome looked at each other with a tlupid flare, as if doubtful of the reality of what they faw ; feveral were in fuch a lethargic Hate, that no confolation, no animating Ian-, guage, could roufe them to exertion, At this affecting period, though overpowered t>y my own feelings, and impreffed with the re- collection of our fufferings, and the tight of fo ( 39 ) many deplorable objects, I propofed to offer up our folemn thanks to Heaven for our miraculous deliverance. Everyone cheerfully affented ; and as foon as I opened the Prayer Book (which I had fecured the laft time I went down to my cabin), there was an univerfal filence; a fpirit of devo- tion was fo Angularly manifefted on this occa- fion, that to the benefits of a religious fenfe in uncultivated minds, muft be aferibed that dis- cipline, good order, and exertion, which even the light of land could lcarcely produce. The fervice being over, the people requeued to have a pint of grog each ; but, fearful of the confequences of fuch an indulgence, I mixed fome rum and water very weak, and diftributed to every one a Imall quantity. The lehooner being now within hail, and hav- ing made our lituation known, fhe hove to, and received us on board ; our boats being taken in tow. The men could now with difficulty be retrained from takisg large and repeated draughts of water, in confcquence of which, fe- C 4° ) veral felt great inconvenience from the fudden diftention of their ftomachs ; but, by being after- wards more cautious, no other bad effects fol- lowed. The wind having blown with great violence from off the coaft, we did not reach the landing- place at Ifland Cove till four o’clock in the evening. All the women and children in the village, with two or three fifhermen (the reft of the men being abfent), came down to the beach, and appearing deeply affedled at our wretched fttuation, affifted in lifting us out of the veffel, and afterwards in carrying us up the craggy rocks ; over which we were obliged to pafs, to get to their . habitations. It was a moft fortunate circumftance for us, that we fell in with the land about Ifland Cove ; a very few' miles further to the northward, the coaft is inacceflible, and lined with dangerous reefs of rocks, which, if we had feen them in the night, we fhould have pufhed for ; for our Situation having become fo defperate, I had re- ( 4i ) folved to land at the fed place we could make : in that cafe we mud all have perifhed. The different fifhing-huts were conflru6ted of pine logs. The three ladies. Colonel Cooke, Captain Thomas, the Mailer, and myfelf, were conduced to the houfe of Mr. Lilly, a planter, who received us with great attention and humanity. This fmall village afforded neither medical aid nor frefh provifions, of which we flood fo much in need ; ^potatoes and fait fifh being the only food of the inhabitants. I determined, therefore, to lofe no time in proceeding to St. John’s, having hired a fmall fchooner for that purpofe. On the 7th of July we embarked in three divifions, placing the molt infirm in the fchooner ; the mailer’s mate having charge of the cutter, and the boatfwain of the jolly-boat : but fuch was the exhaufled flate of nearly the whole party, that the day was confiderably advanced before we could get under weigh. At two P. M. made fail with the jolly-boat ia tow, and the cutter in company, and flood along p ( 4 * ) the coaft of Newfoundland with a favourable' breeze. Towards du(k it came on to blow hard in fqualls off the land, when we loft light of the cutter, and we were obliged foon after to come to anchor, outftde of St. John’s harbour. We were under great apprehenlions for the cutter’s fafety, as the had no grapnel, and left Ihe Ihould be driven out to fea : but at daylight wc perceived her and the fchooner entering the har- bour ; the cutter, as we afterwards learnt, having had the good fortune to fall in with a filhing veflel, to which they made fall during the night. The ladies. Colonel Cooke, Captain Th'ortta^y and myfelf, conduced by Mr. Lilly in thejolly- boat, having left the fchooner when Ihe anchor- ed, notwithftanding the badnefs, as well as ex- treme darknefs of the night, reached the Ihore about midnight. We wandered for fome time about the ftreets, there being no houfe open at that late hour; but were at length admitted into a lmall houfe, where we paffed the remainder of the night on chairs, there being but one mifer- afole bed for the ladies. ( 43 ) Early on the following day, our circumftances beingmade known, hundreds of people crowded <3own to the landing-place : nothing could ex- ceed their furprife, on feeing the boats that had carried nine-and twenty perfons fuch a diftance .over a boifterous fea ; and when they beheld fo many miferable objects, they could not conceal their emotions of pity and concern. 1 waited on Brigadier- general Skerrit, who commanded the garrifon, and who immediately, upon being in- formed of our fituation, ordered down a party of foldiers to take the people out of the boats, and with the utmofl kindnefs and humanity dired- ed beds and every neceffary article to be pre- pared for the crew. The greatefc circumfpedion was found necef- fary in adminiftering nourifhment to the men. Several of the crew were fo much froft-bil- ten, as to require conftant furgical affiftance ; and it was determined they lhould continue at St. John’s, until they were in a fit flate to be tranfported to Halifax : I hired a fchooner for that purpofe. F 2 ( 44 ) Being anxious to return to England, I engag- ed the cabin of a fmall veftel bound to Oporto ; and on the nth of July I embarked with Mrs. Fellowes, Colonel Cooke, Captain Thomas, Mr. Bargus the matter, and the Colonel’s fervant, who, during the voyage home, loft teveral of his toes, in confequence of what he had fufFered. The mafler’s mate was left in charge of the Jfhip’s company, and was diredted to conduct them to Halifax ; whence they would be en- abled to return by the firft opportunity to their own country. After taking leave of our hofpitable friends af St. John’s, and after recommending to their pro r tediion the companions of our hardfhips, we put to fea with favourable weather. During a voy- age of fifteen days we had a few difficulties to encounter, fuch as pumping continually, the veftel having fprunga leak in a gale of wind ; and we were obliged to throw overboard a conftder- able quantity of her cargo of falt-ftth. On the 26th of July we fell in with an American ftiip, the Briftol Trader, of New ( 45 ) York. The owner, Mr. William Cowley, being told our diitrefled fituation, and that we ha4 been thipwrecked, immediately hove to, and, with a benevolence and humanity that will ever refled the higheft honour on his chara&er, re r ceived us on board, and brought us fafe to Briflol; where we had the happinefs to arrive on the 3d of Augutt. Names of the Ship’s Company, &c. of Ms Majefly s Packet Lady Hobart, faved by the Boats . Names. Station. William Dorfet Fellowes, Efq. Commander. Mr. Samuel Bargus, Mr. Robert Jenkins, Peter Germain, Benjamin Saule, John Gard, Francis Lambrick* Thomas Bell, Edward Roberts, Richard Harris, John Harris, John Andrew, John Anderfon, P. Martin, John Tipper, Matter. Matter's Mate. Gunner. Boatfwain. Carpenter. Sail-maker. Ship’s Cook. Captain’s Steward. Do. Servant. Seaman. Do. Do. Do. Do. ( 46 ) Names. William Trigido, Chriftian M’Cleaver, John WatfoOj Timothy Donohough, Richard Pierce, Charles RolTe, G. Goflin, Y. Francois, Station. Seaman. Do. Do. Invalided Seaman. Do. French Prilbner of War, afterwards drowned. French Prifoner. Do. Pajfengers. Mrs. Scott, Mils Cotenham, Mrs. Fellowes, Lieutenant-colonel Cooke, and Captain Richard Thomas of the Navy. the end. PROPOSALS for publishing a print, ( From, an Original Painting, ly Pooock,) REPRESENTING * THE PERILOUS SITUATION OF THE LADY HOBART PACKET, AFTER STRIKING UPON THE ICE, WILL BE ISSUED IN A SHORT TIME , The following LOYAL ADDRESSES are pullijhed by John Stockdale, 181, Piccadilly, and are particularly recommended for Difiribution throughout Great Britain and Ireland. They may alfo be had in any Quantities from all the Country Bookfellers. i. Invafion. — Scene of a Play 2- — Scene 2d of a Play 3. Corporal Trim on the Invafion. 4. John Bull to Brother Patrick in Ireland. 5. Declaration of the City, with Bofanquet’s Speech. 6. Rise in Defence of your Country. 7. Letter to the Volunteers. 8. To the Inhabitants of the Britilh IileSt 9. To the United Kingdom. 10. Maffacre of Grenada. n. Solemn Appeal to the Britifh Nation. 12. Rev. Gerrard Andrewes’s Addrefs. The above Price id. each, or 6s. per Hundred. } With character ifiic Prints. 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