Volume Xvii Part 32 (1/2)
When I got to the Borough, I took a coach and drove to Marlborough-street, where my friends had lived when I left England; but when I came there, I found the house shut up. Having been absent so many years, and in all that time never having heard a word from home, I knew not who was dead or who was living, or where to go next, or even how to pay the coachman. I recollected a linen-draper's shop, not far from thence, which our family had used. I therefore drove there next, and making myself known, they paid the coachman. I then enquired after our family, and was told my sister had married Lord Carlisle, and was at that time in Soho-square. I immediately walked to the house, and knocked at the door; but the porter not liking my figure, which was half French half Spanish, with the addition of a large pair of boots covered with dirt, he was going to shut the door in my face, but I prevailed with him to let me come in.
I need not acquaint my readers with what surprise and joy my sister received me. She immediately furnished me with money sufficient to appear like the rest of my countrymen; and till that time I could not be properly said to have finished all the extraordinary scenes which a series of unfortunate adventures had kept me in for the s.p.a.ce of five years and upwards.
A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH-SEAS, IN THE YEARS 1740, AND 1741:
CONTAINING
A faithful NARRATIVE of the Loss of his Majesty's s.h.i.+p the WAGER, on a desolate Island in the Lat.i.tude 47 South, Longitude 81: 40 West: With the Proceedings and Conduct of the Officers and Crew, and the Hards.h.i.+ps they endured in the said Island for the s.p.a.ce of five Months; their bold Attempt for Liberty, in coasting the Southern Part of the vast Region of Patagonia; setting out with upwards of eighty Souls in their Boats; the Loss of the Cutter; their Pa.s.sage through the Streights of Magellan; an Account of their Manner of Living in the Voyage on Seals, Wild Horses, Dogs, &c. and the incredible Hards.h.i.+ps they frequently underwent for want of Food of any Kind; a Description of the several Places where they touched in the Streights of Magellan, with an Account of the Inhabitants, &c. and their safe Arrival to the Brazil, after sailing one thousand Leagues in a Long- boat; their Reception from the Portuguese; an Account of the Disturbances at Rio Grand; their Arrival at Rio Janeiro; their Pa.s.sage and Usage on board a Portuguese s.h.i.+p to Lisbon; and their Return to England.
Interspersed with many entertaining and curious Observations, not taken Notice of by Sir John Narborough, or any other Journalist:
_The Whole compiled by Persons concerned in the Facts related_, viz.
JOHN BULKELEY AND JOHN c.u.mMINS,
Late Gunner and Carpenter of the WAGER.
_Bold were the Men who on the Ocean first Spread the new Sails, when s.h.i.+pwreck was the worst; More Dangers now from Man alone we find, Than from the Rocks, the Billows, and the Wind_. WALLER.[119]
BULKELEYS NARRATIVE.
TO THE HONOURABLE EDWARD VERNON, ESQ. VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, &c.
Sir,
We have presumed to put the following sheets under your protection, though we have not the honour of being personally known to you, nor have applied to you for the liberty of using your celebrated name on this occasion.
As this book is a faithful extract from the journals of two British seamen, late officers in his majesty's navy, we thought we could not more properly dedicate it than to a British Admiral.
We know your detestation of flattery; and you know, from long experience, that a British seaman hath a spirit too brave to stoop to so degenerate a practice.
The following pages, we hope, will recommend themselves to you, because they are written in a plain maritime style, and void of partiality and prejudice.
The distresses mentioned in this book have perhaps not been equalled in our age; and we question whether any navigators living have, for so long a continuance, suffered such variety of hards.h.i.+ps, as the unfortunate people of the Wager.
After surviving the loss of the s.h.i.+p, and combating with famine and innumerable difficulties, a remnant of us are returned to our native country; but even here we are still unfortunate, dest.i.tute of employment, almost without support, or any prospect of being restored to our stations, till some important questions are decided, which cannot be cleared up till the arrival of our late captain, or at least the commodore.