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From: <>
Subject: Townsend's Tale 2
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 14:44:20 EST

I believe I did not state who we had on board in fact I hardly knew at that
time. There are as follows -

Mr. DAWSON Chief Agent to the Australian Company.
Mr. EBSWORTH, his clerk
Mr. HALL, Woolsorter
Mr. HOLLANDE, Surgeon
Mr. SMITH, Chief Mate
Mr. WRIGHT, Second Mate

these all Mess and live in the principle Cabins on Deck beside which there are
in the Cabins below a Mr. ALLEN, wife and family consisting of 6 children and
11 Men, 8 Women and 19 Children sent out by the Company. Our crew consists of
27 Captain MONCRIEFF included, so that we altogether number about 80 living
persons. We have also on board 340 Sheep, 8 Head of Cattle, 10 Dogs, so many
Pigs, Dozens of Geese, Ducks and Fowls.
We are now crossing the Bay of Biscay and I assure you I have seen as much
motion in the Thames as there is here at present. We have but little Wind -
and this may account for it in some measure.

A Short Divine Service was performed in board this Morning / Sunday June 20th
/ by Mr. DAWSON, it consisted of a Prayer, a Chapter and a Short Discourse
which Mr. DAWSON read from a Book of Sermons.

A circumstance occurred yesterday / July 1st. / which might have proved fatal
to us all in about two o'clock in the afternoon we discerned a Sail some
distance to the Windward of us, She seemed endeavouring to near us, our
Captain thought her action strange and Kept on Deck in the pouring rain till
10 o'clock. About this time She came near enough for the Captain to hail her
which he did and She returned answer she was bound for Madeira but she still
continued to bear down upon us and soon came near enough for us to have a
moonlight view and our Captain immediately perceived her to be an Algerian
Piratical Schooner and appeared to be preparing to board us.

All hands were immediately called up and armed, some Muskets were discharged
as a signal to THE BROTHERS the vessel that sailed from Cowes in company with
us which She "though at some distance" heard and made the best of her way to
us. In the mean time there appeared to be a great bustle on board the Pirate,
when she suddenly crossed our Bows, and having laid to a short time as if
reconnoitring us, she shipped off again to the Starboard of us and went away
making all sail.

It is generally supposed on board of us that she must have imagined we were
transports with Cavalry on board, as We were so expeditious in firing and more
particularly as she must have had an indistinct view of the HAY in our Chains.
However she must have been intimidated as we have seen nothing more of her.
It is quite impossible to describe the consternation that reigned on board
during the late transaction. I mean among the Women and Children and it will
no doubt be some time before they regain their accustomed composure. For my
own part I did not feel alarmed for I thought it would come to nothing.

Came in sight of Teneriffe this day / July 5 / had an indistinct view of the
Peak which is amazing high.

I forgot to mention we passed Madeira on the 3rd of this month. We had a
very poor view of the Western side of it which is a rock very hight but quite
inaccessible. It was the intention of our Agent to put in there at first for
a supply of water and fruit, but by the time we reached it he determined to
pass and will probably let us put in at Rio Janario (sic) a Spanish Port in
South America. If that should be the Case, I shall endeavour to forward this
letter from thence. The Day we passed Madeira THE BROTHERS came alongside and
our Agent went on board and the Captain and found all well.

This morning / 11 July / The Boatswain got his Jaw Bone broken in consequence
of fighting with another Man. The Boatswain gave the provocation and also
struck the first blow therefore has nobody but himself to thank for his pain.
15th. We had this day the first breeze we have had since we have been on
board it frightened the Women and Children a little and made them sick. The
heat is very powerful hereabouts the thermometer stands between 80 and 90. We
are about 12 Degrees from the Equinoctial line.

regards - Dione
Dover, Kent, England,
www.familytreemaker.com/users/c/o/u/Dione-M-Coumbe/

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