After this I was supplied, for my money, with every thing I could desire, from the Company's stores, without any further difficulty.

A pilot was ordered to attend me, and on the 22d, we anchored at Onrust, where, having cleared the ship, and put her stores on board the Company's vessel, we found the bowsprit and cap, as well as the main yard, rotten, and altogether unserviceable, the sheathing every where eaten off by the worms, and the main planks of the ship's bottom so much damaged and decayed, that it was absolutely necessary to heave her down, before she could be sufficiently repaired to sail for Europe; but as other ships were already heaved down, and consequently the wharfs at this time pre-occupied, the carpenters could not begin their work till the 24th of July.

Under the hands of these people the ship continued till Tuesday the 16th of August. When they came to examine her bottom, they found it so bad that they were unanimously of opinion it should be shifted: this, however, I strenuously opposed; I knew she was an old ship, and I was afraid that if her bottom was opened it might be found still worse than it was thought, and possibly so bad as that, like the Falmouth, she might be condemned; I therefore desired that a good sheathing only might be put over all; but the bawse, or master carpenter, would not consent, except I would certify under my hand, that what should be done to the ship was not according to his judgment but my own, which he said was necessary for his justification, if, after such repairs only as I thought fit to direct had been made, the ship should come short of her port. As I thought this a reasonable proportion, I readily complied; but as I was now become answerable for the fate of the ship, I had her carefully examined by my own carpenter and his mate, myself and officers always attending. The but ends of the planks that joined to the stern were so open, that a man's hand might be thrust in between; seven chain-plates were broken and decayed, the iron work, in general, was in a very bad state; several of the knees were loose, and some of them were broken.

Voyaging Accounts