. I 7S3-
AUGUST, own carpenters, however afliduous and ready, would not
have been equal to. The cireumftance of the A ntelope
being fixed, and ffuck to the coral reef, by the rock having
pierced through, her bottom, gave all our people the moffc
flattering hope, that many ufeful and valuable materials for
the purpofe of the new veffel might yet be faved from her,
before any returning hard gales- fnould drive her to pieces.
The fpirits of all our people were renovated, nothing pre-
lented itfelf to them but the future veffel which was to
convey them home; defpondency was chafed from every
blind, and each of the Englifi being appointed to his diftinia
flation by their new mater, having dug up the tools' which
had been buried previoufly to the King’s vifit, as before
mentioned, they all went to work with the utmofl alacrity \
each determined ml n d however he might be) to exert
his abilities and perfonal flrength to promote and aid the
general plan.— Thofe who were appointed of the carpenter’s
crew were defired by Captain Wins on to regard Mr. Barker
as their director, and to receive from him fuch. appointments
and directions in that department, as he fhould judge
moft convenient, after he had experienced their feparate
abilities. Mr. Sharp, the fnrgeon, and Mr. M. W ilson,
were appointed to faw down trees, in which employment
the Captain often worked himfelf. The boatfwain, who
had formerly ferved part of an apprenticefliip to a black-
fmith, now refumed his old avocation, affifted by a mate.
The
The gunner was to fee all the arms kept in good order, arid
hCcafionally to affift the carpenters crew. The Ch'rmje were
employed as labourers, to bring the treefe, when felled, out
of the wood; to ^provide water for prefent ufe, and Tda ftore;
aird fwO of them appointed to waffi the linen, which though
„■ only''linfed in fait water, was a great Tcfrdhment to ouf
people at the dofe of a fultry day,' and after fuch feverity'of
bodily toil as few ©f them before had ever experienced,
i ’Notwithftanding the-above diftributiori, they occafionally
chk'hgedTthein employments^ as. Gircumftances arofe. The
gdtmgmings'out of*the Ihip at the time lhe flruck, as well
as, the iWttentibh'vcCef y' one had to himfelf in that calami-";.
toflVfmoment, asaifo the frequent vifiting and^ getting ma-
.jferials ,f^om her after,' had expofed many of our people to
rreat bruifes and wounds, on which afecount Mr. Sharp vfas
shhcafiohafly taken off from his new employment of fawing
trees, to his more natural one of adminiftering relief to thofe
who ftpod in need of it.
AQ arrangements being now fettled, each went to-his
n e w department, and worked till dark, at which1 fime all
were fummoned to the great tent, where Captain W ilson
read prayers; it being the -requeft of every one to join in
paying unitedly their thankfgivings to that Supreme Being
who■ had not only fo providentially preferved them, but
whofe goodnefs now relieved their drooping fpirits; by
fpreading
1783.
V <* V S T.
7