Wednesday the 27th, moderate gales at W. steered N. and sail'd all day within a cable's length of the shore in three fathom water. We have now nothing but a little water to support nature. At noon had an observation, latitude in 32: 40 south: I reckon myself 18 leagues from the Rio Grand, and hope to see it in the morning.

Thursday the 28th, kept the shore close aboard, and sounded every half hour, not caring to go within three fathom, nor keep without five, sailing along by the lead all night. At six in the morning saw the opening of the river Grand; kept within the breakers of the bar, having at some times not above seven feet water at half flood; steer'd N.E. by E. until the river's mouth was fairly open; then steer'd N. and N.N.W. until abreast of the town; anchored on the east shore in two fathom water. There presently came a boat from the shore, with a serjeant of the army, and one soldier. The lieutenant, myself, and Mr Cummins, with Captain P----n of the land forces, went on shore with them. The commandant, the officers, and people of the place, receiv'd us in a most tender and friendly manner. They instantly sent on board to the people four quarters of beef, and two bags of Farine bread. We were conducted to the surgeon's house, the handsomest habitation in the place, where we were most hospitably entertain'd. At four in the afternoon the governor came to town; After a strict enquiry into our misfortunes, and the reasons of our coming into this port, being somewhat doubtful that we might be inspectors of their coast, he began to examine me, the lieutenant having reported me to him as pilot. He ask'd me if there was a chart of the coast on board; and, if not, how it was possible we could hit the bar, and venture into so hazardous a place as this is? I told him, as for a chart, we had none of any kind, but I had a good observation the day before, that our vessel drew but a small draught of water, that we kept a lead always going, and in the necessity we were in, we were oblig'd, at all events, to venture, and if we had not seen the opening of the river before night, we must have been compell'd to run the vessel ashore. He examin'd me also concerning the places we stopt at, from Cape Virgin Mary to this port, and more particularly relating to the river Plate. He was very nice in his enquiry of our putting in at Cape St Mary's, and of the bearings and distance along shore from thence to this port. When he thoroughly satisfy'd himself, he embraced us and blest himself to think of our deliverance, which he term'd a miracle. He offer'd every thing the country could afford to our relief; the sick were order'd to be taken care of in the hospital: He took the lieutenant and the land officers home with him, and desired the commandant to see that the rest of the officers and people wanted for nothing. Before he went he inform'd us, that his majesty's ships the Severn and Pearl were at Rio Janeiro, in great distress; that they had sent to England for men, and could not sail from thence until the arrival of the Flota, which would be in May or June. He also told us, that we should be dispatch'd in the first vessel which arriv'd in this port, for he did not think we could with safety go any farther in our own, and that there could not be found twelve seamen in the Brazils that would venture over the bar in her to sail to Rio Janeiro; therefore he order'd our little Speedwell ashore: This wonder the people are continually flocking to see; and it is now about nine months since we were cast away in the Wager; in which time, I believe, no mortals have experienc'd more difficulties and miseries than we have. This day may be justly stiled the day of our deliverance, and ought to be remember'd accordingly.

Sunday the 31st, little or nothing remarkable since the day we came in, only a wonderful change in our diet, live on the best the country can produce, and have plenty of every thing. This afternoon the governor, commandant, and commissary, came on board, to see our little Speedwell; they were surpriz'd that thirty souls, the number of people now living, could be stowed in so small a vessel; but that she could contain the number which first embark'd with us was to them amazing, and beyond all belief: They could not conceive how the man at the helm could steer without falling overboard, there not being above four inches rise from the deck. I told them he sat down, and clapp'd his feet against the rise, and show'd them in what manner we secured ourselves. The governor, after viewing the vessel over, told us, we were more welcome to him in the miserable condition we arriv'd than if we had brought all the wealth in the world with us. At the same time he fully assur'd us, we should be supply'd with every thing that the country could afford; that he would dispatch us the first opportunity to Rio Janeiro, and whenever we stood in need of any thing, he order'd us to acquaint the commandant, and our wants should be instantly supply'd. He then took leave of us, and wished us well. All the deference and dutiful respect we could shew him, to express a grateful sense of his favour, was by manning the vessel, and giving him three cheers. The next day arriv'd at this place the brigadier-governor of the island St Catharine; he came close by our vessel, we mann'd her, and gave him three cheers. The soldiers of the garrison, having twenty months arrears due to them, expected the brigadier was coming to pay them, but when they found themselves disappointed, they made a great disturbance among themselves. I apply'd to the commandant for a house, the vessel, in rainy weather, not being fit to live in; he order'd me one joining to his own, and gave me the key. I took with me Mr Cummins, Mr Jones, Mr Snow, Mr Oakley, and the cooper; we brought our trifling necessaries on shore, and remov'd to our new habitation: Here we were dry and warm, and though we had no bedding, we lodg'd very comfortably. Since the loss of the Wager, we have been used to lie hard; at present we think ourselves very happily fix'd, and heartily wish that all the persons who surviv'd the loss of the ship were in so good a situation as ourselves.

Tuesday, February the 2d, 1741-2, great murmurings among the soldiers; they detain'd the brigadier from going back, as he intended, this morning, till he promis'd to dispatch the money, cloaths, and provisions, and to see their grievances adjusted. On those terms they have agreed he shall go; and this evening he return'd for St Catharine's. We apprehended, till now, that the right officers were in place; but we find ourselves mistaken. Some time before we arrived here, there was an insurrection among the soldiers: Their design was against the governor; but by his address, and fair promises of seeing them righted, he diverted the storm from himself, and got himself continued in his station, as were also the major and commissary. The soldiers dismiss'd the rest of the officers, and supply'd their places with their own people; though they were lately private men, they appear'd very grand, and were not distinguish'd in dress from proper officers. The disturbance at Rio Grand is of no service to us, for we feel the effects of it, our allowance is now so small that it will hardly support nature, the people have been without Farina, which is their bread, for some days past. We apply'd to the governor, who promis'd to supply us the next day; accordingly we went for a supply, which created fresh murmurings among the soldiers; however we got a small quantity of bread to supply us for ten days. The store-keeper shew'd me all the provisions, which, considering there were a thousand to draw their subsistence from it, was a small stock indeed, and not above six weeks at the present allowance. He told me we were serv'd equally with the soldiers, and when more stores came, which they shortly expected, our allowance should be encreas'd. I think, in reason, this is as much as we can expect. The lieutenant not coming nigh us since our first landing, I went with the people up to him at the governor's, about two miles from this port, to endeavour to prevail with him to get us dispatch'd, acquainting him of the call and necessity there was for our assistance on board the two distress'd ships at Rio Janeiro. He said he had spoke to the governor, and could not get us dispatch'd till another vessel came in. I told him, as the garrison were in want of provisions, what we were living on here would carry us off, and if any misfortune should attend the vessel expected in with the provisions, we should be put very hard to it for a subsistence. He promis'd to acquaint the governor; on which I took my leave.

February the 17th, this evening came into this garrison three seamen, giving an account of their belonging to a vessel with provisions and stores for this place, from Rio Janeiro, that they had been from thence three months, and had been off the bar waiting an opportunity to come in; that not having any fresh water aboard, they were oblig'd to come to an anchor ten leagues to the southward of this port, that a canoe was sent with those three men to fill the water, but the wind coming in from the sea, and blowing hard, oblig'd the vessel to put to sea, and leave them ashore, from whence they travelled here, and believ'd the vessel was gone to St Catharine's. The governor, not satisfy'd with this report, took them for spies, and kept them as such. However, in a day or two afterwards, he dispatch'd a pilot and two seamen for the island St Catharine, to bring the vessel round, in case she should be there.

I took this opportunity of sending a letter by them to the Honourable Captain Murray, commander of his majesty's ship the Pearl, at Rio Janeiro; desiring them to order it to be dispatch'd by the first ship from St Catharine's to the Rio Janeiro.

"Honourable Sir,

"I take it as a duty incumbent on me to acquaint you that his majesty's ship the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island on the coast of Patagonia, in the latitude of 47 00 S. and W. longitude from the meridian of London 81 30, on the 14th of May, 1741. After lengthening the longboat, and fitting her in the best manner we could, launched her on the 13th of October, and embarked and sailed, on the 14th, with the barge and cutter, to the number of eighty-one souls in all. Captain Cheap,--at his own request, tarried behind, with Lieutenant Hamilton, and Mr Elliot, the surgeon. After a long and fatiguing passage, coming through the Streights of Magellan, we arrived here the 28th of January, 1741-2, bringing into this port alive to the number of thirty, viz.

Robert Beans, lieutenant
John Bulkeley, gunner
John Cummins, carpenter
Robert Elliot, surgeon's mate
John Jones, master's mate
John Snow, ditto
John Mooring, boatswain's mate
John Young, cooper
William Oram, carpenter's crew
John King, boatswains
Nicholas Griselham, seaman
Samuel Stook, ditto
James Mac Cawlo, ditto
William Lane, ditto
John Montgomery, ditto
John George, ditto
Richard East, ditto
James Butler, ditto
John Pitman, ditto
Job Barns, seaman
John Shoreham, ditto
Thomas Edmunds, ditto
Richard Powell, ditto
Diego Findall, (the Portugueze boy).
Captain Robert Pemberton, of his majesty's
land forces
Lieutenants Ewers and Fielding, ditto
Vincent Oakley, surgeon of ditto
And two marines.

All which are living at present, and waiting an opportunity of a passage in a Portugueze vessel, our own not being in a condition to proceed any farther, having no sails, and being so bad in all other respects, that the governor will not suffer us to hazard our lives in her, but hath promised to dispatch us in the very first vessel that arrives in this port, where we, with impatience, are obliged to tarry. We humbly pay our duty to Captain Leg, praying the representation of this to him. From, Most honourable Sir, Yours, &c."