Feb 22, 1792 Home Providence Log Feb 24, 1792
Revised Aug 26 2021
1 pm: A very fresh Gale and Cloudy Weather carrying all possible Sail to work out and clear the land tacking Ship occasionally. —
4 pm: Cape Fredrick Henry N82°W 1 Mile. At ¼ past 4 Saw the Assistant with her Fore Yard gone. prepared the Cutter to send to her Assistance. —
5 pm: At ¼ past 5 Stood past Cape Frederick Henry into Adventure Bay within ½ Mile - carried 25 to 27 fathoms - made the Signal to prepare to Anchor. Saw fires on Gully head
11 pm: Came to with the Small Bower in 15 Fathoms
The Assistant in Company. Pengwin Island N85°E 1¼ Mile. Nelson Hill S9°W,
Cape Frederick Henry N24°E. Eastern part of the Table Land N18°W. —
4 am: Light Winds
5 am: Sent hands on board the Assistant to assist in preparing her for Sea. And we bent our 2nd. best Suit of Sails. —
8 am: Served a Hot breakfast as usual of thick Portable Soup Gruel
10 am: Cleaned Ship
12 noon: Light Winds and fair Weather. Assistant busily employed getting ready for Sea. Saw some Smokes on the North part of Frederick Henry low land –
We were obliged to carry much Sail to clear the Land, when unluckily the Assistant had the misfortune to carry away her Fore Yard. I had no resourse so elligible as to gain Anchorage in the Bay we had left, to have this accident properly got the better of. I therefore made the Signal to Lieut. Portlock to that intent, and at the same time was ready to send him assistance by Boats. This he prevented by getting a yard across in a most expeditious manner, and by which means he was equally soon, in a secure Anchoring place with ourselves.
At Day dawn Lieut. Portlock reported to me that the yard he had carryed away was one that was made out of a spar when at the Cape of Good Hope, in order to give his Vessel more Sail, as it was squarer than the one he was fitted out with, and that he had increased the Squareness of his Fore Sails in proportion, he was therefore in want of no Yard, but assistance to refit his Sails, which was set about with every exertion and effect.
Cape Fredrick Henry is a fine bold shore. I passed within ½ a Mile of it and had 27 fathoms, and stood along the shore towards Gully head untill I shoaled to 13 fathoms; abreast of where the Hillocks begin to rise on the North part of Frederick Henry low land; The Wind then obliged me [to] tack. Upon the whole of my observations, I am inclined to think there is generally a Stream from the North round Cape Fredrick Henry, which sets round the Bay and out by Pengwin Island. I am certain that if this Stream had not set strong from the Northward we could not have worked out as we did in the course of the afternoon against so strong a Wind. I have likewise found that outset in coming round Pengwin Island so strong as to counteract Light fair Winds.
This is the third time I have worked into this Bay in very dark Nights, which next to my thorough knowledge of it, I give as a p[r]oof of its being easy of access and free of danger.
Feb 22, 1792 Home Providence Log Feb 24, 1792