stove in her bottom. The sea gained rapidly, and notwithstanding every effort to throw out the water, in the course of an hour, it caused the furniture to float in the captain's cabin. Nothing now of hope presented itself as to saving the ship, and the best means of leaving her claimed instant decision. Rafts were immediately procured, and kept ready to leave, when the ship was sinking. In providing these rafts, the writer of this account was severely wounded, and so far from being able to assist others in effecting their escape, he was obliged to be carried and supported by those whose professions prevented their more active exertions.

Our situation at length became so critical, that many were for taking to the rafts and boats, and casting themselves on the mercy of providence, exposed to the dangers of a tempestuous element, on an unknown coast, in a dark night.

But Oh! for grace to mark the hand of a wonder working God! when the water had

arisen in the ship to such an height that we were just on the eve of quitting her, an extraordinary swell buoyed her over the bank, and almost at the same moment favour. able wind sprung up, which, together with the swell, urged it, like a log in the water, in a state completely unmanageable, to the main land, where we were fixed, and prevented from sinking altogether in the midst of an awful surf. Mercy still followed us, and the ship was soon thrown with one side deep in the sand, and the other rose considerably above the surface of the sea. As attempting to land in the boats was imprac ticable, on account of the breakers, or vio. lence of the waves beating over the ship, and with the foam of which we were surrounded, and often covered, we sat on that part of the ship's side next the stern, till day-light ap-peared, when, through a thick mist, we descried a few large boats on the beach; this revived us again, and as day farther advanced, and cleared away the mist, several men collected on the beach, and appeared to view our distressing situation with more astonish. ment than sympathy; for none of our signs

were effectual, to induce them to make an attempt to relieve us. At length one of our seamen, with that generosity and resolution peculiar to many of them, offered to run the immediate risk of his own life, to save ours; the offer was accepted with gratitude. He threw himself into the surf, and the foaming billows were commissioned to bear him safe ashore.

After many expectations and promises, even of a hat full of money, if the spectators of our distress would launch down their boats, and attempt our release, they at length consented; but what language can describe the joy of every individual on board our ship, when their endeavours were blessed with success beyond our most sanguine expectations. My feelings above all were excited by this safe method of conveyance, for had any great exertion on my part been necessary, I should, probably, have perished in the attempt; for having lost much blood, during so many hours of perilous anxiety; I was conveyed to the shore in a state of debility

On my

and danger, which confined me to my bed near a fortnight, and from which it took me upwards of two months to recover. landing I was surprised to see my chest had been washed out of the ship, and thrown safely on the beach; our place of retreat was an extensive sand, far from any town of note. The few fishermen's houses on the beach were gladly taken possession of, and the captain, officers and crew, formed their divisions by means of a few sails saved from the wreck.

An early opportunity was taken to convey intelligence of our situation to our friends at Lisbon, and a favorable answer soon returned.

The three weeks of our remaining in this inhospitable place, was occupied in saving provisions, and stores from the wreck; at length the joyful news of our being ordered to Lisbon, was received, and vessels arrived to convey us thither; thus did a gracious God preserve our whole crew, and my

own peculiar preservation and recovery, was astonishing indeed!

We took our leave of this place, with little regret, and in a few days again entered the capital, where an abundant supply of fresh provisions, vegetables, fruit, and wine, were provided us. A striking contrast in every respect to our late distresses and privations. A ship being then at Lisbon, bound for Cadiz, we were ordered on board her, to proceed to that station; and with a gentle breeze and fine weather, early in June, we left the Tagus for that purpose.