’He inquired if we were able to get up, and go and look at the body of the officer, and see if we knew him.  We answered yes, and, with the assistance of the people, went into the barn, and recognised our captain.  We then returned to bed again, being too exhausted to stand.  The gentleman told us that medical assistance could not be procured that night, but that we should have every nourishment the house could afford.  He then took his leave, promising that he would return in the morning, when we might be better able to speak to him.

’He accordingly came in the morning, and inquired what force our ship was.

’We told him a 74-gun ship, with a company of 600 men.  Upon our inquiring if any more of our shipmates had reached the shore, he answered no; and we returned most hearty thanks to the Almighty for our deliverance!

’On Sunday, the 29th, we put our captain into a coffin, and buried him in Shelton Church-yard, with two seamen alongside of him.

’It was some time, through the bitterness of the cold and the bruises we had received, before we were able to walk about.  As soon as we had gained sufficient strength, we went down to the beach, where we saw, scattered for about two miles along the beach, the wreck of the Defence, but not a corpse was to be seen.  We supposed they had drifted away to the southward and westward, a strong current setting that way.  This opinion was in a great measure confirmed by seeing our officers’ things sold, and other articles belonging to the ship, six miles to the southward of where we were cast away, when we went to join the few who were saved from the St. George.  On the 13th January, our captain was taken up again, and carried to Rinkum Church, and placed in a vault with the honours of war.’

Such was the unhappy fate of the St. George and Defence; only six men from the latter ship being saved, out of a crew of 600.  Two days afterwards, when the gale had abated, a Danish boat, with two of the English sailors, went on board the St. George to bring away the corpses of the admiral and others, but they found the decks had been entirely swept away.  Nothing could exceed the hospitality and kindness with which the Danes treated the few who were thrown upon their shore.  Nor was the Danish government backward in generosity.  The dead were buried with military honours, and the survivors were sent to England without exchange.  The following letter from Major General Tellequist, given in his own language, sufficiently shows the deep commiseration felt by the Danish government, as well as by himself, for the lamentable catastrophe which befel the St. George and Defence.

    ’Randus, the 21st of January, 1812.