Nov. 5th, 4
P.M.
These latter objects , with the relics of cabin furniture , were brought on board the _ Speranza _ . On the buoy the name of the vessel was painted , as follows : `` _ Dorothea , R. Y. S. _ '' -LRB- meaning Royal Yacht Squadron -RRB- . The bottle , on being uncorked , contained a sheet of note-paper , on which the following lines were hurriedly traced in pencil : `` Off Cape Spartivento ; two days out from Messina . Nov. 5th , 4 P.M. '' -LRB- being the hour at which the log of the Italian brig showed the storm to have been at its height -RRB- . `` Both our boats are stove in by the sea . The rudder is gone , and we have sprung a leak astern which is more than we can stop . The Lord help us all -- we are sinking .