579, issued by the Society in Paternoster Row.
'On the 26th of December the boats left the island: this was, indeed, a trying moment to all: they separated with mutual prayers and good wishes, seventeen[45] venturing to sea with almost certain death before them, while three remained on a rocky isle, destitute of water, and affording hardly anything to support life.

The prospects of these three poor men were gloomy: they again tried to dig a well, but without success, and all hope seemed at an end, when providentially they were relieved by a shower of rain.

They were thus delivered from the immediate apprehension of perishing by thirst.

Their next care was to procure food, and their difficulties herein were also very great; their principal resource was small birds, about the size of a blackbird, which they caught while at roost.

Every night they climbed the trees in search of them, and obtained, by severe exertions, a scanty supply, hardly enough to support life.