The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Margate, dated March 8.

The Royal William transport, Richard Plummer, master, from Holland with troops on board, run on the Kentish Knock last Friday evening the 4th instant, and being old, she immediately bulged. The Captain with only four of the sailors took to the yawl leaving sixty men and a commanding officer, Captain J. Jennings, in the greatest distress on board the wreck.

However, he, with 36 of his men, got into the long-boat, which was so deep with them, that the gunwale was so close to the water's edge: that had there been the least wind or sea, she must have gone down. They came from the ship at half an hour past six o'clock, soon after which she was under water; and the men that were left behind, climbed up into the shrouds and tops. Saturday evening the long-boat, with Captain Jennings and his 36 men, happily reached the shore; and they landed safe near the North Foreland, at a place called the North Down. They had only two oars, and knew not where they were. The boat had several holes in the bottom, which they stopped up with handkerchiefs, the soldiers caps, &c. On their arrival at Margate, and relating this providential deliverance, they were quartered, and had proper refreshment from their humane Captain.

The next day morning, Thomas Walton in a large cutter went off; and at noon spied the masts of the ship, the hull being all under water; but the poor men alive, though in a perishing condition, hanging by the ropes, rigging, &c. They were soon put on board the cutter, which brought them all safe ashore to Margate Pier yesterday morning, to the great astonishment of every body; as Capt. Jennings; and those who were with him in the boat, judged it impossible they could be living.

One of the sailors had a kegg of gin. which he feared the excise officers would take from him (agreeable to their usual diligence and practice) therefore he carried it upon the round top: and this gin was the means of preserving the men who were found upon the shrouds.