Cape Town,  29th February 1830

My beloved Garnet,

I trusted by this time to have had the delight of meeting you, but the Almighty appointed differently, and at this moment it is a fearful question what are His designs concerning me, as respects my reaching India. You will find from my letter to your Uncle how much I have gone through, since the day I left dear England, and you will be much shocked at the unexpected intelligence of the death of our beloved Sarah. An event of that nature so seldom occurs on a voyage to India that I was almost tempted to consider it was a peculiar misfortune, forgetting the frail tenure on which we hold every earthly good! How near have I been separated from you by an awful death! At that moment you were present to my mind with feelings of indescribable agony - yes, my beloved, my only child. I never knew till then all the power of a parent's affections. I must now endeavour to give you a detailed account of that night of horrors!  I conclude you have heard we suffered shipwreck on the night of the 24th. A spell seemed to hang over that unhappy ship ‑ never have I passed a more miserable time than the four months and a half I was on board of her.  A most protracted voyage only to have reached thus far.  For a fortnight before our misfortune we were baffled in our attempts to approach the Cape, frequently getting within two or three days sail, and then being driven back. We had also rough weather accompanied by a heavy swell of the sea (so) that for the last ten days we could scarcely keep our feet. On the morning of the 14th we were supposed to be 6o miles from land. Captain Snell had changed his destination from the Cape to Algoa Bay, as our making the former seemed so uncertain, and we were fearful of falling short of water. At dinner that day I remember Captain Snell making me observe the colour of the water which was of the darkest green, indicating our near approach to land. We little thought how near! Sea­weed was also observed to float about us, but no suspicion was excited. At half-past nine that night the lead was thrown for soundings and a hundred and twenty fathom run without finding 'any. To guard against any possibility of mistake this was done twice. It was then declared we were twenty miles from the main land, and Captain Snell determined to run on his course till 10 o'clock, and then to put about. Our party generally remained in Mr.Lascelles's cabin reading and working until this hour. On this memorable night we were just finishing the Loss of the Kent when that wild cry was heard on the deck which I instantly felt to be the signal of danger. I had for the two days previous been in a very nervous state, having strangely taken it into my head that we were out in our reckoning. I instantly started up Mr. Lascelles assured me that it must be someone overboard, but I felt to my very heart that we were going on shore and I rushed from the cabin. I had just reached the Cuddy table when the awful shook was felt; even now it thrills through every nerve! In a moment after she struck again, and one or two gentlemen from deck rushed into the Cuddy declaring all was lost! Miss Molesworth and Mr. and Mrs. Lascelles were then standing at their cabin door, the latter in extreme agitation, and I can well remember exhorting her to bear it tho’ our fate was inevitable!  My first feeling was to get on deck, and I sprang over the Cuddy table and stood out by the door. The moon was rising in beautiful splendour before me, while the vessel continued to sustain repeated shocks, each accompanied with a sound like the crashing of immense bones. I cannot give you an idea of it

! All was wild hurry on the deck, tho’ every order was promptly obeyed. As the Captain passed me, I grasped his hand saying, "I feel for you". He answered wildly: “ I have done this, I only am to blame".

By this time every effort had failed to get her off, and the exclamation was heard, she's gone, she's gone! All the ladies except those of our own party had retired to bed and were now assembled in the Cuddy in their night‑dresses. One (Mrs. Storey) stood on the deck supported by her husband. The ship then struck three or four times successively with such violence that we were obliged to catch at anything near to support ourselves. And the order was given to cut away the masts. Mrs. Storey was shook from her husband's arms and fell several times on the deck. I expected every moment to see her go overboard, and felt  "Now begins our scene of horror".  Every circumstance and word which then occurred is impressed vividly on my mind, as if now passing before me. I was surprised to feel so much animal courage while my frame trembled violently, and I continued almost mechanically to pray aloud that God would spare us. My eyes were riveted on the moon which seemed to rise with astonishing rapidity and I also remarked the situation of several beautiful stars with a kind of strange indefinite feeling that before long I should be in some way connected with them. After the first moment of agony I felt a kind of apathy stealing over my mind, and to rouse myself from it I tried to imagine the last struggle when the waves should close round me. Several persons around me were weeping and calling on their children and you, my beloved Garnet at that moment seemed to stand before me. It was now requested that the ladies would go below, as the main mast was about to fall and might do some injury.  We all assembled in the steerage just at the door of my Cabin.  I looked in and was struck with the appearance of comfort it present. The lamp was burning in the centre, the beds were made, and our books and writing things neatly arranged.  I thought of Sarah, so recently borne from it in her coffin, and felt grateful that she was spared the scene we had to pass through.  In about ten minutes the main mast went, tearing with it the mizzen mast, and notwithstanding the sails were all set, and the consequent weight of canvas, cordage, etc., no creature was hurt. We immediately returned to the Cuddy. I went on Deck and Mr. Lascelles took me forward to see the situation of the ship.  She had run between two Reefs of rock, and before us we evidently discerned an extent of land which was conjectured to be an island, but where we were no one knew, and it was feared if we ever got on shore we might find ourselves without means of sustenance, or among a savage people.  A boat was now dispatched to look for some landing place and bring us any information.  Every shock we expected the vessel would part in two, and her strength must have been wonderful to have stood it the way she did.  It however became requisite to get out the long-boat without delay, and the ladies were told to prepare for entering it.  I went down to my cabin to prepare a complete change of everything, which I made into a small bundle; at such a moment it would have been even simple to think of securing anything beyond it.  I again went into the Cuddy and sat down in a corner by myself endeavouring to collect my thoughts and to conquer the apathy that was again stealing over me.  This to me is unaccountable at such a moment of imminent danger, but it probably proceeded from an overwrought state of feeling. An hour had passed since the departure of the first boat and we began to entertain serious apprehensions for its safety. Mr. Duff, a Scotch minister on Board now proposed that we should have prayers and we immediately knelt down; his prayer was solemn and affecting.  In a few minutes after it concluded the shocks increased in violence.  All the glass windows were broken and the lamps thrown from their hooks. The noise at the stern became terrific. I can only compare it to a thousand hammers beating against it. We expected the whole would give way, end the Sea rush in upon us. We endeavoured to get out upon Deck, but could not penetrate beyond a yard in consequence of fallen masts, canvas, etc. They had then just succeeded in freeing the long-boat; - it was found to be full of holes and they had to caulk and nail boards over it before it could be launched. The difficulty now was to get it over, and during this demur our vessel with a violent heave went so much over on one side that we thought the next lee would overturn her. This was a frightful moment, and all exclaimed that the boat was too late.  Mercifully however the vessel remained stationary until the long-boat was launched over. We knew not at this moment whether it would not fill with water or be dashed on the rocks, but a loud cheer proclaimed that it had righted immediately!  It was requisite to draw it away from the breakers round by the stern, and in doing this the tow‑rope broke and all seemed lost. She appeared instantly lifted on the rocks. Captain Snell now threw himself on the Deck in despair for us, as we seemed to have lost the only means of saving our lives, but Mr. Lascelles instantly threw over the things to which the lead for sounding was attached and from the bravery of the only man in the boat it was caught and in a few moments the little bark was drawn out of danger! I am now, my dear Garnet, obliged to hurry my account to a conclusion, as the packet will be closed in half an hour:  It took a considerable time to get fifteen ladies into the boat. We were all put over from the stern with ropes.  And she filled so fast with water that we were obliged to bail without intermission. We stood to our knees in water.  By this time the first boat dispatched returned with the joyful tidings that we were on Dassen Island, only five miles from the mainland; and that several fishermen were there but no other inhabitants. We were then towed off  - for our long-boat had no rudder, and in the course of an hour landed safely on shore! ... I must defer all further account until my next. We were two days and nights on the Island with little shelter. Most of us have lost everything!  God bless you, my beloved Garnet.  May He grant that we shall soon meet!

 Farewell, believe me,

Your affectionate Mother

                                          C. Man