overboard, and had the good fortune to reach the boat, though it was with some difficulty Captain Inglefield could prevail on his companions to take him in[1]. The whole number now in the boat was twelve, adrift in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, a dark and stormy night approaching, without either compass, quadrant, or sail. Their provisions consisted of a bag of bread, a small ham, a single piece of pork, a few French cordials, and two quart bottles of water. A blanket which had been thrown into the boat, they bent to one of the stretchers, and used as a sail. Providentially, the next morning the weather proved more moderate, and the wind continuing to blow from the N.W. buoyed them up with the hope of being able to reach the Azores, which, at the time they quitted the Centaur, were about 260 leagues to the S.E. On the fifth morning it was discovered that the salt water had spoiled the greater part of their bread; this reduced them to the necessity of living upon the miserable pittance of two biscuits for the twenty-four hours, which were divided equally between the whole. The neck of a bottle with the cork in it, was the measure of water allotted to support each individual for the same period. For the want of this necessary article they must shortly have perished, had not a pair of sheets been found in the boat; rain coming on, they were enabled, by alternately spreading and wringing them, to catch and save a few quarts of water; but not by any means a sufficiency to allay their thirst. Captain Inglefield, to divert the attention of the people from their situation and distress, induced them during the heavy and pensive hours of the night, to amuse each other by relating a story, or singing a song, in turn.
On the 16th day after their departure from the ship, the last ration of bread and water was distributed, and all hope vanished. The Almighty, however, who had conducted these unfortunate people through so many perils, still favored them with his divine protection; and on the same day, to their inexpressible joy, land was discovered, for which they instantly steered, and before night arrived safely in the harbour of
- ↑ Mr. Baylis died a Lieutenant of the Mercury frigate, at St. John’s, Newfoundland, Sept. 1., 1799.
