(3)
⟨main⟩ and mizzen-masts, hoping when the ship righted to (illegible text)ar her; the mizzen-mast went first, upon cutting one ⟨or⟩ two of the langyards, without the smallest effect on ⟨the ship⟩; the main-mast followed upon cutting the ⟨langyard⟩ of one shrowd, and I had the disappointment to see ⟨the⟩ fore-mast and bowsprit following; the ship upon (illegible text) ⟨was⟩ immediately righted, but with great violence, and ⟨the⟩ motion was so quick, that it was difficult for the people to work the pumps. Three guns broke loose on the main deck, and it was sometime before they were ⟨captured⟩; several men being maimed in this attempt. ⟨Every⟩ moveable was destroyed, either from the shot thrown loose from the lockers, or the wreck of the deck. The officers who had left their beds naked in the morning, when the ship overset, had not an article of clothes to put on, nor could their friends supply them. Ths shafts had not been over-board ten minutes before I was informed the tiller had broke short in the rudder-head, and before the chocks could be placed the rudder itself was gone; thus we were as much disastered as it was possible to be, lying at the mercy of the wind and sea, yet I had one comfort that the pumps, if any thing, reduced the water in the hold, and as the morning came on (the 17th) the weather grew more moderate, the wind having shifted in the gale to N. W.
At day-light I saw two line of battle ships to leeward one had lost her foremast and bowsprit, the other her main-mast; it was the general opinion on board the Centaur, that the one was the Canada, the other the Gloriaux; the Ramalies was not in sight, nor more than 15 sail of Merchant ships.
About 7 o’clock in the morning I saw a line of battle ship a-head of us, which I soon distinguished to be the Ville de Paris, with all her masts standing. I immediately gave orders to make the signal of distress, hoisting the ensign on the stump of the mizzen-mast, union downwards, and fired one of the forecastle guns, the ensign blew away soon after hoisting, and it was the only one we had remaining, but I had the satisfaction to see the Ville de Paris wear and stand towards us, several of the merchant ships also approached us, and those that could hailed, and offered their assistance, but depending upon
