Pages 6-10

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People much fatigued found Lieu had prepared it necessary to take them to Fort Amsterdam whee quarters. Nicholson must beg leave to stay to the court that at the time the ship struck the muster was at the larboard causeway looking out for the clearing of the shoal that being the case I was under no apprehension knowing the length of time he had been on the station the very high character given of him to me by Captain Fowke and particularly his having been on survey of that ship with the master of the Leviathan. I feel a particular pleasure in having a opportunity to state that I received every possible assistance after the ship had unfortunately struck from the good conduct and steady behavior of the whole of the officer and ships company and although I have to regret their exertions to save the ship were unsuccessful would I am well satisfied have proven otherwise had it not been for the bad state of that ships bottom which I trust will be proven by the evidence of the carpenters. H. Whitby The court the demanded of the officers and company whether the circumstances contained in the narrative of their

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Acting captain were true to which they all replied in the affirmative - the court was the called the court***** Lieutenant Whitby and the Master ********Mr. Luke Winter Master of his Majesty' s late ship Proselyte presented to court the following narrative which was read At 7 O' clock on the morning of the 2nd day of September standing into Great Bay Saint Martins going about 2 knots I found myself sufficiently to windward of the ***of Man of War Shoal the eastern part of the grove of trees or of Fort-----being and with eastern part of Fort Amsterdam bearing up NNE & E and at times off N by E a course I conceived would have carried the ship into the bay clear of any danger. 5 or 6 minutes before the ship struck which happened ¼ past 7 she was******------of the helmsman hove up to the wind and when again full for the first time observed by the mark at Fort Amsterdam that we were setting fast to leeward and from the uncertain bearing of Pt Blanche/-- compass/ judged it highly impossible either to tack or wear. Fearful as

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I imagined the shoal was under our lee she might have drifted on it and by standing on conceived there was every prospect of weathering the failure whereof I can only attribute to the strength of the current and the inaccuracy of the bearing mark at Fort Tiggs and there being in no athwart mark on Point Blanche Had there been one instead of being compelled to trust to the uncertainty of a compass bearing> I am confident the ship would not have struck upon the rock as I might have tacked without any danger or have the ship aback. I therefore humbly trust the honorable court will be please to hear these circumstances in mind****---was the current in having thus related----than relative to the unfortunate loss. I most submissively wish your opinion trusting that a ***--------situated my character and servitude as an officer that I have had the honor to serve in this majesty, s navy will be sufficiently strong to do away the appearance of any design or intentions on my part respecting the unfortunate loss of the ship
Luke Winter

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Court Mr. Luke Winter/master/Sworn
Had you acquainted with the company of the *** Before the ship struck?

-Yes

Where you present at the survey of the shoal with the master of the Leviathan would you make any -----------of your own?

-Yes

Had you the compass bearings of Man of War of the shoal to the shore?

-I had two sights and three compass bearings.

What distance did you judge the sighting to be from the shore?

-About two miles and half

A quarter of an hour before the ship struck what distance did you think you where from the shore?

-At least four miles

From that time until the ship struck was she making an angle for the shore and what was her rate of going by the log?

-The ship was making an angle of about two points and going 2 to 2 ½ knots

Was it a clear day and could you see the land?

-There was a squall passed over the land

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Between 7 o' clock and the time we got on shore which deceived me a little as to the distanceCourt Did you perceive the current was taking the ship heading in towards the land?

-I did not perceive the current was setting us to the westward until about five minutes before she struck.

Did you perceive you were loosing the bearings of the shoal eventually on?

-I thought we were still going to the eastward until about 5 minutes before we struck when I perceived we were going to the westward.

When you were fast on the shoal did you perceive how the current set and at what speed?

-The current was setting to the North West about a mile an hour

Were you placed particularly by Capt.Whitby to look out for the shoal?

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