John King, boatswains
Nicholas Griselham, seaman
Samuel Stook, ditto
James Mac Cawlo, ditto
William Lane, ditto
John Montgomery, ditto
John George, ditto
Richard East, ditto
James Butler, ditto
John Pitman, ditto
Job Barns, seaman
John Shoreham, ditto
Thomas Edmunds, ditto
Richard Powell, ditto
Diego Findall, (the Portugueze boy).
Captain Robert Pemberton, of his majesty’s
land forces
Lieutenants Ewers and Fielding, ditto
Vincent Oakley, surgeon of ditto
And two marines.
All which are living at present, and waiting an opportunity of a passage in a Portugueze vessel, our own not being in a condition to proceed any farther, having no sails, and being so bad in all other respects, that the governor will not suffer us to hazard our lives in her, but hath promised to dispatch us in the very first vessel that arrives in this port, where we, with impatience, are obliged to tarry. We humbly pay our duty to Captain Leg, praying the representation of this to him. From, Most honourable Sir, Yours, &c.”
Saturday the 20th, last night the three seamen which came here, as mention’d before, with five more of this place, attempted to run away with one of the large boats; but they were pursu’d and taken: Their design was for the river Plate, the wind then favouring them. This was evident, that the governor was right in his conjecture, and did not suspect them wrongfully; they are now prisoners in the guard-house. The next morning I went to the lieutenant, desiring him to apply to the governor for a pass and horses for myself, Mr Cummins, and John Young, to go by land to St Catharine’s and St Francisco, where we need not doubt of a passage to his majesty’s distress’d ships at Rio Janeiro: That it was our duty to hasten to their assistance: That he, the lieutenant, ought, the very day after our arrival into this port, without any regard to expence and charges, to have dispatch’d a special messenger by land, and then we might have been assur’d of a vessel before now. The lieutenant answer’d, he had a thought of enquiring at first coming about what I had mention’d, and of going himself, tho’ it cost him fifty pounds; but he was inform’d it was impossible to go by land. I ask’d him, If so how came the brigadier from St Catharine’s here? As for fatigue or trouble, whoever undertook to go, he must expect that; but there was no hardship to be encounter’d comparable to what we had already undergone. We lay here on expence to the king, without doing any service, and run the hazard of not only losing the opportunity of getting on board our own ships, but perhaps of missing the Flota, and of wintering here, therefore I begg’d he would entreat the governor to let us have horses and guides; which he promis’d to mention to the governor at dinner, and send me his answer in the afternoon without fail. I waited with impatience for this answer; but the lieutenant failing in his promise, was the occasion of my sending him this letter.