Sep 11, 1791 Home Providence Log Sep 13, 1791
Revised Aug 25 2021
1 pm: Fair Weather and very Hazy. Sent an Officer on Shore to wait on the Governor
3 pm: Steadied the Ship with the Stream anchor
A Hot Wind from the Land
5 pm: Officer returned with a few Oranges and to inform me we could get no other supplies untill the Morning. Place Sickly.
8 pm: Got the Stream Anchor up and hove short, and as soon as I sent my Letters on board the Schooner that was bound to Boston, we began to get under sail.
12 am: After heaving a great strain by purchases on the Cable, it parted in the Hawse. The Buoy Rope gave way at the same time & we drifted to Sea without the Bower Anchor.
4 am: Fresh Breezes and fair Weather
9 am: Employed Washing & Cleaning Ship
Served Vinegar as usual on this day to the People.
12 pm: Fresh Breezes and fair Weather but very Hazy and the Wind Hot.
Assistant in Company
My Illness seemed to increase on our Anchoring at Port Praya, a more miserable burnt up and inhospitable place I never beheld. The Shore is low, barren and Rockey, the interior parts Mountainous without a single spot of verdure to delight the Eye, or invite a Stranger to land. The Wind came in heated blasts from the Shore, and I saw so little advantage to be gained by my stay here, that I should have Weighed instantly, if the Surgeon had not recommended to me to send ashore to procure fruit. This was done without delay, and a few Oranges were procured, with a promise of other supplies in the Morning. Mr. Tobin the Lieutenant found the place to be very sickly, he however with Mr. Pearce the Lieutenant of Marines endeavoured to find some elligible place for me for a few days to give a change to my illness; but reports were so unfavorable, that altho a Mr. Marcellyne, Comptroller General of the Factory, very kindly offered his house, and every thing to my use, they considered it much better for me not to land, the Fever which then raged violently, carrying off several persons in a day. This gave a determined change to my plan, and I ordered the Ship to be got to Sea. The anchor having hooked a Rock we were detained untill the Cable parted, & in this interval I got Mr. Harwood the Surgeon to write a few Letters which I had barely strength to dictate, to England by a Schooner that was bound to Boston.
My Fever was now Nervous. I was constantly afflicted with a dreadfull Head Ach and burning heat in my Shin, with a distracted brain on the least Noise; so that to preserve my senses it was necessary a profound silence should be kept in the Ship, and I should be ungratefull not to acknowledge how wonderfully & kindly it was preserved.
We felt a better Air on leaving the Land, of which I never yet saw a description but was better than it merited. I directed the Course to be to the South as the Wind would permit.
From a Mean of the longitudes by Time Keepers reduced to Port Praya, I find its longitude to be 23°..37′..48″ West. Its latitude I take for granted to be as in the Requisite Tables 14°..54′ North.
Sep 11, 1791 Home Providence Log Sep 13, 1791