were drowned, and one man had his arm broken. For a long time the ship sheltered us from the surf; but as our poor vessel broke up, we found our situation every moment becoming more perilous, and that we should soon be obliged to leave the part of the rock we were then on, to wade to another that appeared to be somewhat larger. It was therefore determined to follow the example of our first lieutenant; who, by watching the seas, had safely got to the other side. We had scarcely formed our determination, and prepared to put it in execution, than we had to encounter an immense quantity of loose spars, that were thrown immediately into the channel we had to pass; but we were compelled to be desperate, and at once to risk our fate. Many, in crossing from one rock to the other, were most severely wounded; and we all suffered more at this time, than in gaining the small rock; the loss of our shoes was most severely felt; our feet were dreadfully lacerated, and the legs of many were covered with blood.
“Day-light now began to appear, and soon shewed us the morning of the 5th of January, surrounded with horrors: to us a most memorable morning – what a sight had we to witness ! The sea all around was covered with the wreck of the ill-fated Nautilus; many of our unfortunate companions were seen floating away on spars, and other parts of the wreck: the dead and dying mixed together – without a possibility of our being able to afford them the least assistance. Our much admired ship was a perfect wreck – in two short hours had she been completely destroyed, and her crew placed in a situation that at once reduced them to despair. Our wild and affrighted looks plainly marked our grief and horror: when we considered our real situation, there was nothing left but resignation to the will of Heaven. We found ourselves placed on a barren coral rock, scarcely above the water; and which, from the writer’s recollection, might have been about three or four hundred yards long, and two hundred broad. We were at least twelve miles from the nearest islands, which we afterwards found to be those of Cerigotto, and Pora, at the western entrance of the Archipelago. It was now first reported that a small boat with several men had escaped; but her fate was uncertain: our only hope then was that a vessel might pass near us, and probably might see our signal of distress, which we had raised on a long pole fastened in a hole of the rock. From the neighbouring islands we could not expect relief; they were too far distant. But we were doomed to suffer still greater distress. To avoid the inclemency of the weather, which was extremely severe, we with much difficulty, by the help of a knife and a flint, and with some damp powder taken out of a small barrel washed on shore, endeavoured to make a fire; which after great trouble was accomplished. We then proceeded to make a kind of tent, with pieces of old canvass, boards, and such things as we could find of the wreck; and by these means were enabled to dry the very few clothes we had about us. We had now to pass a long night with little comfort, and without hope: but we were in some measure consoled with