“I desire also hereby to appoint Henry Thornton, Sen., Esq., of Holby Pembroke, Solicitor, my executor and the guardian of my son Courtenay, to whom I bequeath a father’s blessing and all that I possess. Let him try to secure my money in Cape Town for my boy, and, if possible, to regain for him the four thousand pounds which Potts has carried off.
“Along with this manuscript I also inclose the strangling cord.
“May God have mercy upon my soul! Amen.
“LIONEL DESPARD.”
“July 28.—Since I wrote this there has been a series of tremendous storms. The weather has cleared up again. I have seen no land and no ship.
“July 31.—Land to-day visible at a great distance on the south. I know not what land it may be. I can not tell in what direction I am drifting.
“August 2.—Land visible toward the southwest. It seems like the summit of a range of mountains, and is probably fifty miles distant.
“August 5.—A sail appeared on the horizon. It was too distant to perceive me. It passed out of sight.
“August 10.—A series of severe gales. The sea always rolls over the brig in these storms, and sometimes seems about to carry her down.
“August 20.—Storms and calms alternating. When will this end?