The unshaken fortitude of the crew, under every difficulty, and with scarcely the possibility of escape remaining, while it heightens the merit of the sufferers, only serves to render their fate the more grievous. By their unwearied exertions, the ship was kept afloat until the 23d; but on the morning of that day, all their efforts appeared fruitless. The water in the hold had blown up the orlop-deck, the ship was filling fast, and going gradually down. Every countenance was painted with horror and despair; not a shadow of hope now remained; the people could be no longer prevailed on to bail, and the vessel was left to her fate. Some of the bravest seamen, who had hitherto persevered in their sufferings and labour, without a murmur or any expression of fear, geeing that all was over, and being suddenly struck with a melancholy and tender recollection of their country, and of every thing that was most dear to them, burst openly into tears, and wept like children; others, appearing perfectly resigned to their fate, went to their hammocks, and requested their messmates to lash them in; numbers were lashing themselves to gratings and email rafts. Amidst this scene of misery and distress, the idea most prevalent among the men was that of equipping themselves in their best and cleanest clothes. Although rafts were made, and the boats put into the water, the bulk of the officers and men, convinced of the impossibility of being saved, preferred resigning themselves quietly to their fate, rather than take the chance of prolonging their wretched existence for a few hours. At 5 o’clock in the evening, Captain Inglefield, who had not yet formed any determination for himself, perceiving a few of the people getting into the pinnace, and others preparing to follow them, beckoned to Mr. Renny, the Master, who was the only officer on deck, and instantly jumped into the boat, followed by that gentleman[1]. The sea ran so high, it was with much difficulty they could get her clear of the ship; numbers of the people who were on the gangway, endeavouring to follow their example, fell into the sea and were drowned. Mr. Robert Baylis, a Midshipman, only, 15 years of age, jumped
- ↑ Mr. Renny was afterwards made a Lieutenant, and appointed to the command of a cutter, which foundered on her passage to Gibraltar with despatches, and all on board perished.
