Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/373

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Virginia, and, on the 22nd, came to in Hampton road, at the mouth of the river on which Norfolk is. Learning here, that to bacco would be better than flour for the English market, he landed fifty barrels of his flour and one hogshead of tobacco, which he found to be bad, meaning to take, instead thereof, nine hogsheads of tobacco more. But the same night it began to blow very hard, with much rain. The 23d, the storm became more heavy ; they let go both their anchors, but were driven, notwithstanding, from their anchorage, forced to put to sea and to go before the wind. The occurrences of their voyage will be best detailed by short extracts from the logbook.

June 24. The weather becomes worse. One of the fore shrouds

and the foremast, carried away. 25. Shifted their ballast which threw them on their beam

ends, and shipped a very heavy sea.

Held a consultation ; the result of which, was, that

seeing they were now driven so far to sea, and the

weather continuing still very bad, it was better to

steer for Liverpool, their port of destination, though

they had not their cargo on board, and no other

clearance but that which they took from Baltimore.

June 29. The first observation they had been able to take N.

lat. 38 13 .

30. Winds begin to be light, but the sea still very heavy. July 5. Light winds and a smooth sea for the first time, in

lat. 43 12 .

9. Spoke a French brig, Comte D Artois, Captain Mieaux, from St. Maloes, in distress for pro visions. Relieved her with three barrels of flour. Aug. 6. Thick weather and a strong wind. Made the Lands End of England.

7. Unable to fetch the land, therefore bore off for Scilly,

and came to with both anchors. Drove, notwith standing, and obliged to get up the anchors, and put to sea, running southwardly.

8. Made the land of France, but did not know what part.

Here the logbook ends. At this time they had on board but ten gallons of water, four or five barrels of bread, two or three pounds of candles, no firewood. Their sails unfit to b^ trusted to, any longer, and all their materials for mending them, exhausted by the constant repairs which the violence of the weather had called for. They therefore took a pilot aboard, who carried them