fined by strong walls, we by water. The least movement, without clinging fast, would have launched us into eternity. Some unfortunate wretches drank salt water; several their own urine; some chewed leather; myself and many more chewed lead, from which we found considerable relief, by reason of its drawing the saliva, which we swallowed. In less than an hour after the ship first struck the ground, all the provisions were under water, so that it was impossible to procure any. After the most painful night that it is possible to conceive, on day-light appearing, we observed Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam again endeavouring to launch the boat. Several attempts were made without success, a number of men belonging to the merchant ships being much bruised and hurt in assisting; alternate hopes and fears now pervaded our wretched minds; fifteen men got safe on shore this morning, on pieces of the wreck. About three in the afternoon of the 4th, we had the inexpressible happiness of seeing the boat launched through the surf, by the indefatigable exertion of the above officers, assisted by the masters of the merchant ships, with a number of Portuguese peasants, who were encouraged by Mr. Whitney, the British consul from Figuiera. All the crew then remaining on the wreck were brought safe on shore, praising God for their happy deliverance from a shipwreck which has never had its parallel. As soon as I stept out of the boat, I found several persons whose humanity prompted them to offer me sustenance, though improperly, in spirits, which I avoided as much as possible. Our weak state may be conceived, when it is considered that we received no nourishment from Sunday to Wednesday afternoon, and were continually exposed to the fury of the elements; the greater part of us were badly bruised and wounded. After eating and drinking a little, I found myself weaker than before, occasioned, I apprehend, from having been so long without either. Some men died soon after getting on shore, from imprudently drinking too large a quantity of spirits. About 40 sail of merchant ships were wrecked at the same time on this dreadful beach; but as they drew a less draught of water than the frigate, they were of course driven much closer to the shore than her and although the number of persons that perished in them was very considerable, not a soul remained on board either after the first morning. Thus was lost one of the finest frigates in the British navy, with 61 of her officers and crew.”
The Carysfort and about 30 sail of merchantmen escaped a similar fate by wearing without orders from Captain Dixon, shortly after the wind had shifted, in the evening of April 1st. The surviving officers and men of the Apollo had to march to Figuiera, a distance of eighteen miles, whence they were conveyed in a schooner to Lisbon, and there received on board the Orpheus frigate for a passage to Portsmouth.
Lieutenant Harvey subsequently served in the Amethyst
