ings of Heaven, was much more probably than what would have been exhibited by many females in my situation⚫—the extremity of the misfortune, with the certainty of its being inevitable, served to supply me with a sort of seeming firmness. My poor husband⚫ in his endeavors to reconcile me to my fate, seemed to forget his own perilous situation; indeed his visible steadiness and resolution happily imposed so far upon the whole crew, that it inspired them even in the instant of destruction, with such confidence in him, that rendered them attentive and obedient to his directions.

Never could a night be passed in more wretchedness! the storm again gathered, and while the rain fell in torrents, the waves rising every instant, covered our bark, and rolled their mountains over our heads; in such a situation, stretched along on the outside of the hulk, fastening ourselves to every thing we could lay hold of, drenched through with rain, spent with constant efforts we were obliged to exert against the fury of the waves which endeavored to wash us off from our hold, we at length perceived the morning’s dawn, only to afford us a clearer view of the dangers we had passed, and those we had yet to encounter.

This prospect of our situation appeared still more tremendous; we perceived indeed that we were not far from land, but saw it was not possible for us to reach it. The raging of the sea would have daunted the stoutest and most expert swimmer; for