Fourteen days before the loss of the ship, the wind at S. and S.S.W., steered N.W. by N., and N.N.W. by the compass:  Laid the ship to for the first four nights; the meaning of this I could not learn.  I ask’d the lieutenant the reason of our bearing for the land on a lee shore, when we had a fair wind for our rendezvous, which I had always thought was for the island of Juan Ferdinandez.  The lieutenant told me the rendezvous was alter’d to an island in the latitude of 44 S. Upon this I said to the lieutenant, this was a very great misfortune to us, that we can do nothing with the ship in the condition she is in upon a lee shore, and am surpriz’d that we should be obliged to go there.  The lieutenant told me, he had said every thing to dissuade the captain from it, but found him determined to go there.  The fifth night, and every night after, made sail; the wind to the westward.  I never relieved the lieutenant, but I ask’d him, what he thought of a lee shore with the ship in this condition? he always reply’d, he could not tell.  We saw rock-weed in abundance pass by the ship.  The Honourable J—–­n B—–­n, midshipman, being on the quarter-deck, said, We can’t be far off the land by these weeds.  The lieutenant and mate being by, I said, Gentlemen, what can we do with the ship in the miserable condition she is in on a lee shore?  The lieutenant answer’d, Whenever I have been with the captain since our first lying-to, I always persuaded him to go for Juan Ferdinandez; therefore I would have you go to him, he may be persuaded by you tho’ he will not by me.  I said, If that was the case, my going to him is needless.  In a quarter of an hour afterwards, the captain sent for me, and said, Gunner, what longitude have you made?  I told him 82,30.  What distance do you reckon yourself off the land?  I answer’d, About 60 leagues; but if the two islands we saw are these which are laid down in your chart to lie off Brewer’s Streights, and the same current continues with the western swell, we can’t be above a third part of the distance off the land.  The captain made answer, As for the currents, there is no account to be given for ’em; sometimes they set one way, and sometime another.  I said, Sir, very true, but as the ship has been always under reeft courses, and the mizen-mast gone, she must wholly drive to leeward, and nigher the land than expected.  The captain then told me, I suppose you are not unacquainted of my rendezvous for the island of Nostra Signora di Socora, in the latitude of 44.  I reply’d, Sir, the ship is in a very bad condition to come in with the lee shore, and if it is possible to bring the ship to an anchor, we shall never purchase him again.  The captain answered, I don’t design to come to an anchor; for there are soundings until you come within seven leagues of the land.  I purpose to stand off and on twenty-four hours; and if I don’t see the commodore, or any of the squadron in that time, we will go for Juan Ferdinandez.  To this I said, Sir, the ship is a perfect wreck; our mizen-mast gone, with our standing rigging afore and abaft, and all our people down; therefore I can’t see what we can do in with the land.  The captain’s answer was, It does not signify, I am obliged and determin’d to go for the first rendezvous.