At 5 A. M. wind
sprung up at N. by W. and the Fleet steered W. by N., at 9 A. M. Sounded in 22
Fathoms—Latitude at noon (as yesterday) in 38° 18" and a current. At 11 A.
M. the wind hauled, steered S. E. by East. At 20 minutes after 12 the Fleet
tacked and steered in for the coast a western course. Fine weather but sultry.
By the dead reckoning at noon 14 leagues from land, at 6 could Smell the land
tho' not in Sight. At ½ past 6 P. M. smart lightning and appearing very stormy
to the west. The Admiral made a signal for tacking and the Fleet went about.
New Moon. At 7 this evening came on a violent storm at S. S. East scarcely
giving the Fleet time to take in their sails. A darkness in the west and S. W.
gave some Kind of notice accompanied with sharp lightning. One ship laid for
some time on her beam ends without righting. We Slipped our mizzen top sail
without any other damage of any consequence—the lightning and thunder
surpassed discription and the heaviness of the rain. This tempest Continued
violent for one Hour and ¾. Could not discover any of the Fleet this night but
by means of the almost incessant lightning. The wind blew the Broad Pennant to
pieces. A sloop likewise laid on her beam ends—7 men and a woman took to their
boat, but kept her towed, but the painter breaking got adrift and was lost. The
Sloop with four men on board, righted an hour after. At 12 o'clock this night
hove too for one hour, at which time Sounded in 25 Fathoms of water. Incessant
lightning this whole night.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, pp. 432-3
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