At Dartmouth, where I went afterwards on purpose, I found almost a similar result.

On conversing however with Governor Holdsworth, I learnt that the year 1786 had been more fatal than any other in this trade.

I learnt that in consequent of extraordinary storms and hurricanes, no less than five sailors had died and twenty-one had been drowned in eighty-three vessels from that port.

Upon this statement I determined to look into the muster-rolls of the trade there for two or three years together.

I began by accident with the year 1769, and I went on to the end of 1772.