tance astern. A small quantity of biscuit, and an eighteen gallon cask of water, was then let down between the main and mizen chains into the small cutter. The purser then got into the main-chains, and from thence leaped into her; Mr. Wadman and Mr. Tremlett likewise fortunately got into her. The boat was with great difficulty rowed clear of the ship, and steered for the launch.
“The agitation of mind on this melancholy occasion may be better imagined than, described. Mr. Riou was walking the quarter-deck, and seemed happy the boat had got safe from alongside. The ship was drifting astern, and sliding fast in the water. Mr. Clements began to be afraid she would drive upon the launch; and called to the crew to cut the tow-rope, and row out of the ship’s wake.
“Mr. Somerville, who was looking over the ship’s stern, hearing the order, prayed them to hold fast a moment, and he would jump overboard and swim to them: he did so, and was followed by John Spearman a sea-man, who were both taken on board; the boat then cut, and rowed out of the ship’s track. The launch soon got alongside of the cutter, out of which they took two bags of biscuit, and a cask of water. The Rev. Mr. Crowther, Mr. Clements, Mr. Tremlett, Mr. Wadman, and the purser, with two more of the men, got into the launch, and the cutter was ordered back to the ship for further supplies, and to receive as many of the people as could with safety be taken on board.
“The crew of the cutter could not be prevailed on to return, but rowed off to some distance, and lay-by. In her were Mr. Brady, midshipman, Mr. Fletcher, captain’s clerk, and five seamen.
“The jolly-boat had put off from the ship without either provisions, water, compass, or quadrant, and rowed towards the launch in hopes of either getting relief from her, or the crew to be taken on board; but she had already fifteen people in her, which were as many as she could with safety carry; and the quantity of provisions was very inadequate to support such a number, who had 411 leagues to traverse in a boisterous ocean, without any means of relief.
“There being a spare compass and quadrant in the launch, Mr. Clements handed them into the jolly-boat. At this time one of the convicts attempted to get into the launch, but was opposed by the crew, and pushed into the sea. This man in the struggle caught hold of Mr. Clements, who was with difficulty saved from being pulled out of the boat along with him. The people in the jolly-boat picked the unfortunate fellow up again, and then took to their oars, and rowed close up to the launch, as if determined to board her by force. To prevent, therefore, any scuffle, it was agreed immediately to make sail, and they took their final departure from this scene of misery and distress at about nine o’clock. The ship at this time appeared sunk down to her upper-deck ports. The large cutter and jolly-boat made sail after the launch; the latter almost instantly filled and went down. The other cutter remained hanging on at some distance from the ship.