Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles

We began now to build a flat bottomed float of the Plank & Timber, laying three Plank's width for the bottom, and two up side, with some Canvas like a wast cloth upon that, to keep the Sea out the better; but so few hands were able to work, and our Carpenter rarely affording his assistance, because of his illness, it was about the 20th. ere we had finished it; and the 21st. proving moderate Weather, it was agreed that my Mate, with 4 or 5 of the Men with me, should endeavour to recover the Main, and send a Vessel for the rest. Accordingly, with much ado, we got it down to the Water side, having first Commended our selves and our enterprise to the blessing of God by earnest Prayer; about Noon we launched the float, being necessitated to wade deep into the Water to accomplish it; but the rolling Surf soon threw us along shore, and over-set us; and it was a great Mercy that we escaped drowning, so feeble were we and unable to help our selves: The Boat presently stove against the Rock, and tho' our enterprise was dashed, and our hopes balked, and the loss of our Axe & Hammer, with the Boat, was great, yet we could not but see the Mercy of God in the midst of Judgment, for in the afternoon, the Wind sprang up and blew hard, that had we been at Sea in that imitation of a Boat, in all probability we had perished; and those we were to have left behind ⟨p. 54⟩would have fared no better because unable to help themselves: Thus our Disappointment (through' the goodness of God) proved our Safety. We were now brought into very Miserable & Melancholy circumstances; the men extreme Weak, their Feet frozen, with deep Ulcers in their Legs; the very smell of them offensive to those of us that could go into the Air, and nothing to dress them with but a piece of linen that was hove up; our small stock of Cheese spent, and nothing left us to support Nature but a few Mussels, scarce, and hard to get, and the Sea-weed that grew upon the Rock; we had now the black prospect of Starving, while our Limbs perished by piece meals; and we were under the afflicting apprehensions lest the Spring Tide, at the approaching Full Moon, should be accompanied with a high Wind and quite over-flow us; besides the aggravating Affliction that all the Vessels we saw pass at a distance, took no notice of our Signal;

We began now to build a flat bottom'd float of the Plank & Timber, laying three Plank's width for the bottom, and two up side, with some Canvas like a wast cloth upon that, to keep the Sea out the better; but so few hands were able to work, and our Carpenter rarely affording his assistance, because of his illness, it was about the 20th. ere we had finished it; and the 21st. proving moderate Weather, it was agreed that my Mate, with 4 or 5 of the Men with me, should endeavour to recover the Main, and send a Vessel for the rest. Accordingly, with much ado, we got it down to the Water side, having first Commended our selves and our enterprize to the blessing of God by earnest Prayer; about Noon we lanched the float, being necessitated to wade deep into the Water to accomplish it; but the rowling Surff soon threw us along shoar, and over-set us; and it was a great Mercy that we escaped drowning, so feeble were we and unable to help our selves: The Boat presently stove against the Rock, and tho' our enterprize was dash'd, and our hopes baulkt, and the loss of our Ax & Hammer, with the Boat, was great, yet we could not but see the Mercy of God in the midst of Judgment, for in the afternoon, the Wind sprang up and blew hard, that had we been at Sea in that imitation of a Boat, in all probability we had perished; and those we were to have left behind