Antigua
October 2nd 1813
Sir
I had fully
intended leaving the West Indies in this Packet, & meant bringing all the
Barbuda Accounts with me, but on the Eleventh of that month in the very severe
Gale of wins H: M: Ship Woolwich one of the old 44 Gun ships, but not Armed as
of late, together with the Brig Vine
of London were Wrecked on the North side of Barbuda, the Brig was laden with
Lumber, she is lost but the Lumber is now nearly all on shore, & I am
sending it to this Island as fast as possible, it will take some time time to
get it all over, & be rather troublesome business. The Captain of the Woolwich had some hopes of
getting her off, & had sent to the Naval Yard in this Island for
Assistance, the Master ship-wright &
Master Attendant have surveyed her & have given their report to Sir Francis Laforey who I saw yesterday & for the conversation I had with him I think
he will not attempt getting her off as he thinks the chances of not succeeding,
the trouble, work & expense of repairing when got off will be more than her
value. I have (Provided?) (all?) the assistance in my power, but she is too
large a Ship for me to do any thing with,
her own Complement is a bout 120 Men & Boys (??) will be unable to attempt any thing
with less than 300 Men, with that few I
think if she is not Bulged she might be got off; but one great objection
appears to be the improbability of Anchoring her when off, as its rocky Ground
a considerable distance from the Reefs; & the whole of her ballast must be
taken out, the Sea was so very heavy when she came ashore that she is far in,
having not more than 12 or 13 feet water where she now is & she draws 19
feet a draft, the Gale fortunately did not last long or it would have done us a
great deal of mischief the Trees were beginning to fall, the vessels we had at Barbuda
were all driven on shore, but not hurt as the wind shifted soon after &
left them quite dry, we had an immense quantity of rain with it, this is the
fourth Blow we have had this season but they have done us no the mischief than
the top of one of our Vessels Cables, after parting she went to sea. I was very apprehensive for her safety, but
she got to Antigua; this was the Gale in August who being driven off was the
reason of your not hearing from me by the last Packet she was then waiting for my
Letters. Our young Cotton was injured by the last Wind but I hope it will
recover, if it does, I think we may (??) from
thirty to fifty Bales which I will thank you to order
out with your Antigua stores. I have had some conversation with Admiral Laforey about supplying the Navy with
Beef he has promised to write me is as soon as he has seen the Commissioner at English Harbour, he is
much dissatisfied with the Contractor for not supplying him good Beef, I told
the Admiral my reason for not letting him have Cattle from Barbuda; we have
great plenty of Cattle on the Island, should you think of taking either of the
Contracts I would recommend the Army as we should then know the exact daily
consumption. The short time I have to write
you will not allow me to enter into particulars I was not aware of the Boat
following the Packet so soon & therefore only left Barbuda Yesterday I will
again return tomorrow.
Inclosed I have the pleasure of sending you four Bills of
Exchange Viz. two of £226: 2:3 each one of £135: 2:2 & one of £50: 7:6
making together £638: 14: 2 Sterling also the second of the two Bills sent with
my last of 29 July one for £150 the other 50£ Sterling which I hope you will
receive safe.
I am
Sir
Your most
Obedient & Humble
Servant
(signed) John
James
Accessed through Simon Fraser University library
No comments:
Post a Comment