 disdained, as a barbarous insult over the enemy's distress; and
gave them all the respite they could desire, in order to recollect themselves. -
In the mean time, Mackshane taking the advantage of this general exultation,
waited on our captain, and pleaded his own cause so effectually, that he was
re-established in his good graces; and as for Crampley, there was no more notice
taken of his behaviour towards me, during the action. - But of all the
consequences of the victory, none was more grateful than plenty of fresh water,
after we had languished five weeks on the allowance of a purser's quart per diem
for each man, in the Torrid Zone, where the sun was vertical, and the expence of
bodily fluid so great, that a gallon of liquor could scarce supply the waste of
twenty-four hours; especially, as our provision consisted of putrid salt beef,
to which the sailors gave the name of Irish horse; salt pork of New England,
which though neither fish nor flesh, favoured of both; bread from the same
country, every biscuit whereof, like a piece of clock work, moved by its own
internal impulse, occasioned by the myriads of insects that dwelt within it; and
butter served out by the gill, that tasted like train-oil thickened with salt.
Instead of small-beer, each man was allowed three half quarterns of brandy or
rum, which was distributed every morning, diluted with a certain quantity of his
water, without either sugar or fruit to render it palatable, for which reason
this composition, was by the sailors not unaptly stiled Necessity. Nor was this
limitation of simple element owing to a scarcity of it on board, there being at
this time water enough in the ship for a voyage of six months, at the rate of
half a gallon per day to each man: But this fast must (I suppose) have been
injoined by way of pennance on the ship's company for their sins; or rather with
a view to mortify them into a contempt of life, that they might thereby become
more resolute and regardless of danger. How simply then do those people argue,
who ascribe the great mortality among us, to our bad provision and want of
water; and affirm, that a great many valuable lives might have been saved, if
the useless transports had been employed in fetching fresh stock, turtle, fruit,
and other refreshments, from Jamaica and other adjacent islands, for the use of
the army and fleet! seeing, it is to be hoped, that those who died
