“Next day several young people came on board, inlisted to go in the service of the East India Company, where they were to remain for the space of five years at least....
“On the 2d of August we weighed anchor, passed the Nore, saluted the _Royal Sovereign_ with nine guns, and came to an anchor in the Downs on the 3d. As the wind was variable, we were obliged to come to an anchor every now and then. On the 5th, at night, we passed Dungeness lighthouse, and, on the 8th, anchored in St Helen’s road [Isle of Wight].
“On the 10th we received on board our treasure from Portsmouth, and, among the rest, a fine large stone-horse, designed as a present from the Company to the Sultan of Benjar, an Indian Prince on the island of Borneo. After taking in more fresh provisions, we weighed anchor, and made the best of our way towards Plymouth. On the 29th we came to an anchor in Cawson [Cawsand] Bay, where, not caring to break upon our store, we sent our long-boat ashore for fresh water. Here we were to wait for a convoy. We were supplied at this place with plenty of bread, fish, etc., in small boats, rowed by a parcel of the stoutest and most masculine women I ever saw.
“On the 5th of September we had very thick weather, with hard gales of wind from S.W. so that we were obliged to lower our fore and main yards, and give great scope of cable, and even to strike our topmasts.
“On the 6th in the morning the weather abated; but, in the evening of that day, it blowed very hard. We heard the _Norfolk_ fire several guns as signals of distress. She had parted her cable, and had run adrift before it was discovered: and she was obliged to anchor within the beacon, on the east side of the Sound, in foul and rocky ground. But, by the assistance of some of the men of war, she was again brought to an anchor in Cawson Bay.
“From the 7th to the 16th we were employed in putting everything in order aboard, and, on the 17th, the _Mermaid_ man of war was appointed our convoy, and gave a signal for unmooring the same night.
“On Sunday the 20th of September we got under sail, the wind at NNE. When at sea, we cleared our ship fore and aft, and exercised our great guns and small arms....
“On the 27th we parted with our convoy, and made the best of our way for the island of St Helena, for which we had several stores on board.”