Tuesday the 18th, this day the carpenter, who has all along been indefatigable in working about the long-boat, saw one of the seamen cutting up an anchor-stock for firewood, which had been designed for a particular use for the long-boat; at sight of the fellow’s folly he could not contain himself:  This affair, added to the little concern and intolerable indifference that appeared in the generality of the people, for some time impaired his understanding, and made him delirious; all possible methods are used to restore him, as he is the only man, who, through the assistance of Providence, can compleat the means of our deliverance.

Wednesday the 19th, the carpenter was so much recovered, that he went to work as usual; at night the lieutenant acquainted us, that the captain desired to speak with the carpenter and me to-morrow at noon, to consult what should be done with the two prisoners, having received but four hundred lashes out of the six, to which they were sentenced by a court-martial, the other two hundred being remitted by their own officers.

Thursday the 20th, we waited on the captain, who acquainted us with what the lieutenant had mentioned last night relating to the prisoners:  We told him the people were very uneasy about this mitigation of the punishment indicted on them by a court-martial; therefore it was agreed they should provide for themselves as well as they could, but to have no sort of provisions out of the store-tent for the future.

Saturday, the 22d, we begun upon several contrivances to get provisions, such as building punts, cask-boats, leather-boats, and the like.

On Sunday the 23d, the store-tent was again robbed, and, on examination, was found a deficiency of twelve days brandy for ninety men:  The lieutenant, myself, and carpenter, went to the captain to consult some way which might effectually prevent those villainous practices for the future:  The captain desired us to make a nice inquiry into this robbery, being determined to inflict the severest punishment on the offenders; though it would give him the greatest concern if any innocent person should suffer.  This day we confined one of the sentinels for being drunk on his post; the day following the boatswain gave us information of the persons who had robbed the tent; they were two sentinels, Smith and Butler; those very persons were the first who insisted that the seamen, as well as themselves, should watch the store-tent; their own officers, as yet, have brought them to no examination:  We have also information that the purser holds frequent conversation with the rebels, contrary to all the laws of the navy, supplying them with liquors in abundance, to the great distress of his majesty’s faithful subjects, who have but half a pint per day to subsist on.  There are now great disturbances among the people concerning going to the northward; they believe Captain C——­p never intended to return to England by his proposing this way, in opposition to the opinion of all the navigators, who have given reasons for going through the Streights of Magellan.  There is a sort of a party rage among the people, fomented by a kind of bribery that has more influence on the seamen than money; there are some daily bought off by rum, and other strong liquors.  Unless a stop is put to these proceedings, we shall never go off the spot.