Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ...done at sea was, --the ill-fated Atlas totally lost off Pulicat, early on the morning of the 10th, with three Europeans and two Natives drowned; the rest of the crew providentially saved. The General Palmer returned in five days, when the Chief-mate reported, that he had never experienced such a gale in his life; and but for the strength of the ship, being quite new from Calcutta, and the good conduct of her crew, she must have gone down, as he feared all the others had done, for he saw them all round in distress, and before he returned, had observed wrecks in all directions. He picked up six Lascars, who swam on board, for he had lost all his boats and spars, having two feet water on the gun-deck, and every thing washed off the poop. The Reliance, and some others, were dismasted; and several, whose names I could not learn, perished at sea. Even on the 10th, when a Catamoran ventured out for the relief of a dismasted vessel drifting by, she disappeared, and was never seen or heard of afterwards. It is extraordinary, that this Presidency should twice have been visited by heavy storms, in the hottest and stillest month in the whole year; and at the very time when most vessels are to be seen in the Roads. I never learned what number of small craft perished; but none were to be seen for some days after. The fine beach, between the fort and Black-town, was nearly destroyed; and great fears were entertained for a long and valuable range of public buildings, the verandas of wliich were literally filled with pieces of wrecks. There is a proverb of most venerable antiquity which states, that " It is a bad wind which blows nobody good," and this gale so disastrous to the community, and which nearly deprived me of life, from it's effect on my injured...
