are compelled to undertake long voyages, as
proved the case with this one; for, missing
the ship, after a great deal of useless cruizing
in search of her, they had to run for Tristan
d’Acunha, in hopes of finding her there;
thus performing a long and boisterous passage
in a little sloop of only fifteen tons, just nailed
together, and with scarcely any provisions on
board. However, they arrived here safe ; but
there was no anchorage or shelter for them.
Worn down with fatigue and anxiety, Smith
secured the shallop in the best way he could,
and then went on shore and abandoned her.
Shortly after, the ship arrived: the captain
put fresh hands on board; and the late commander
was so struck with the unfavourable
appearance, and bad constructions that might
be put upon his abandoning his vessel, that he
fled into the woods in a state of distraction ;
nor did he return to the settlement till ship
and shallop had both left the island. It was
shortly after this that I arrived; and he was
then in a state of most deplorable insanity;
but still his misfortunes seemed to weigh as
heavily as ever upon him. The idea of his
having abandoned his charge seemed always
present to his imagination. At length, quite
exhausted with mental suffering, he perished
in the manner I have related.
Since my arrival, I have been unanimously
appointed chaplain; and every Sunday we
have the whole service of the Church of Ena:-
land read, Mr. Glass acting as my clerk: and
it is really a gratifying sight to behold the
cleanly and orderly state in which the men
appear; all the children are dressed in their
best, and they all pay the utmost attention
during Divine service. I am also schoolmaster
to the elder children, who are pretty forward
in reading; and their parents are so anxious
for their improvement, that it gives me the
greatest pleasure to be able to assist them in
so laudable an undertaking; though, to be
sure, we are sadly at a loss for books, paper,
pens, and all other school materials. Their
parental exertions (poor fellows) would not
avail much ; the state of literature being but
at a very low ebb amongst them ; but what
little information they have, they all endeavour
to teach the children. One of the men