UNDER PETER THE GREAT 71

from Kotka 1 Island to Kronslot, to give speedynotice of their appearance. The import of theNew Kronslot’s intelligence being sent to the Tsar,orders came from the flags to sail with theirsquadron to Kronslot; and the rest of the ships toremain in Revel haven. All due preparations madeand everybody in expectation of the British andSwedish fleets at Revel or Kronslot, or both, on the22nd of September, Adjutant-General Rumanzoff 2came express from the Tsar with directions for thethree best ships to get in their guns and sail for Kron-slot with all possible expedition. This was executedin much hurry and confusion ; and the 25th sailed theLondon, Captain Little; the Devonshire, CaptainDeane ; and the Portsmouth, Captain U rquhart;and on the 29th, within 5 leagues of Kronslot, theLondon and Portsmouth both running on a sand-bank, the Devonshire came to an anchor, and,sending to the commanding officer at Kronslot forhelp, assisted with his boats and people: thecaptains consulted and did all that lay in theirpower to get the ships off; but the weather provingbad, no assistance coming from Kronslot, and alltheir pinnaces and boats being lost, they resolved tocut away their masts ; in performance whereof theCaptain of the Portsmouth was killed, and the shipssoon after bilged. On the ist of October CaptainDeane, having his officers on board the two ships, andno boat left, was obliged to cut his cable and run up to

1 MS. ‘ Otkins Holme,’ which appears to be the Kotka (orRotchen Salm) Island of The Baltic Pilot , Part II.

2 Alexander Ivanovitz Rumanzoff, son of a small landedproprietor in the province of Kostroma; born 1684; diedMarch 15, 1749. In 1708 entered the Preobrojensky Guards asa private soldier. Became Captain. Discovered the fugitiveAlexei and brought him back to Moscow in 1718. Adjutant-General in the Northern war. Served later against the Turks.Created Count by the Empress Elizabeth in 1744.