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pieces. At eleven in the forenoon, the wind ⟨came⟩ to the Weſt-ward, and the weather clearing up, ⟨the⟩ Berry-head was diſtinguiſhable bearing North ⟨and⟩ by Eaſt, diſtant four or five leagues; they ⟨now⟩ immediately bent at other fore ſail, erected a ju(illegible text) main-maſt, and ſet a top-gallant ſail for a ⟨main⟩ ſail, under which ſail they bore up for Portſmouth and employed the remainder of the day in getting up a jury mizen-maſt.
About two in the morning on Friday the 6th, the ſhip ſtill driving, and approaching very faſt ⟨to⟩ the ſhore, Mr. Henry Meriton, went into the cuddy, where the Captain then was, and a converſation took place, Captain Pierce expreſſing extreme anxiety for the preſervation of his beloved daughters, and earneſtly aſking the officer if ⟨he⟩ could deviſe any means of ſaving them, and on ⟨his⟩ anſwering with great concern that he feared it would be impoſſible, but that their only chance would ⟨be⟩ to wait for the morning, the Captain lifted up ⟨his⟩ hands in ſilent and diſtreſsful ejaculation.
At this dreadful moment the ſhip ſtruck with ſuch violence as to daſh the heads of thoſe who were ſtanding in the cuddy, againſt the deck above them, and the fatal blow was accompanied by ⟨a⟩ ſhriek of horror, which burſt at one inſtant from every quarter of the ship.
Mr. Meriton, the officer, whom we have already mentioned, at this criſis of horror, offered to the deſponding crew, the beſt advice which could poſſibly be given to them; he recommended their coming all to that ſide of the ſhip which lay loweſt on the rocks, and ſingly to take the opportunities which might then offer of eſcaping to the ſhore. And having thus provided to the utmoſt of his power for their ſafety, he returned to the round-houſe where by this time all the paſſengers, and moſt ⟨of⟩
