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