The following morning the people had great difficulty in hiring canoes, and only one could be obtained, in which Lieutenant West and the boatswain went off to the wreck, where they were for several days actively employed. None of the men were allowed to be idle, for they had full occupation in carrying wood and water, which were only to be found at a great distance.

The behaviour of the local authorities was disgraceful in the extreme; although fully aware of the destitute condition of the Englishmen who had been cast upon their shores, they denied them the most trifling assistance, and turned a deaf ear to every entreaty and remonstrance.

Money! money! was the constant cry. In vain Captain Burgess assured them that the little he had saved was almost expended; but that as soon as assistance should arrive from his countrymen, every article should be paid for. All his arguments and promises were thrown away upon the natives, whose rapacity knew no bounds; they would give nothing without payment, and their charges were exorbitant.

Captain Burgess was so exasperated at one of these natives, who had agreed to let the crew have a small bullock, but, upon finding there was no money to pay for it, had driven it away, that he thought it almost justifiable to desire his men to help themselves. There was, however, one bright exception to this universal hard-heartedness. A sergeant, named Antonio das Santos, who commanded a small fort of three guns, seeing the unwillingness of the natives to render any aid to the strangers, came forward and asked if anything was wanted that he could supply. Captain Burgess replied, that both his officers and men stood in great need of food, and that a loan of money for present use would be very acceptable. The sergeant immediately placed in the captain's hands forty milreas in copper, and most generously put at his disposal everything he possessed. The example of this noble-hearted fellow had no effect on the conduct of the rest; their great object seemed to be to make as much gain as possible by the misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, and they went so far as to plunder the wreck, breaking open the chests, and taking possession of their contents whenever an opportunity occurred.

In order to attract the notice of vessels passing near, two flag-staffs had been erected upon the heights, with the ensign downwards; but day after day passed on, and no friendly sail appeared. The cupidity of the natives was insatiable, and provisions became more and more scarce. It was not until the 15th of December, ten days after the loss of the Thetis, that a vessel was seen in the offing. She proved to be the Algerine, which arrived most opportunely, when they were almost reduced to extremity, and brought them the articles of which they were in greatest need.

The next day, just after the Algerine had entered the harbour of Cape Frio, Admiral Baker arrived with a necessary supply of money. He had attempted the sea-passage from Rio Janeiro, for three days, in his barge, but had been obliged to put back on account of the current, and had then performed the journey of seventy miles overland in forty-eight hours. From the admiral, Captain Burgess had the satisfaction of hearing that the Druid, Clio, Adelaide, and a French brig of war might be hourly expected.

These all arrived in due course, and took on board the officers and men of the late Thetis, who were safely landed at Rio Janeiro on the 24th of December.

In conclusion, we cannot refrain from noticing the firmness and presence of mind evinced by Captain Burgess under the most appalling circumstances. After having adopted every available means for saving the ship without effect, he superintended for many hours the disembarkation of the crew, and during all that tedious process he was standing in a heavy surf up to the middle in water; nor could he be persuaded to quit the wreck until not one more of his officers or men would consent to go before him. Respecting the conduct of the officers and men, we cannot do better than lay before our readers Captain Burgess's own estimate of its merits.

'I owe,' he says, 'to the whole of my officers and men (and which most sincerely and unreservedly I render,) the meed of praise due to the conduct of every one, without exception. It was their prompt obedience to all my orders, and the firmness, fortitude, and alacrity which they perseveringly as well as patiently displayed amidst their great perils, sufferings, and privations, through the whole of this trying scene, that contributed, under Providence, to the saving of so many of their lives.

'Their subsequent orderly and excellent conduct on shore as much bespeaks my approbation; and, in truth, the general character of their conduct throughout has induced an esteem in me which it is impossible can ever cease but with my life.'[18]

Captain Samuel Burgess entered the navy in 1790, and served on board the Impregnable at the victory of the 1st of June, 1794. He was almost constantly employed from that time until the year 1804, when he was appointed a lieutenant on board the Prince, of 98 guns, in which ship he was present at the battle of Trafalgar.

He next served on board the Dreadnought, 98, and subsequently was appointed to the command of the Pincher, a 12-gun brig, employed in the North Sea and Baltic. Whilst in command of this vessel, Lieutenant Burgess distinguished himself on many occasions, particularly in assisting Lord George Stuart in reducing the batteries of Cuxhaven and Bremerleke. His next appointment was to the Vixen gun-brig; and although he might well have expected promotion for his services, he remained lieutenant until the year 1816, when he was appointed to the Queen Charlotte, in which ship he served as flag-lieutenant to Lord Exmouth at the bombardment of Algiers. Upon the arrival of the dispatches in England, Lieutenant Burgess was promoted to the rank of commander. He received his post rank on the 27th November, 1830, when he took the command of the Thetis. A more lengthened statement of the services of this officer will be found in O'Byrne's Naval Biography, to which work we are indebted for the above sketch.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] The greater part of the treasure lost with the Thetis (806,000 dollars) has subsequently been recovered. An interesting description of the means used for raising it will be found in a volume published by Captain Dickenson.



THE FIREFLY.

The Firefly, a small schooner, with a crew of about fifty men, was proceeding on her voyage from Belize to Jamaica, on the 27th of February, 1835. The wind had been moderate during the day, and as they were steering a course laid down in the chart, no danger was anticipated.

Between nine and ten o'clock at night, the greater part of the crew, with the exception of those whose duty it was to be upon deck, had retired below, when the seaman in charge of the watch reported to the commander, Lieutenant Julius McDonnell, that it was very dark ahead. He instantly went upon deck, when the sound of surf breaking upon rocks was distinctly heard. The helm was put down, under the hopes of staying the vessel, but as the wind was light, and a heavy swell setting in at the time, she did not come round, but getting stern-way, struck with a shock which made every timber vibrate, and appeared to threaten instant destruction to the vessel. All were in a moment upon deck; the sweeps were got out on the larboard side, the best bower anchor let go, and the boats hoisted out, and ordered to sound, whilst the cutter was sent to carry out the stream anchor. The cable was then held taut, but snapped almost immediately: the best bower came home, and the small bower was let go. In the meantime, the wind had shifted to the northward, and was blowing in heavy squalls, and their small bower anchor, which was their sole dependence, came home.

Everything that could be done was put into practice to save the vessel, but all in vain; and when daylight broke, her commander saw that there was nothing now left him but to take measures for preserving the lives of the crew.

For this purpose, all the officers and men were set to work to construct rafts, as the boats were not sufficient to contain the whole of the crew. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, one raft was completed, and the cutter and gig prepared to receive the men. The vessel was all this time rapidly breaking up; the bolts of her keelson and the stempost had started; the deck was broken in, and there was but little hope of her holding together many hours.

One officer, Mr. Nopps, the master's assistant, had been placed in the cutter, to prevent the men from taking away anything save the clothes they had on. Eighteen were already in the boat, including Captain West (an engineer officer) and his son, and fifteen were mustered in the raft, which was lashed to the larboard of the wreck, when from some accident the raft got adrift, and was carried away by the current. This proved most unfortunate, as the raft was their great resource; and all on board of her would inevitably have perished, had not the cutter pushed out to their assistance. A rope was fastened to the raft, and they attempted to tow her back to the schooner; but as the cutter had only four oars, and the wind set so strong to the southward, they were unable to reach the schooner.

Those who remained upon the wreck had only the gig left; and as this could contain but a few, Lieutenant McDonnell thought it advisable to direct an officer to take on board the sick, and proceed for assistance to Belize, and if he fell in with the cutter to send her back to the schooner. The gig accordingly shoved off, but again returned, in consequence of an accident having happened to the mast; this being remedied, she again pulled away from the wreck and having fallen in with the cutter, communicated the orders of Mr. McDonnell for her return. This, as has before been shown, was impossible, and the gig having taken on board Captain West and his son, parted from the cutter, with the intention of proceeding to Belize.

When Lieutenant McDonnell saw that the cutter did not return, he directed and assisted the men who remained upon the wreck to construct a second raft. This, after considerable labour, was completed by the following morning: it was then launched overboard, and made fast to the rocks within the reef. As the wreck still held together, Mr. McDonnell considered it prudent to remain by her as long as possible, in the hope that some assistance might arrive from Belize: but in this he was disappointed. In the meantime, another and stronger raft had been formed from the after part of the quarter-deck, which had been broken up by the sea; this also was launched, and brought forward under the bows. The men almost hoped against hope, but yet no assistance arrived. Fortunately, the weather was partially moderate, but still the sufferings, from exposure to the weather, and the deprivation of proper food, were severely felt; and Lieutenant McDonnell determined, under all these circumstances, to wait no longer, and on the 4th of March everything was in readiness to quit the wreck. A small barrel of bread was placed on the raft, but this was immediately washed off into the sea. A beaker one-third full of rum was then fastened more securely, and this was the only thing that they could take with them.

All having embarked, they started with the intention of steering towards a cay which was in sight, but the current proved too strong, and the raft was swept into deep water. The sail was then set, and they steered in the direction of what was supposed to be a wreck, or vessel, in the same situation as themselves; but on nearing, it proved to be a sand-bore, on which people were distinctly seen walking to and fro. They immediately conjectured that these must be the crew of one of the boats, a supposition which afterwards proved to be correct. Every effort was made to gain the bank, but the current was too strong, and they found it impossible to reach any part of the reef.

Lieutenant McDonnell, who had been suffering some days from ill health, was now so exhausted that he was obliged to be supported upon the raft. He was, therefore, unable to give any commands; and, after a short consultation, it was considered best to stand out to sea, in the hopes of falling in with some vessel. The night had set in, and they steered a course westward. On the following morning a white bottom was seen, but immediately afterwards the raft was again in deep water. All this time they had nothing to eat; their sole subsistence being a small quantity of rum, which was served out at stated intervals.

The following morning, about eight o'clock, land was observed right ahead, and they endeavoured to steer in that direction; but their progress, from the heavy construction of the raft, was necessarily very slow, and it was not until sunset that they found themselves about nine or ten miles from the shore. All the next night they stood in the same direction; and about four or five o'clock in the morning, as near as they could guess, they were cast by the surf upon the beach. Utterly prostrate with the fatigues they had undergone, they threw themselves upon the sand, and soon found in sleep a brief forgetfulness of their past cares and troubles. They did not awake for many horn's, when, upon looking around, they discovered that the commander was absent. This, however, gave them no uneasiness, as it was supposed that he had gone in search of assistance. The first object was to proceed in quest of water, of which they stood in most need. They had gone for more than a mile without finding anything to moisten their lips, or any signs of habitation, when one of the men discovered a cocoa-nut tree: here was both food and drink, and with avidity they seized upon the fruit, and found relief from their most urgent wants.

Amongst the party who were cast on shore were Mr. Malcolm, a master's assistant, and Mr. Price, a merchant; these, with the rest of the men, proceeding a little further into the woods, became so fatigued that they were obliged to return to the place where they were first cast, whilst their companions prosecuted the search for Lieutenant McDonnell, whose continued absence had given the greatest alarm.

About one o'clock, some of the men returned, but brought no tidings of the commander; they said that the rest of the men had determined to walk round the cay, as they conjectured the place on which they were cast was Ambegris Cay, and more especially as Mr. Price, who had been long a resident at Honduras, had assured them that to the south-east there was a plantation belonging to one of his friends.

About two hours afterwards the men returned, but neither their endeavours to find a habitation nor any traces of Lieutenant McDonnell had been successful. They said that it had been their intention to walk round the cay, but from the appearance of the coast, they did not think it was possible to do so that day. It was then proposed that they should rest where they were during night, and renew their search at an early hour next morning.

Whilst they were sitting on the beach, one of the men thought he saw Mr. McDonnell running in the surf, about half a mile distant. Ritchie, the gunner's mate, immediately proceeded in the direction where he was supposed to be, and found that unfortunate officer in a state of delirium. He endeavoured to persuade him to come down to where the rest of the men were assembled, but a few incoherent words were his only reply. Ritchie was, therefore, obliged to return to his comrades for assistance; and having communicated the sad condition of their officer, they all proceeded together to the spot where he was last seen, but found no traces of the commander. Search was made in every direction, but in vain; and as night was approaching, they were reluctantly obliged to return to the place which they had fixed upon as their rendezvous. In their way thither they gathered some more cocoa-nuts, and having satisfied their hunger and thirst, lay down to rest, under the canopy of heaven, and with no softer bed than what the sandy beach afforded.

The next morning the men again declared their intention of walking in search of the plantation mentioned by Mr. Price. Mr. Malcolm, who had become the senior officer in the absence of Mr. McDonnell, advised them to remain where they were, and to build a hut, and dig a well for water; he assured them that, as long as there was a plentiful supply of cocoa-nuts, they could not starve, and that the chances were, assistance would arrive. All was, however, to no purpose; they would not listen to any argument, and even disregarded his authority. It was as much as he could do to insist upon their first going in search of their commander.

After a long time employed for this purpose, they discovered Mr. McDonnell asleep beneath a parmetta tree. Upon hearing footsteps approaching, he awoke, but in such a feeble state that he was unable to rise without assistance, and from the wildness of his manner, there was too much reason to fear that his reason had fled. They gave him some cocoa-nut milk, which he eagerly drank, and this appeared to give him some relief. With difficulty they made him comprehend that they intended to proceed to the plantation for assistance, but he refused to join them, alleging that a boat was coming for him. In a short time he appeared a little more collected, and agreed to join the expedition. There still remained a small supply of rum, and a portion of this being poured into some empty cocoa-nuts, it was distributed equally amongst the men, and they all commenced their journey, the men about 200 yards ahead, and Mr. McDonnell, supported by Malcolm and Mr. Price, brought up the rear.

After proceeding in this way about two miles, Mr. McDonnell's strength utterly failed, and he sank down upon the ground, declaring that he could go no further; every entreaty was urged to persuade him to make another effort, but both the powers of the mind and body had deserted the unfortunate officer, and Malcolm and his companion were at a loss to know what course to pursue. After a brief consultation they determined to leave Mr. McDonnell, and as soon as they reached the plantation, which Mr. Price declared could not be far distant, return with assistance.

They then once more resumed their journey, the men proceeding ahead as before; in the middle of the day they stopped to rest, and again resumed their march until about an hour before sunset, when they arrived at two cocoa-nut trees; and as these formed not only a place of shelter, but also a means of procuring food, they determined to remain there for the night. The men who had climbed up the trees, and were gathering fruit, descried a pond, or creek, in the wood, about half a mile distant. Mr. Price then observed, if that was the case, they were on the mainland, and not on Ambegris Cay.

They were now in a great dilemma, for they were uncertain which way to proceed, and Mr. Malcolm endeavoured to persuade the men to return to the beach, assuring them that it was quite useless their proceeding any further, for they did not know where they were going; but they turned a deaf ear to every argument, declaring that they would walk as long as they were able. Mr. Price, the merchant, agreed with the rest of the men, and urged them to continue their journey, in the hopes that they might be seen by some coasting boats going to Belize. This was Saturday night; and after toiling all day, they had only walked ten miles from where they had left Mr. McDonnell. The next morning Mr. Malcolm again entreated the men to remain, but it was of no avail, and they recommenced their march.

The men continued to walk together until Tuesday evening, subsisting upon cocoa-nuts, which they gathered on their way, when Malcolm was obliged to be left behind, as he was unable to walk any further. The next morning he was found by some natives, and taken to Ambegris Cay, where the men had arrived the previous evening.

We must now return to the fate of the cutter, which it will be remembered left the wreck on the morning of the 28th of February, taking the raft in tow. They endeavoured to return to the schooner, but the current proving too strong, they were obliged to abandon the attempt, and ran before the wind until they made a sand-bore, on the south end of the reef, about an hour afterwards.

They then cut the raft adrift, and landed the men that were in the cutter, sending the boat back with two men to carry the rest off the raft, as it was impossible to bring the raft to the sand-bore. It was about seven o'clock in the evening when they were all safely landed, the cutter being at this time in such a condition, that she could not have floated, even in smooth water, without baling.

They then dragged the boat up the beach, where they remained until daylight next morning, the 1st of March. Mr. Nopps, master's-assistant, who was the commanding officer of the party, determined to leave the majority of the men on the sand-bore, and proceed to the wreck; he accordingly started with five men in the cutter, in hopes of reaching the schooner, but as it blew strongly from the northward, and the boat had no jib or mizen, and the mainmast and sprit sprung, they found it impossible to beat to windward. In this condition, as there was no appearance of the wind abating, and nothing to eat except some salt pork, and only two beakers of water, one of which had been drunk during the night, Mr. Nopps considered it his duty to take the boat with these five men, and run for the first place they could fetch, hoping to reach Belize, which was nearly before the wind.

For two days they scudded before the wind, without being able to set any sail, and had passed at least forty miles to the southward of Belize, before the wind abated; during this time they suffered severely from want of water, the last beaker having been finished, and the salt pork increasing their thirst. It was not until twelve o'clock on Tuesday, the 3rd of March, that they arrived in Belize roads, and were taken on board the Fly.

Here they received every attention that was necessary, and Mr. Rogers, the master of the Fly, accompanied by Mr. Nopps, was despatched in the Governor's schooner to the assistance of the men who were left on the sand-bore, and of the others who were still supposed to be upon the wreck.

On the following Friday, the 6th of March, they reached the sand-bore, and having taken off the men, proceeded to the wreck, where they found only two men, from whom they learnt that Lieutenant McDonnell, and the rest of the people, had quitted the wreck two days previously. Pilot boats were then sent in search, and another party explored the coast; and after visiting Long Bay, without hearing any tidings, returned to Belize.

In the course of two days, a boat arrived with the eight men who had been with McDonnell, who reported that they had left that officer, almost dead, in the wood.

Mr. Nopps again departed in a pilot-boat in search of his commander, but when he reached Ambegris Cay, the boat was unable to beat up outside the breakers, and it came on to blow so violently during the night, that they were prevented from landing; the following day they were more successful, and Mr. Nopps walked up the coast. For two days his search proved useless, but on the third he had the pleasure of finding Mr. McDonnell still alive, in a hut, under the care of some Indians. After the lapse of two days, he was so far recovered as to be taken on board the pilot-boat, and arrived next morning at Belize Bay.

It would have been happy if all connected with the Firefly had been equally fortunate. The gig, which had been sent from the wreck to Belize for assistance, was found several days afterwards cast upon the beach, broken in two, and all in her must have perished.

Lieutenant McDonnell was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846, and at present is unemployed.



THE AVENGER.

The Avenger, a steam frigate, with an armament of 6 heavy guns and 280 men, sailed from Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 17th of December, 1847. As her commander, Captain Charles G.E. Napier, was anxious to spare the coal, the steam was reduced to the least possible degree, leaving sufficient to work the wheels up to the rate of sailing. On Monday, the 20th, the steamer was running with square yards, at the rate of eight or nine knots an hour, steering about east by south, under double-reefed topsails and reefed foresail. At eight o'clock in the evening the usual watch was placed, with directions to keep a careful look-out. The night was dark and squally, with a high sea running, and occasionally loud peals of thunder were heard, accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning.

Most of the officers were collected in the gun-room, with the exception of the captain, who had retired to his sleeping cabin. He had directed his steward to request the attendance of the master, and of Mr. Betts, the second master, who soon joined him in the cabin, where they remained for a few minutes examining the charts. The captain's steward relates, that the above officers went upon deck, when Captain Napier desired him to take away the light, and to leave a small lamp burning in the fore-cabin, which was always kept alight at sea during the night. He accordingly did so, and returned to his berth. In about half-an-hour afterwards he heard some one come down from the quarter-deck, and go into the captain's cabin. In about five minutes the captain went upon deck, where he remained for a short time, and again returned to his cabin, but had scarcely closed the door, before he was summoned upon deck by the officer of the watch.

The officers in the gun-room were upon the point of retiring to their berths, when they were startled by a sudden jerk, which they at first supposed to be a gun broken adrift, but the next moment the ship gave a heavy lurch, as if filling, and her whole frame appeared shaken, and every beam loosened. It would be in vain to attempt to describe the dismay of the crew of the ill-fated Avenger, when thus roused from a sense of comparative security, to find themselves in an instant upon the verge of destruction. Already the deck was crowded with people, most of them only partially clothed, and the rest almost naked. On the bridge between the paddle-boxes stood the captain and master; Mr. Ayling, the master's assistant, the quarter-master, and two seamen were at the wheel. In another minute the ship gave a heavy lurch to starboard, and the sea poured over the forecastle. The captain then gave the order, 'Out boats—lower away the boats.' These were his last words, for he was immediately afterwards washed overboard and drowned.

Lieutenant Rooke, who never appears to have lost his presence of mind, immediately went forward to assist in lowering the boats, but under the firm impression that the ship was fast sinking, and with little hope that there was time enough to get out the boats, or even if lowered, that they could live in such a heavy sea. He saw, however, if anything was to be done, it must be done immediately; he therefore went amongst the men endeavouring to persuade them to lower the starboard cutter; Mr. Betts, the second master, at the same time attempted to lower the port one. Every entreaty and persuasion that Lieutenant Rooke could use was, however, of no avail; the men seemed paralysed with the sudden panic and the apparent helplessness of their situation. Instead of affording assistance, they clustered together, exclaiming, 'Oh, my God, Sir, we are lost—we are lost!' Mr. Rooke, finding that all his arguments were of no avail, crossed the deck to the port side for the purpose of helping Mr. Betts in lowering the port cutter. In his way he met Larcom, the gunner, who had just come from below, with his clothes under his arm, having been in bed when the ship struck. Hastily acquainting him with his intention, they made the best of their way to the cutter, where they were joined by Dr. Steel, the surgeon, Mr. Ayling, master's-assistant, John Owen, a stoker, James Morley, a boy, and W. Hills, captain's steward. At this moment, Lieutenant Marryat made his appearance, his manner calm and self-possessed; he was in the act of addressing himself to one of the party, when the ship gave a heavy lurch to starboard, and the gallant young officer lost his footing, and was washed overboard.

Whilst they were in the act of lowering the cutter, an accident occurred, which was nearly proving fatal to all their hopes of preservation.

In lowering the boat, the foremost fall got jammed, and the after one going freely, the boat had her stern in the water, and her bows in the air; at this moment, Dr. Steel threw in his cloak, which fortunately got into the sleave-hole of the after fall, and stopped it.

Just as the boat touched the water, and before the tackles were unhooked, the ship struck again heavily, and began swinging broadside to the sea, falling over to starboard at the same time, which, from the cutter being the port one, made her crash with great violence against the ship's side; however, by dint of great exertion, the boat was got free from the tackles, and pulled clear of the ship.

The Avenger now lay broadside to the sea, with her head towards Africa, falling at the same time to windward, with her deck exposed; the foremast, mainmast, and mizen topmast falling over the starboard side, and the funnel on the gangway, no doubt killing many of the crew as it fell. As the boat left the ship's side, some one attempted to burn a blue-light, but it went out immediately. The sea was now occasionally seen to break over the forecastle and quarter, and Mr. Rooke, in the hope of saving some of the crew, gave orders to lie on their oars, and keep the boat's bow to the ship, to be ready to pick up any of the survivors in the event of the ship's falling to pieces. Lieutenant Rooke and his little party[19] remained by the ship for about an hour and a half, the moon at intervals shining out brightly from behind the heavy clouds, and discovering the Island of Galita, apparently at about ten or twelve miles distant. The weather now became more tempestuous; the rain poured in torrents; and all being almost exhausted with pulling against a strong current, and being gradually drawn away from the ship, Lieutenant Rooke considered it most advisable to run under the lee of Galita, and there, if possible, remain on their oars until there was daylight sufficient to land, and seek assistance for the ship, in the event of the island being inhabited.

All being of the same opinion, the boat's head was turned towards Galita, and they took a last look of the Avenger, which appeared to be firmly fixed, and likely to hold together for some time.

The weather grew worse and worse; the boat, under a close-reefed mizen on the bumpkin stepped as a foremast, was steered with an oar by the second master. When they had arrived within about two miles of the island, the wind shifted to a very severe squall, accompanied with lightning, thunder, and a heavy hail-storm. Mr. Larcom, the gunner, now took the place of the second master in steering the boat, which was scarcely got round, before the wind caught her with such violence, that it seemed impossible the boat could live.

The squall continued without intermission for two hours and a half, when the moon again emerged from the clouds, and the Island of Galita was discovered on the port quarter. Some in the boat exclaimed, 'That is the island!' which, at the time, they supposed to be long out of sight, as the boat appeared to be going rapidly through the water; this naturally led to a conjecture that a strong current set to the northward and eastward. The wind still continued to veer about, and at one time they thought that they must have passed the ship, but the night was too dark to enable them to discern anything clearly many yards beyond the boat.

In this manner they passed the long hours of night, exposed to cold, hunger, and exhaustion; and, as Lieutenant Rooke afterwards observed, with the full expectation that they would be unable to survive until morning. The second master appeared to have lost all reason. Upon being questioned as to whereabouts they were, or in what direction it was necessary to steer, he seemed to be scarcely aware that he was addressed. The doctor, the master's assistant, and the boy Morley, were lying at the bottom of the boat during the whole night, and the stoker, John Owen, was wrapped in his jacket, and appeared, if possible, in a worse condition than the second master. When asked to do anything, he only replied by vacant answers, and before morning became an idiot. At last the wished-for day broke, and the coast of Africa was discerned about eight or nine miles distant. As Lieutenant Rooke considered that the boat could not be kept above water much longer, he determined upon attempting a landing, and accordingly he himself steered her towards a small spot of sand, apparently clear of the rocks, and slightly sheltered by a reef running out into the sea.

This officer, from the time the boat quitted the Avenger, had, notwithstanding his own personal sufferings, set a noble example to his comrades, by exerting every effort to sustain their drooping spirits. As he approached the shore, he exclaimed in a cheerful voice, 'This is something like Don Juan's shipwreck; I only hope we shall find a Haidee.' It must not be supposed that this was said out of bravado, or because he was not perfectly aware of the danger, but from the necessity of his duty, as their commanding officer, to infuse a new spirit into his exhausted crew, and to encourage them in the approaching struggle, which he well knew would he 'life or death.' On hearing the above words, poor Steel, the doctor, exclaimed, 'Rooke! Rooke! there are other things to think of now.' The words were prophetic, for before many minutes had elapsed, he had ceased to exist. As they approached the shore, the sail was shifted from the port side to the starboard, and the sheet which had been held by Hills, the captain's steward, for ten hours, was fastened to the thwarts.

Mr. Rooke now again resigned his place as steerer to Larcom, the gunner, and assisted the others in baling out the boat, which had shipped a heavy sea on the quarter. The boat was steered within about one hundred and fifty yards of the beach, when the rollers caught her, first lifting her upright, and, as there was not water enough to float her whole length, she filled and capsized. Larcom, Lieutenant Rooke, Hills, the captain's steward, and the boy Morley, succeeded in gaining the beach, but the rest of their unfortunate comrades perished.

We should here mention that this was the second occasion on which the boy Morley narrowly escaped a watery grave.

When the Avenger was at Lisbon, the boy fell overboard, and would have perished, had it not been for Lieutenant Marryat, who, at the risk of his own life, sprung into the sea, and rescued the boy.

In a few minutes a Bedouin Arab, who had been watching the boat from some high ground, came toward them and conducted them to his hut, where he supplied them with some milk; and having lighted a fire, they were enabled to dry their clothes.

They remained with their hospitable entertainer during that day, and in the evening made a supper of maize-cake and sour milk. In the meantime, Mr. Rooke had made the Arab understand their situation, and their wish to get to Tunis; and after some trouble and promise of reward, he agreed to conduct them next morning to Biserta. The wearied men then threw themselves on the ground, where they passed the night in company with dogs, cows, and goats, exposed to a violent wind and pouring rain.

Their subsequent proceedings are thus related by Lieutenant Rooke:—

'Wednesday, December 22nd.—At about 9 A.M. we started. Our road lay at first over a ridge of high hills, from which we saw nothing of the ship. We then crossed a sandy plain covered with the cactus, which severely wounded my feet. Afterwards passed through some wooded ravines, and over an extensive marsh intersected with brooks. Towards the evening a horseman overtook us, who seeing the tired condition of the steward, his feet bleeding, and also suffering from a gash on his head, received whilst landing, carried him for about four miles, and when his road lay in a different direction, gave our guide his gun, and a piece of silver for us.

'The night being now dark, and all of us exhausted, we stopped at a Bedouin encampment, and asked for shelter, which after some time was granted. We had been walking about ten hours, and got over more than thirty miles of broken ground, having stopped once for a few minutes to pick the berries off some arbutus trees, being our only food since breakfast till late that night. We were wet, coverless, and all except myself shoeless.

'They gave us some maize-cake and milk. Seeing horses, I made them understand that they would be well paid if they let us have them to take us on to Biserta that night, when they made signs that the gates were locked, but that we should have them in the morning.

'Thursday, December 23rd.—At daylight we set out, but none of us could walk from swollen feet. After a ride of about fifteen miles, sometimes fording streams, and at others nearly up to our horses' knees in mud, we arrived about ten A.M., at Biserta, and went to the house of our consular agent, an Italian, whom I immediately asked to prepare a boat for Tunis.

'The boats here were all too small to send to the wreck, and for which the wind was foul, with a fresh breeze. About 1 P.M. I started for Tunis, and arrived about 11 P.M. at the Goletta, where I landed, and sent to our Vice-Consul, who after some difficulty, owing to the port regulations, came to see me, and tried to pass me through the gates, but did not succeed. He promised to get two vessels ready, as unfortunately there were no steamers here at the time of our arrival. In one I meant to have sent Mr. Larcom to Galita, and the other I intended to take to the wreck.

'Friday, December 24th.—At daylight, when the gates opened, I entered a carriage, and drove up to our consul-general, who ordered his agent to forward my views in every way, sending his son to hurry matters, whilst he communicated with the Bey, who ordered his squadron to sea.

'Whilst my boat was preparing (a Maltese speronara, with a crew of twelve men, selected for their knowledge of the coast,) I wrote two letters, one to Malta, and the other to Lisbon, stating the loss of the ship. Not having slept for four nights, and being thoroughly tired, would account for the vague statement I sent. I then breakfasted, and started about two P.M., having put on board such provisions as my hurried departure admitted of—tea, coffee, biscuits, and spirits, in case I should be fortunate enough to save anybody.

'Saturday, December 25th, on my passage, and at daylight on Sunday I was close to the spot where the Avenger was wrecked, although there was no broken or discoloured water to mark it. I cruised about till satisfied she had either broken up or sunk. Whilst here I saw two steamers (Lavoisier and Pasha) come up and cruise about Galita together: a merchant ship, and a gun-boat of the Bey's, with which I communicated, asking them to take me to Galita, which I wished to examine personally, as also to speak the steamers, my own crew, with whom I had great trouble, refusing to do so. They declined, when I asked them to take half my crew out, and lend me two men, to which request I also received a negative; so I returned to Tunis, arriving at about 1 A.M. on the morning of Tuesday, December 28th. Sir Thomas Reade took all to his house, and made it a home for us. I went on board the French steamer Lavoisier, to thank the captain for his assistance, and also waited on the governor for the same purpose.'

During the summer of the present year, the French government directed Captain Bouchet Riviere to make a survey of the Sorelle. In conclusion, therefore, we will give the following extract from that officer's letter, as it throws some light upon the circumstances which led to the loss of the Avenger:—

'The English frigate, Avenger, was lost on the two Sorelle; I saw between the two heads of rocks, which are aptly named 'Sisters,' her entire engine, two anchors, a shell gun, and some loose parts of the wreck. I recovered and took on board some pieces of iron from the bed of the engine, and a boarding cutlass. The engine lies in a medium depth of ten metres (thirty-three feet).

'From information which has been given me by boats which saw the Avenger at sea the day of her loss, and adding the observations which I was enabled to make on the spot itself, I have every reason to believe that the event happened in the following manner:—

'The Avenger had, during the day, run along the coast of Algeria, but on the approach of night, being then north of Calle, and the weather having suddenly become very bad, with a great deal of wind from the north-west, the captain of the Avenger altered her course immediately to the northward, in order not to be caught in the middle of a dangerous channel. As soon as he thought that the ship had passed the parallel of the Sorelle, he resumed his course to the eastward, satisfied that he would pass several miles to the northward of them. He had not calculated on the currents which I have found at this dangerous spot, and which, with a north-west wind, set to the south-eastward with a rapidity of about 3 miles an hour. The track of the Avenger must have been materially altered by this cause. When she steered east, she was only in the latitude of the Sorelle, and was shortly afterwards, on a very dark night, shattered against these rocks. The first shock must have been dreadful. It took place on the point south-east of the north-west rock; when she cleared this rock, which is at this spot thirteen feet below the surface, leaving a large white furrow, she ran a hundred and sixty feet further, and struck on the south-east rock, which is only about four feet (one metre twenty centimetres) below the surface. She again marked the rock very distinctly. The sea, which is often very rough on this spot, has left nothing remaining but the massive part of the engine, where it can be perceived between the two rocks, covered with thick weed.

'The dangerous Sorelle are formed by two tables of rocks, distant about a hundred and sixty feet from each other, and separated by a channel of a medium depth of thirty-nine to forty-nine feet (twelve to fifteen metres). These two tables of rocks extend from the north-west to the south-east. The north-west one has a diameter of 66 English feet (twenty metres), its highest point is to the eastward, 16 feet under water (five metres). The southeastern has a diameter of 197 feet (sixty metres), and its highest point is only at a depth of 4 feet. This last point is situated, according to my observations, which agree with the position laid down in the chart of Admiral Berard, in 37 deg. 24' of north latitude, and 6 deg. 16' 25" of east longitude from Paris, (or 8 deg. 36' 45" east of Greenwich); 17'.4 miles S. 65 deg. 15' W. of the east point of the Island of Galita, and 27'.3 miles N. 0 deg. 30' E. of Cape Roux.'

The fate of the Avenger leads to many sad reflections. The last of the wrecks described in this volume, one of yesterday, as it were, was more disastrous than many others. It is painful to contemplate the scene of dismay, when the ship struck, so unlike the presence of mind and calm deportment which we have recorded on similar occasions. But every allowance is to be made for the panic which followed a catastrophe so sudden and so overwhelming. The night was dark and tempestuous, the sea was running high, and all the elements were in a state of uproar. The paralyzing effect of this accumulation of horrors appears in the fact, that even after the small party of eight had so far secured their preservation as to be in possession of the cutter, and were within sight of the Island of Galita, two of them were found to be bereft of their reason.

The first crash, and the rapid plunge of the ship into the gulf that opened for her, and the loss of their captain among the first that perished, left the crew without that guidance and control to which seamen are in the habit of looking for support.

But though we have to regret the consternation that prevailed, there was no gross neglect or misconduct to throw a darker shade over the last hours of the Avenger. Captain Napier had been in consultation in his cabin with the master and second-master, examining the charts, and had also been on deck, giving directions to the officer of the watch, but a short time before the first alarm. When the panic was at its height, there was no act of dastardly selfishness for personal preservation, to the disregard of the safety of others. The officers are not accused of losing their composure. Lieut. Marryat is stated to have been 'calm and self-possessed;' and Mr. Rooke's strenuous efforts to lower the cutter, and his manly resolution to remain by the ship, as long as there was any chance of saving the lives of some of the survivors, attest his devotion to his duty to the very last.

The French officer, Captain Bouchier Riviere, who made a survey of the Sorelle after the wreck, and who deliberately considered all the circumstances, imputes no blame to the officers of the Avenger, but generously accounts for the misfortune by referring to the dangers of the spot, the force of the currents, the wildness of the weather, and the darkness of the night. 'The first shock,' says he, 'must have been dreadful.'

It would have been humiliating and afflicting, had this record of the Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, in which there is so much to admire, been closed with the details of a calamity in any way disgraceful to the service. Truth has required that the words 'dismay' and 'panic' should be used in the foregoing relation; but the terrible suddenness of the event, the instantaneous shock which broke up the Avenger in a moment, without the preparatory warning of 'breakers ahead,' or the previous notice of rocks or shoals in sight, will more than account for the helplessness to which the crew were reduced. They had not time to brace up their shattered nerves. The noble bearing of the two lieutenants, Rooke and Marryat, cool as they were, and in full command of their energies in the midst of crashing timbers and perishing men, places the character of the British seaman in its title light, and winds up our narrative with two more examples of naval heroism.

FOOTNOTES:

[19] The party in the boat consisted of Lieutenant Rooke; Mr. Betts, second master; Mr. Ayling, master's assistant; Mr. Larcom, gunner; Dr. Steel, the surgeon; Wm. Hills, captain's steward: John Owen, stoker; and the boy Morley.



LIST OF THE SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY, BETWEEN 1793 AND 1850.

- Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - Advice, June 1, 1793 4 Edward Tyrell 30 None Bokell Key, Cutter Honduras. Amphitrite Jan. 20, 1794 24 Anthony Hunt 160 None On a sunken rock in the Mediterranean. Ardent April, 1794 64 Robert M. 500 All Blown up or Sutton burnt off Corsica. Amethyst Dec. 29, 1795 44 Thomas 300 None Striking on Affleck rocks off Guernsey. Arab, Sloop June 10, 1796 14 Stephen 96 Capt. Rocks off the Seymour Glenan Isles, near Brest. Active Sept. 15, 1796 32 Ed. Leveson 215 None Running on shore Gower at Anticosti River St. Lawrence. Amphion Sept. 22, 1796 32 Isaac Pellew 215 Grter. Burnt by pt. of accident, and crew blown up in Hamoaze Harbour. Albion April 27, 1797 64 Henry Savage 491 None Striking on Middle Sand in the Swin. Artois July 31, 1797 32 Sir Edmund 284 None Running on Nagle Ballien Rocks. Amazon Jan. 14, 1797 32 Robert C. 264 None Engaged with the Reynolds Droits des Hommes, and ran on shore in Audernie Bay, coast of France. Aigle July 18, 1797 36 Charles Tyler 274 None Off Farina, coast of Spain. Apollo Jan. 7, 1797 38 Peter Halkett 284 None Running on Haak Sand, coast of Holland. Amaranthe, Oct. 25, 1799 14 George Hans 86 22 Coast of Sloop Blake Florida. Augustus, July 7, 1801 James Scott None In the Sound, G. Boat on the Hoe. Assistance Mar. 29, 1802 50 Richard Lee 345 None Between Dunkerque and Gravelines. Avenger, Dec. 5, 1803 14 F. Jackson 80 None Running on sand Sloop Snell bank at the mouth of the River Jade, Heligoland. Apollo April 2, 1804 36 J.W. Taylor 264 62 Running on shore Dixon in Mondego Bay, Portugal. Athenienne Oct. 20, 1806 64 Robert 491 350 On the Raynsford Esquerques, off Sicily. Adder, Dec. 9, 1806 12 Molyneux None Driven on shore Gun Brig Shuldham on coast of France. Ajax Feb. 14, 1807 74 Hon. Hy. 600 250 Burnt by Blackwood accident in the Dardanelles. Atalanta, Feb. 12, 1807 14 John Bowker 110 None On La Grande Sloop Blanche, Island of Rhe, France. Anson Dec. 29, 1807 44 Charles 330 60 On sand-bank Lydiard off Helstone, Falmouth. Astraea Mar. 23, 1808 32 Edmund 215 4 On a reef, Heywood Island of Anegada, West Indies. Alemene Apr. 20, 1809 32 W. Henry 254 None On a shoal at Tremlett the mouth of the Loire. Agamemnon June 16, 1809 64 Jonas Rose 491 None Ran on shore in Maldonado Roads, Rio de la Plata. Achates, Feb. 7, 1810 14 Thomas Pinto 76 None On Englishman's Sloop Head, Guadaloupe. Amethyst Feb. 15, 1811 38 Jacob Walton 284 8 On Cony Cliffs, Plymouth Sound. Avenger, Oct. 8, 1812 18 Urry Johnson 80 None In the narrows Sloop of St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland. Algerine, May 20, 1812 10 Daniel 70 None On the Schooner Carpenter Galapagos Roads, West Indies. Atalante Nov. 10, 1813 18 Frederick 121 None In a fog on the Hickey Sisters' Rocks, Halifax. Anacreon, Feb. 28, 1814 18 John Davis 121 Foundered in Sloop the Channel. Alceste Feb. 18, 1817 38 Murray 315 None Off Island of Maxwell Pulo Leat, (Sir) China Seas. Arab, Sloop Dec. 12, 1823 18 William 100 All Near Holmes Belmullett, Westport. Algerine Jan. 9, 1826 10 Charles 75 All In a squall in Wemyss the Mediterranean. Acorn, Apr. 14, 1828 18 Edward Gordon 115 All On Halifax Sloop Station. Avenger, Dec. 20, 1847 6 Edw. G.E. 250 246 On the Sorelle Steam-ship Napier Rocks, Mediterranean. Boyne May 1, 1795 98 George Grey 750 11 Accidentally burnt at Spithead. Bombay Dec. 21, 1796 74 Thomas 590 None In the Tagus. Castle Sotheby Berbice, Nov. 1796 20 John Tresahar 42 None Off the coast Schooner of Dominique, West Indies. Braak, Sloop May 23, 1798 14 James Drew 86 35 Foundered in the Delaware. Blanche Sept. 28, 1799 16 John Ayscough 121 None In Scalp Gat, in the Texel. - -

- - Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - - Brazen, Jan. 26, 1800 14 James Hanson 116 1 Near Brighton. Sloop Bonetta Oct. 13, 1801 16 Thomas New 121 None On a shoal east of the Jardines, Cuba. Babet Unknown, 1801 24 Jemmett 155 All Foundered in Mainwaring the West Indies. Barraconta, Oct. 2, 1805 10 Joel Orchard 48 None On the south Schooner side of the Island of Cuba, (running on shore.) Biter, Nov. 10, 1805 Geo. Thos. 50 None Near Calais. Gun-brig Wingate Bouncer, Feb. 1805 Samuel Bassan 50 None Off Dieppe. Gun-brig Brave April 2, 1806 Edmund Boger None Foundered in passage from from Jamaica to England. Boreas Dec. 5, 1807 28 George Scott 195 127 On the Hannois Rocks, Guernsey. Blenheim 1807 74 Sir Thomas 590 All Foundered, date Troubridge, unknown, off V.-Admiral, the Island of Austin Rodrigue, Bissell, Indian Ocean. Capt. Blanche Mar. 4, 1807 38 Sir T. Lavie 284 45 Off Ushant. Busy, Sloop 1807 18 Richard 121 All Foundered on Keilley the Halifax Station, date unknown. Bolina Nov. 3, 1807 Edward 1 Driven on Claributt shore, Peran Porth. Bermuda, April 22, 1808 12 Wm. Henry 121 None On Little Sloop Byam Bahama Bank. Bustler, Dec. 26, 1808 10 Richard Welsh 50 None On shore, Cape Gun-brig Grisnez, France. Banterer Dec. 29, 1808 22 Alexander 155 None In the river Sheppard St. Lawrence. Bassora, Feb. 13, 1808 12 James Violett 50 None Near Brig Carthagena. Barbadoes Sept. 29, 1812 28 Thomas 195 1 Sable Island, Huskisson Bermuda. Belette, Nov. 24, 1812 18 David Sloane 121 116 On rocks off Sloop Island of Lessoe, in the Kattegat. Bold, Sloop Sept. 27, 1812 10 John Shekel 55 On Prince Edward's Island. Bermuda, Nov. 24, 1816 10 John Pakenham 76 1 On Passage from Sloop Gulf of Mexico. Briseis, Nov. 5, 1816 Geo. Domett 76 None On reef off Sloop Point Pedras, Cuba. Bermuda, March, 1821 All Passage from Schooner Halifax to Bermuda. Briseis, 1838 6 John Downey 33 All Falmouth to Packet Halifax. Buffalo, July 28, 1841 James Wood 2 In Mercury Bay, Store-ship Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Convert Feb. 8, 1794 32 John Lawford None On the Grand Caymanes, West Indies. Ca Ira Apr. 11, 1796 80 Chas. Dudley 4 Burnt by Pater accident, and blown up in St. Fiorenzo Bay. Courageux Dec. 10, 1796 74 Capt. B. 640 410 Struck on rocks Hallowell under Apes' Hill, coast of Barbary. Cormorant, Dec. 24, 1796 16 Thomas Gott 121 95 Burnt and blown Sloop up by accident, at Port-au-Prince, St. Domingo. Curlew, Dec. 31, 1796 16 Jas. Ventris 90 All Foundered in Sloop Field North Sea. Charlotte, Dec. 11, 1797 John Thukness None Off the Island Brig of Cuba. Crash, Aug. 26, 1798 50 Berkeley 50 None Blown on shore Gun-boat Mackworth on the Island of Vlieland, Holland. Colossus Dec. 9, 1798 74 George Murray 640 None Off the Island of Scilly. Contest, Aug. 28, 1799 John Ides 50 None Driven on shore Gun-boat Short in the Helder. Cormorant, May 20, 1800 24 C. Boyle, 155 None On a shoal near Sloop (Hon.) Rosetta, coast of Egypt. Chance, Oct. 9, 1800 14 George S. 121 116 Foundered. Sloop Stovin Charlotte, Mar. 28, 1801 John Williams 60 None Running on reef Schooner of rocks near Ash, (Island of.) Calypso Aug. 1803 16 William 121 All Foundered in a Venour gale, coming from Jamaica. Circe Nov. 16, 1803 28 Chas. 195 None On the Leman Fielding and Ower, North Sea. Creole Jan. 2, 1804 38 Austin None Foundered in Russell passage from Jamaica. Cerbere, Feb. 20, 1804 John Patey 50 None Rocks near Gun-boat Berry Head. Conflict, Oct. 24, 1804 Chas. Cutts 50 None Near Newport, Gun-boat Ormsby Isle of Wight. Clinker, Dec. 1806 14 John Salmon 50 All Foundered in a Sloop cruize off Havre. - -

- - Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - - Cassandra, May 13, 1807 10 Geo. Le Blanc 35 11 By upsetting in a sudden squall off Bourdeaux. Capelin, June 28, 1808 6 Josias Bray 20 1 Sunken rock off Schooner entrance of Brest Harbor. Crane, Oct. 26, 1808 4 Joseph 20 None Running on a Brig Tindale rock to the W. of the Hoe, Plymouth. Crescent Dec. 5, 1808 36 John Temple 280 220 On the coast of Jutland, in a heavy gale. Carrier, Jan. 24, 1808 4 W. Milner 20 None On a sand-bank Cutter near Boulogne. Carieux, Sept. 25, 1809 18 Henry Geo. 110 None Off Petit Sloop Moysey Terre, Island of Marigalante, West Indies. Contest 1809 John Gregory All Foundered, as is supposed, in passage from America. Claudia, Jan. 20, 1809 10 Anth. Bliss, 42 None Off Norway. Brig W. Lord Cuckoo, April 4, 1810 4 Silas Hiscutt 20 2 Haaks, off Brig Paddon Texel. Conflict, Nov. 9, 1810 10 Joseph B. 50 All Foundered in Brig Batt the Bay of Biscay. Chichester May, 2, 1811 William Kirby 88 2 In Madras Roads. Centinel, Oct. 10, 1812 W. Elletson 45 None North-east end Gun-boat King of the Island of Rugen, Baltic. Chubb, Aug. 14, 1812 Samuel 20 All Foundered near Gun-boat Nisbett Halifax. Calibre, Aug. 23, 1813 16 John Thomson 100 None In crossing the Sloop bar of Port Royal, Jamaica. Captain Mar. 22, 1813 74 In Ordinary 590 None Burnt in Hamoaze, Plymouth. Crane, Sept. 30, 1814 14 Robert 121 All Foundered in the Sloop Stanley West Indies. Cuttle, 1814 4 20 All Exact date Gun-boat unknown, on the Halifax Station. Cygnet, 1815 16 Robert Russel 121 All Date unknown, Sloop off the Courantine River. Comus Nov. 4, 1816 22 J. John G. 175 None Off Cape Pine, Bremer Newfoundland. Carron July. 6, 1820 John Furneaux 135 19 Four miles to the north of the Black Pagoda, Poorie. Confiance, April 21, 1822 18 W.T. Morgan 100 Between Moyin Sloop Head and Three Castle Head, Crookhaven. Columbine, Jan. 25, 1824 18 Chas. Abbott 100 None In the harbor Sloop of Port Longue, Island of Sapienza. Cynthian, June 6, 1827 6 John White 28 None Off the Island Pack.-brig of Barbados. Cambrian Jan. 31, 1828 48 G.W. Hamilton 275 None Off Carabusa, Mediterranean, in attacking pirates. Contest, April 14, 1828 12 Edw. 50 All On Halifax Gun-boat Plaggenborg Station. Calypso, 1833 6 H. Peyton 30 All In passage from Packet Halifax to England. Challenger May 19, 1835 28 Michael 160 2 Coast of Seymour Moquilla, Conception, Chili. Diomede Aug. 2, 1795 44 Matthew Smith 294 Striking on a sunken rock off Trincomalee. Deux Amis, May 23, 1799 Mr. Samuel None In Great Chine, Schoon. Wilson Isle of Wight. Dromedary, Aug. 10, 1800 20 Bridges W. 120 None Parasol Rock, Store-sh. Taylor Island of Trinidad. Diligence Oct. 8, 1800 16 Charles H.B. 121 None On a shoal on Ross the coast of Havannah. Determinee Mar. 25, 1803 26 Alexander 145 19 Striking on a Becher sunken rock off the Island of Jersey. Drake, July 12, 1804 14 William King 86 None On a shoal off Sloop the Island of Nevis. De Ruyter Sept. 4, 1804 32 Joseph 250 None In a hurricane Beckett in Deep Bay, Antigua. Doris Jan. 12, 1805 36 Patrick 264 None On a sunken Campbell rock in Quiberon Bay. Dover, Mar. Aug. 20, 1806 Burnt at Barr. Woolwich. Delphinen Aug. 4, 1808 16 Richard 100 None On the Harward South-West part of Vieland, Holland. Delight, Jan. 31, 1808 16 Phillip C. 95 All On the coast of Sloop Handfield Calabria. Defender, Dec. 14, 1809 10 John George 50 None Near Brig Nops Folkestone. Dominica, Aug. 1809 10 Charles Welsh 65 62 Foundered near Brig Tortola. - -

- - Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - - Diana, May 1810 10 Wm. 50 None At the Island Cutter Kempthorne of Rodrigue, East Indies. Dover May 2, 1811 38 Edward Tucker 300 2 In Madras Roads. Defence Dec. 24, 1811 74 David Atkins 593 587 Off the coast of Jutland. Daedalus July 2, 1813 38 Murray 315 None Off Island of Dart, Maxwell Ceylon. Cutter 1814 10 Thomas Allen 40 Foundered, date unknown. Dominica, Aug. 15, 1815 14 Richard Near Bermuda. Schooner Cranford Drake, June 20, 1822 Charles Baker 76 Cmdr.& Off the Sloop others coast of Newfoundland. Delight Feb. 23, 1824 10 Robert Hay 75 All In a hurricane at the Mauritius. Dwarf Mar. 3, 1824 10 Nicholas 60 1 Ran against the Gould Pier in Kingstown Harbour. Etrusco, Aug. 23, 1798 26 George 125 None Foundered in Store-ship Reynolds the West Indies. Espion Nov. 17, 1799 18 Jonas Rose None In Goodwin Sands. Ethalion Dec. 25, 1799 38 John Clark 284 None On the Searle Saints. Explosion, Sept. 10, 1807 10 Edward Elliot 57 None On a reef near Bomb Sandy Island, Heligoland. Elizabeth, 1807 12 John Sedley 55 All Foundered, date Schooner unknown, in West Indies. Electra, Mar. 23, 1808 16 George 95 None On a reef at Sloop Trolloppe the entrance of Port Augusta, Sicily. Ephira, Dec. 26, 1811 14 Thomas 76 None On Cochinos Sloop Everard Rocks, in passage between Cadiz and Tarifa. Encounter, July 11, 1812 10 S.H. Talbot 60 Attempting to Brig cut out some vessels, on the coast of Spain. Emulous, Aug. 2, 1812 18 W. Howe 121 None Ragged Island, Sloop Mulcaster Nova Scotia. Exertion, July 8, 1812 James Murray 60 None In the Elbe. Gun-boat Elizabeth, Oct. 1814 10 Jonathan W. 35 Upsetting in Schooner Dyer chase of an American Privateer. Fleche Nov. 12, 1795 14 Charles Came None Reef of Rocks off Fernelli Tower, Saint Fiorenzo's Bay, Mediterranean. Fortune, June 15, 1797 14 Valentine 86 Ran on shore Sloop Collard near Toreiro, coast of Portugal. Fox Sept. 18, 1799 32 James 215 None In St. George's Wooldridge Sound, Gulf of Mexico. Fulminante, Mar. 24, 1801 10 Robert 60 None Drifted on Cutter Corbett Shore at La Cruelle, coast of Egypt. Forte Jan. 28, 1801 50 Lucius F. 343 None On a sunken Hardyman rock in the harbour of Jedda, Red Sea. Fly, Jan. 1802 16 Thomas Duval 121 All Foundered, date unknown, coast of Newfoundland. Fearless, Jan. 19, 1804 Richard 50 1 Driven on shore Gun-boat Williams in Cawsand Bay. Firebrand, Oct. 13, 1804 William 18 1 Off Dover. Fire-ship Maclean Fly, Mar. 3, 1805 18 Pownole 121 None On the Sloop Bastard Carysfort, Pellew Reef, Gulf of Florida. Felix, Jan. 23, 1807 18 Robert Clarke 60 57 In St. Andero Schooner Bay. Firefly Oct. 17, 1807 Thomas Price All Foundered in a except hurricane off Surg & the Spanish 3 men. Main. Flora Jan. 19, 1803 36 Loftus Otway 264 9 On the coast of Bland Holland. Flying Fish, Dec. 15, 1808 2 J. Glassford 50 None On reef to Schooner Gooding eastward of Point Salines, St. Domingo. Fama, Dec. 23, 1808 Chas. Topping 2 On Bornholm, Sloop Baltic. Foxhound, Aug. 31, 1809 18 James 121 All Foundered on Sloop Mackenzie her return from Halifax. Fleche, May 24, 1810 16 George Hewson 86 None On the Sloop Shaarhorn Sand, off Newark, Elbe. Fleur Dec. 29, 1810 John 40 None Foundered in de la Mer Alexander lat. 15 deg. 15' long. 71 deg. 2'. Firm, June 28, 1811 10 John Little 50 None On a bank off Brig the coast of France. Fancy, Dec. 24, 1811 Alexander 50 All In the Baltic Gun-boat Sinclair (foundered.) - -

- - Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - - Fly, Sloop Feb. 28, 1812 16 Henry Higman 95 None On Anholt Reef. Fearless Dec. 8, 1812 10 Henry L. 50 None Rocks off St. Richards Sebastian. Ferret, Jan. 7, 1813 18 Fred. Alex. 121 None On Newbiggin Sloop Halliday Point, Northumberland. Fantome, Nov. 24, 1814 18 Thomas Sykes 121 None On rocks near Sloop Prospect Harbour, Nova Scotia. Fury Aug. 1, 1825 H.P. Hoppner 75 None In Regent's Inlet. Firefly, Feb. 27, 1835 5 Julius 50 A few Reef near Schooner McDonnell Belize. Fairy 1841 6 William 63 All Foundered in Hewett the North Sea. Garnet Jan. 7, 1798 James Clark None On a reef off Cape Francois. Garland July 26, 1798 28 James Athol 195 None Coast of Wood Madagascar. Grampus, Jan. 19, 1799 20 John Hall 155 None Near Woolwich. Store-ship Galgo Oct. 9, 1800 Thomas 25 Upset in a Forrest saved squall, in lat. 21 deg. long. 61 deg. west. Grappler, Dec. 20, 1803 Abel Wantn. 50 None On the Isle de Gun-boat Thomas Chausey, Jersey. Garland Sept. 10, 1803 24 Frederick 135 None Caracol Reef, Cotterell off St. Domingo. Georgiana, Sept. 25, 1804 Joshua None On a sand-bank G.-boat Kneeskarn near Harfleur. Griper Feb. 18, 1807 10 Edward Morris 50 All Off Ostend. Greyhound Oct. 11, 1808 32 Hon. W. 215 1 On the coast of Pakenham Lemonia. Glommen, Nov. 1809 18 Charles 100 None In Carlisle Sloop Pickford Bay, Barbados. Guachapin, July 7, 1811 10 Michael None On Rat Island, Brig Jenkins Antigua. Grouper, Oct. 21, 1811 4 James Atkins 40 None Off Guadaloupe. Brig Goshawk, Sept. 21, 1813 16 Hon. W.J. 95 None To the eastward Sloop Napier of the Mole Head, Barcelona. Hussar Dec. 24, 1796 28 James Colnett 195 None In a gale of wind to the westward of the Island of Bass, France. Helena, Nov. 3, 1796 14 Jeremiah J. 86 All On the coast of Sloop Symons Holland. Hamadryad Dec. 24, 1797 36 Thomas 264 None Blown on shore Elphinstone in Algier Bay. Hermes Jan. 1797 14 William Malso 76 All Place unknown. Hunter, Dec. 27, 1797 14 Tudor Tucker 80 75 Wrecked on Hog Sloop Island, off Virginia. Hound, Sept. 26, 1800 16 Wm. Jas. 235 None Near Shetland. Sloop Turquand Harwich Nov. 9, 1801 16 Phillip 121 None In St. Aubin's Bartholomew Bay, Jersey. Hindostan, Mar. 20, 1804 20 John Le Gros 140 3 Burnt in Bay of Store-sh Rosas. Hussar Feb. 8, 1804 38 Philip 284 None On the Saintes Wilkinson in the Bay of Biscay. Hawke, May, 1805 14 James Tippet 96 All Foundered in Sloop the Channel. Heureux 1806 24 John Morrison 155 All Foundered, date unknown, in passage from West Indies to Halifax. Hirondelle, Feb. 23, 1808 12 Joseph Kidd 50 46 On shore the cutter coast of Barbary. Harrier, 1809 18 Thomas B. 121 All Foundered, date Sloop Ridge unknown, in the East Indies. Hero Dec. 24, 1811 74 J. Newman 590 All Off the coast Newman of Jutland. Halcyon, May 19, 1814 14 J. Houlton 121 None On reef of Sloop Marshall rocks in Annatto Bay, Jamaica. Holly, Jan. 29, 1814 10 S. Sharpe 50 44 Off St. Schooner Treacher Sebastian. Herring, 1814 4 John Murray 20 All Exact date Gun-boat unknown, in the Halifax station. Illustrious Mar. 17, 1795 74 Thomas L. 600 None In a gale of Frederick wind on rocks near Avenga. Jason Oct. 13, 1798 38 Chas. 284 None Unknown rock Stirling near Brest. Impregnable Oct. 19, 1799 74 Jonathan 190 None Striking on Faulknor Chichester Shoals. Invincible Mar. 16, 1801 74 John Rennie 590 464 Ranon Hammond's Knowl, near Yarmouth. Iphigenia June 20, 1801 20 Hayard 60 None Burnt by Stackpool accident in Aboukir Bay. Jason July 24, 1801 36 Hon. J. 264 None On a rock not Murray laid down in the Charts, entrance of St. Malocs. Julia Jan. 21, 1805 James Harley None On Castle Rocks at the entrance of Dartmouth Harbour. Imogene, Mar. 12, 1805 18 Henry Vaughan 121 None Foundered in Sloop passage from Leeward Islands. - -

- - Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - - Jupiter Dec. 10, 1807 50 Hon. E. Reg. 343 None Reef of rocks Baker in Vigo Bay. Java 1807 32 Georg Pigot All Foundered with Blenheim. Inveterate, Feb. 18, 1807 14 George Norton 50 4 Off Etables, Gun-boat France. Jackall, May 29, 1807 14 Charles 50 None Near Calais. Gun-boat Stewart Ignition, Feb. 19, 1807 Phillip 32 28 Wrecked off Fire-ship Griffin Dieppe. Jaspar, Jan. 20, 1817 Thomas Carew 76 72 Rocks under Sloop Mount Batten, entrance of Catwater. Julia, Oct. 2, 1817 Jenkin Jones 95 55 Off Tristan Brig d'Acunha, coast of Africa. Jasper, Oct. 11, 1828 10 L.C. Rooke 75 None Grounded in Sloop running for Harbour of St. Maura. Jackdaw Mar. 11, 1835 4 Edw. Burnett 36 None On reef off Old Providence. Kangaroo, Dec. 18, 1828 6 Anthony de 45 1 South-east of S.-vessel Mayne Reef of Hogsties. Leda Dec. 11, 1796 38 John Woodley 264 257 Foundered by upsetting in a heavy gale, lat. 38 deg. 8' long. 17 deg. 40' Lively April 12, 1798 36 Jas. N. 254 None On Rosa Point, Morris near Cadiz. Lord April 10, 1799 26 Edward 121 None Arklow Bank, Mulgrave Hawkins Irish Channel. Lutine Oct. 9, 1799 32 Lancelot 240 1 Off the Vlie Skinner Island, coast of Holland. Legere, Feb. 2, 1801 16 Cornelius 121 None Jamba Bay, east Sloop Quinton of Carthageua, S. America. Lowestoffe Aug. 10, 1801 32 Robert. 215 None On the Island Plampin of Great Heneaga, W. Indies. Leveret, Nov. 10, 1807 18 Jas. L. 121 None On the Albion Sloop O'Connor Shoal, Galloper Rock. Leda Jan. 31, 1808 32 Robert 284 None At the entrance Honyman of Milford Harbour. Lark, Sloop Aug. 3, 1809 18 Robert 121 3 In a sudden Nicholas squall off Point Palenqua, Island of Domingo. Lively Aug. 10, 1810 38 George 284 None Point of M'Kinley Salina, South-east of Bay of St. Paul's, Malta. Laurel Jan. 31, 1812 38 Samuel C. 300 None On a sunken Rowley rock in Teigneuse Passage, Quiberon Bay. Laurestinus Aug. 21, 1813 24 Thos. Graham 175 1 North end of the Island of Abaco, Halifax. Leopard, June 28, 1814 Edward Gr'ter Near the Island Transport Crofton part of Anticosti, saved Gulf of St. Lawrence. Lizard, July 24, 1843 3 Charles 60 None Off Carthagena, Steam-vessel Postle by being run foul of by a French man-of-war. Musquito, 1795 McCarty 50 Wrecked, date G.-boat unknown, on the coast of France. Malabar Oct. 10, 1796 54 Thos. Parr 324 None Foundered coming home from West Indies. Medusa, Nov. 22, 1798 Alexander 118 None Drifting on Store-ship Becher shore in Rosier Bay, Gibraltar. Mastiff, Jan. 5, 1800 James Watson 50 Many In Cockle Gun-boat Sands, Yarmouth Roads. Marlborough Nov. 4, 1800 74 Thomas 590 None In the Sotheby Bervadeux Shoal, near L'Orient, France. Martin, October, 1800 16 Hon. Matth. 76 All Foundered in Sloop St. Clair North Sea. Melenger June 9, 1801 16 Hon. T. 215 None In the Bladen Capel Westernmost Triangle, G. of Mexico. Minerve July 2, 1803 40 Jaheel 294 None On the western Brenton point of the Cones of Cherbourg. Magnificent March 25, 1804 74 Wm. Henry 500 None Wrecked near Jervis the Pierres Noires, Brest. Morne Dec. 5, 1804 John L. Dale None On Crooked Fortunee Island, West Indies. Mallard, Dec. 24, 1804 John William 50 None Near Calais. Gun-boat Miles Martin, 1806 18 Thomas Prouse 121 All Date unknown. Sloop In passage to Barbadoes. Moueheron 1807 James Hawes 121 All Wrecked, date unknown, in the Mediterranean. Maria, 1807 10 John 50 All Foundered, date Gun-boat Henderson unknown, in West Indies. Melbrook, March 25, 1808 10 James Leach 50 None On the Schooner Burlings. Muros March 24, 1808 24 Archibald 155 None At the entrance Duff of the Harbour of Bahia Honda, Cuba. - -

- - Commanding No. Number Name of Date. Guns Officer's of of Where lost. Ship. Name. men lost. - - Meleager July 30, 1808 36 Fred. Warren 264 4 On Barebush Cay, Jamaica. Magnet, Jan. 11, 1809 18 George Morris 121 None In the Baltic. Sloop Morne Jan. 9, 1809 10 John Brown 65 41 Off Martinique. Fortunee, Bg. Minotaur Dec. 22, 1810 74 John Barrett 640 400 On the North Haaks, Texel. Monkey, Dec. 25, 1810 10 Thomas 50 Rocks at Bell Brig Fitzgerald Isle, France. Manilla Jan. 28, 1812 38 John Joyce 274 8 men On Haaks, Texel. Magnet, 1812 16 F. Moore 95 All Foundered, date Sloop Maurice unknown, near Halifax. Magnet, Aug. 4, 1814 16 G.I. 90 None Run on shore Sloop Hawksworth near Niagara. Martin, Dec. 8, 1817 18 Mitchell 121 None Western coast Sloop of Ireland. Magpie, Aug. 27, 1826 3 Edward Smith 35 33 Colorados Schooner Roads, Island of Cuba. Myrtle April 3, 1829 6 Samuel Sism 29 None Western head of Ragged Island, Nova Scotia. Megoera March 4, 1843 2 George 60 1 On Bare Bush Oldmixon Cay. Mutine, Dec, 21, 1848 12 J. Lewis 120 5 Reef near Sloop Palmer Palestrina, Adriatic. Narcissus Oct. 3, 1796 24 Percy Fraser 155 None On Sandy Key, near Nassua, New Providence. Nautilus Feb. 2, 1799 16 Henry Gunter 121 None Near Flamborough Head. Nassau Oct. 24, 1799 36 George Tripp 250 42 Haaks Sand, in the Helder. Nautilus, Jan. 4, 1807 18 Capt. Palmer 122 58 On Cerrigoto, Sloop a barren rock in the Levant. Netley, July 10, 1808 12 Charles 65 56 On the Leeward Schooner Burman Island Station. Nymphe Dec. 18, 1810 36 Edward Sneyd 254 None Wrecked off Clay Dunbar. Nimble, Oct. 6, 1812 10 John Reynolds 50 None On Salo Beacon, Cutter coast of Sweden. Nimrod, Jan. 14, 1827 18 115 None Driven on shore Sloop Sparshott in Holyhead Bay. Nightingale, Feb. 17, 1829 2 George Wood 31 None On ground in Schoon. the Shingles. Nimble, Dec. 4, 1834 5 Charles 50 None On reef between Schooner Bolton Key Verde and Old Bahama Channel. Orestes Unknown, 1799 16 William 121 All In a hurricane Haggett in the Indian Ocean. Orestes, July 11, 1805 14 Thomas Brown 80 None Splinter Sand, Sloop Dunkerque. Orquino Nov. 7, 1805 Charles Many In a sudden Balderson squall off Pt. Antonio, Jamaica. Orpheus Jan. 23, 1807 36 Thomas Briggs 255 None Running on shore at the entrance of Port Royal Harbour. Osprey, March 11, 1846 12 Fred. Patten 110 None At False Sloop Hokianga. Pigmy, Dec. 16, 1793 4 A. Pullibank 60 10 On the Cutter Motherbank. Placentia, May 8, 1794 4 Alexander None Saddle Back, Sloop Sheppard Marticot Island, N. America. Pylades, Nov. 26, 1794 16 Thomas 125 None Heraldswick Bay, Sloop Twysden Nest, Shetland. Port Royal March 30, 1797 Elias Man None Running on shore near Cape St. Nicolas. Providence, May 17, 1797 14 W.R. 96 None On a reef in Sloop Broughton the Pacific. Pandora 1797 14 Samuel Mason 75 All In the North Sea. Date unknown. Pallas April 4, 1798 36 Hon. Henry 254 None On Mount Batten Curzon Point, Plymouth Sound. Pique June 30, 1798 32 David Milne 250 None Running on shore on the French coast, after action with the French frigate, La Seine. Proserpine Feb. 1, 1799 28 James Wallis 195 14 On a sand-bank, near Newark Island, River Elbe. Proselyte Sept, 2, 1801 32 Henry Whitly 215 None On shoal, Isle of St. Martin, West Indies. Porpoise Aug. 17, 1803 Richard None On a reef of Fowler coral, in the Pacific. Pigmy, Aug. 9, 1805 10 William Smith 60 None On Sillet Rock, Cutter St. Aubyn Bay, Jersey. Pigeon Dec. 1805 John Luckraft None Running on sand-bank, off Texel. Papillon, 1806 18 William 121 Foundered in Sloop Woolsey Jamaica station, exact date unknown. Pert, Sloop Oct. 16, 1807 14 Donald 70 10 Driven on shore Campbell in a hurricane, Island of Mucarva, Spanish Main. Prospero, Feb. 18, 1807 10 William King 67 All Foundered in Bomb the North Sea. Pigmy, March 2, 1807 10 Geo. M. 60 None Off Rochefort. Cutter Higginson - -