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Read Ebook: A narrative of the sufferings preservation and deliverance of Capt. John Dean and company in the Nottingham galley of London cast away on Boon-Island near New England December 11 1710 by Dean John Dean Jasper Editor
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Ebook has 13 lines and 4341 words, and 1 pages
sorrow, and for further trial of our Patience, the next day continu'd very stormy, so that, tho' we doubted not but the people on shore knew our condition, and wou'd assist us as soon as possible, yet our flesh being near spent, no fresh water, nor any certainty how long the weather might continue thus, render'd our circumstance still miserable, tho' much advantag'd by the fire, for now we you'd both warm our selves, and broil our meat.
The next day our Men urging me vehemently for flesh, I gave them a little more than usual, but not to their satisfaction, for they wou'd certainly have eat up the whole at once, had I not carefully watch'd 'em, designing to share the rest next morning if the weather continu'd bad: But it pleased God that night the wind abated and early next morning a Shallop came for us, with my much esteemed friends Captain Long and Captain Purver and three more who brought a large Canoe, and in two hours time got us all on Board to their Satisfaction and our great comfort: being forc'd to carry almost all the men on their backs, from the Tent to the Canoe, and fetch us off by two or three at a time.
When we first came on board the Shallop, each of us eat a bit of bread and drank a dram of Rum, and most of us were extreamly Sea Sick; but after we had cleans'd our stomachs, and tasted warm nourishing food, we became so exceeding hungry and ravenous, that had not our worthy friends dieted us we shou'd certainly have destroy'd our selves with eating.
We had also two other vessels came off for our assistance, if there had been any necessity but seeing us all on board the shallop made the best of their way home again.
At eight at night we came on shore, where we were kindly entertain'd, myself and another at a private house all the rest at the charge of the Government who took such care that the poor men knew not the least want of any thing their necessitys call'd for or the kind and generous gentlemen cou'd furnish them with providing them a good Surgeon and Nurses till well, bearing the charge, and afterwards allowing each man sufficient cloathing; having themselves in the whole with so much Freedom, Generosity and Christian Temper, that was no small addition to their other services, and render'd the whole worthy both of admiration and Imitation; and likewise was of the last consequence to the poor men in their distress.
Two days after we came on shore my apprentice lost a great part of one foot, the rest all recover'd their limbs, but not their perfect use. Very few escaping without losing the benefit of Fingers or Toes, &c. tho' thank God all otherwise in perfect Health; some sailing one way and some another: my Mate and two or three more now in England at the Publication hereof.
POSTSCRIPT
Such a base and villainous Reflection scarce merrits the Trouble of an Answer, were not Truth and Reputation so much concern'd: Therefore, as to the Business of Ireland, 'tis really preposterous but being chac'd by two large Privateers, in their Passage North-about to Killibegs, and standing in betwixt the Islands of Arran and the Main, to prevent being taken; the Commander and Mr. Whitworth agreed to run the Ship on Shore and burn her rather than be carry'd into France and lose all. But being near, they recover'd their Port, and proceeded on their Voyage.
And as for the other Part of the Charge, of willfully losing her at Boon Island, one wou'd wonder Malice itself cou'd invent or suggest any thing so ridiculous, and which wou'd certainly be credited by nobody, that considers the extream Hazards and Difficulties suffer'd by the Commander himself, as well as his Men, where 'twas more than Ten Thousand to one, but every Man had perish'd: And wou'd certainly have chose another Place to have effected it, if we had such a Design: But alas, what will not vain impotent Malice say, when it intends Injury? Were the Persons reflecting, but to suffer the like Extreamities they'd be feelingly convinc't. But this Matter speaking so plainly for it self, we think it needless to add more, therefore proceed to the last part of the Charge Ensurance.
We presume Interest only can induce Men to such Villainies, therefore to let the World see how little we gain by the Matter in Hand, as also further to expose the malicious and injurious Scandal, we fairly and voluntarily offer: If any Person can make out that Jasper Dean or Miles Whitworth or John Dean Commander of the said Ship, they jointly or separatly, or any others for their Accounts, or for their Use or Advantage, directly or indirectly, or they for the Use or Benefit of any others, in any Manner whatsoever, have ensur'd or caus'd to be ensur'd, in Britain or elsewhere, any more than ?250 to Ireland and ?300 from these to Boston in New England if any Person can make out more, they are desired to publish it by Way of Advertisement in some common News Paper and we undernam'd do hereby promise to make the utmost Satisfaction, and stand convict to be the greatest Villains in the Universe.
And now, let the World judge whether 'tis reasonable to imagine we shou'd willfully lose a good Ship of 120 Tuns, besides a valuable Interest in Cargoe in such a Place, where the Commander must unavoidably run the utmost Hazard of perishing in the most miserable Manner, and all this to recover ?226. 17s. how absurd and ridiculous is such a Supposition, and yet this is the Reproach we at present labour under, so far as to receive daily ignominious Scandals upon our Reputations, and injurious Affronts and Mobbings to our Faces. Yet we solemnly profess, we are not conscious of the least Guilt, nor even in this Account, of the least Errours in Representation.
JASPER DEAN JOHN DEAN MILES WHITWORTH
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