Page:Melancholy consequences of two sea storms.pdf/19

 officers were assembled, the latter employed in ng consolation to the unfortunate ladies, and unparalleled magnanimity, suffering their comn for th  fair and amiable companions of their rtunes, to get the better of the sense of their  danger, and the dread of almost inevitable anation. at this moment, what must be the feeling of a Father-of such a Father as Captain e!

The ship struck on the rocks at or near Seacombe, e island of Purbeck, between Peverel Point, St. Alban's-head, at a part of the shore where  cliff is of a vast height, and rises almost perpendicular from its base.

At at this particular spot the cliff is excavated at oot, and presents a cavern of ten or twelve in depth, and of breadth equal to the length  large ship, the sides of the cavern for nearly up-  as to be extremely difficult of access, the roof ed of the stupendous cliff, and the bottom of it ed with sharp and uneven rocks, which seem ve been rent from above by some convulsion nture.

was at the mouth of this cavern that the unfortunate wreck lay stretched almost from side to of it, and offering her broadside to the the horrid n.

t at the time the ship struck it was too dark to ver the extent of their danger; and the exe horror of their situation; even Mr. Meriton elf conceived a hope that she might keep together till daylight, and endeavoured to chear his ping friends, and in particular the unhappy ladies with this comfortable expectation, as an an to the Captain's enquiries, how they went on, nat he thought of their situation.

addition to the company already in the round,