I shall transcribe no more from _Taylor_’s journal of what happen’d to them in these streights: what I have taken is for the information of my seafaring reader, and to shew him the many fatigues that _Clipperton_’s men were harrassed with in mooring and unmooring; their struggling with contrary winds and currents; the loss of their anchor, and their narrowly escaping a shipwreck against _Rupert_’s island: all which will easily convince him that to go through _le Mair_ streights and round _Cape Horne_, is the safest and shortest navigation: Besides, the _French_, who have carried on a constant trade to those seas for almost thirty years, have always chosen it: add to this that captain _Clipperton_’s endeavours to find out the passage through _Terra del Fuego_, talked of by _Frezier_, demonstrate that he would gladly have been out of the streights as soon as he could: but _Mitchel_, who was a good seaman and curious enough, having made two essays, which took him up a fortnight, returned without finding any new passage: so that it’s very doubtful whether any _Tartan_, or other imbarkation ever past that way; tho’ _Frezier_ has fondly imagined it a new discovery, and has marked it in his chart, which also is faulty in other respects. _August 18._ Captain _Clipperton_ got out of the streights of _Magellan_, proceding directly towards _Fernandes_, lat. 33 : 30 S. being the third and last place of rendezvous, where he arrives on the 7th of _September 1719_. According to his instructions he stays here a month for _Shelvocke_, and if he had stay’d four, he must then have gone without him. Captain _Clipperton_ not being able to conjecture what was become of the _Speedwel_, gives her up for lost: however, before he weighed he sent captain _Mitchel_ ashore to set up a cross, burying at the foot thereof a bottle, wherein was a letter for captain _Shelvocke_, directing another place of rendezvous and some proper signals to know each other at sea: but fearing that two of his men who had there deserted and absconded in the woods, might mischievously take down the said cross; he had his own name and _Magee_’s the surgeon, carv’d in the bark of one of the largest trees first presenting it self at landing. _Taylor_’s Journal _Sept. 8. 1719_. “This being the last place of rendezvous to meet with or hear of the _Speedwel_: we find no signal nor footsteps of her; which gives us all no small uneasiness.” ---- 9. “At eight this morning sent sixteen men ashore: three of them die soon after they land, cursing _Shelvocke_ with their dying breath, for running away with our wine and brandy. The truth of it is, our case is deplorable enough; for we have not a drop of either to chear the languishing spirits of our sick men: and we that at present, through the providence of the Almighty, injoy our health, cannot help being dejected to think how soon it may come to our turns to be taken with sickness.”