bling the smacking of a thousand cart-whips. This singular property of the aerial current I noticed whilst sitting down (when not descending to or ascending from the lower deck) silently, under shelter before the captain's cabin, contemplating the awful and impressive scene. At such times none of the few persons on deck were allowed to move from under cover of the weather bulwark; there they sat mute spectators of the havock which the warring elements were making upon the noble vessel, and silent listeners of the cheers which now and then issued from their gallant shipmates at the pumps.

The ship rolled and laboured in a manner dreadful to behold, and her weather lurches were often so violent and sudden, that it was wonderful how the lower masts continued to stand; and the ponderous metal! (long 24's and 32's) which at every minute or two were almost vertically suspended. One gun only broke adrift, passing through the sick-bay bulkhead, and swinging across the breech of the opposite gun, where it was securely lashed.

Another source of anxiety was, the heavy seas that incessantly broke over the ship, and the quantity of water which, although the hatches were well secured, found its way into the lower deck. To admit this water to reach the well, it was absolutely necessary to scuttle the lower-deck; and to add to our distress, the leak from below was found to increase, notwithstanding the unwearied efforts of our noble fellows to surmount it.

The best bower-cable having been bent in readiness for anchoring at Barbados, the anchor, during the storm, was watched as rather a dangerous appendage, although on another occasion it would have been viewed with quite a contrary feeling; men, however, were stationed with axes at the manger-board, in readiness to cut the cable, should such be found necessary; the anchor did break its lashings, and a forecastleman, applying his head to the scuttle, gave the alarm to those below; the cable was cut and the anchor gone before it had time to strike the bow, and the alarming circumstance was not known to the captain until the ponderous mass had descended some hundreds of fathoms: its disappearance afforded the greatest satisfaction.

At half-past eleven I conveyed the unwelcome intelligence from the carpenter to the captain, that the leak was fast increasing; the quantity of water rushing in amounting to six feet an hour! Every spare hand was immediately sent down to the pumps, where the fine body of marines were exerting themselves in the most praiseworthy manner: these men were altogether the most perfect company of that useful branch of our naval service that I have ever seen, and men in all respects an honour to it, as they were assuredly to their country.

The lower-deck at this time presented a scene such as no person, who has not witnessed a similar case, can picture to himself: the

air being deprived in a great measure of its oxygen, by the inhalation of such a multitude, and a want of free circulation, was almost suffocating to those who descended, as they were obliged to do, suddenly, by means of man-ropes, (all the ladders being unshipped from the violent and continued motion of the ship,) from the fresh air they had been breathing on the upper-decks; but, it is singular that those who were below for some time did not complain of a similar inconvenience from the foulness of the air; the heat, however, was alike oppressive to all, and the men had thrown off all their clothes but their trowsers.

The water which had found its way through the seams, and up the pumps, was dashed from side to side, according to the inclination of the vessel, and with it were carried various articles which had not been properly secured.

Very few individuals succeeded in obtaining more than a few minutes' sleep during the continuance of the hurricane; on the deck I am speaking of, there was no "pricking for the softest plank," these were under water. The captain, whose Aid' I had the honour to be, taking compassion upon me, I suppose, after I had nearly been beaten to a mummy in my various slippery trips down to the lower deck, to convey his orders, and to learn how things were going on there, desired me to go down to rest, if I could; and to send another mid up. I was not long in descending, for, in truth, my eye-lids had become so "heavy," that I should have committed a breach of discipline by falling asleep without his order, if I had remained ten minutes longer upon deck. When I had reached below, I waded and floundered amongst the chests, benches, hammocks, &c. until I had gained the mess-table in the gun-room; this was lashed amidships, between the transom cabins; in one of which lieutenant (afterwards captain) Kenah* lay asleep, with the water flowing over his cot. When I reached the table, I found it already occupied by some of the mids, lashed over all, who were snoring away in concert with the roar of the tempest, whilst the water, as it was tossed by the violent motion of the ship, every now and then dashed over their inanimate bodies-happy fellows! thought I at the moment, I envy your perfect state of repose, and I will try to imitate your example; calling one of the men to my aid, I edged in, holding on by the ropes, until a turn or two was passed round me and made fast. I had scarcely adjusted myself ere I was sound asleep; but my slumbers were soon interrupted, for an unlucky weather lurch broke our moorings, and pitched table, mids, and all, fairly into the worthy lieutenant's cot, which breaking down with the heavy weight, nearly smothered us and him also; in truth, it was no easy matter to get extricated from this corner;

This estimable man and excellent brave officer, after greatly distinguishing himself in India, under Sir C. Cole, was unfortunately killed by the Americans, when in command of H.M.S Etna.

as it was, most of us were severely bruised. We were also in a sad hungry state; there was no cooking, and, except the shadow of a weovily biscuit, nothing could be got at. I recollect an animated scramble taking place for a salt-beef bone, which one of the mates had, whilst foraging, fished out from the ruins of the mess cupboard under water, but which had slipped from his hands into it again. These trivial circumstances may serve to show the deplorable state to which we were reduced.

Incessant bodily labour, want of rest, food, and some stimulating beverage, had now impaired the strength of the men, yet their spirits were as buoyant as ever, for they were sensible that, under Providence, the safety of the ship and all on board depended upon their exertions. The captain and officers gave up the liquors that belonged to them, which, being served out at intervals in small quantities to the men, gave these fine fellows additional vigour. Their exertions were almost incredible; and I am satisfied that none of the surviving officers ever revert to the subject without feelings of the liveliest satisfaction, admiration, and gratitude. With the exception of the cheering, which was absolutely necessary, there was no noise, no confusion, and not a murmur ever escaped them, at the extreme bodily exertion required to work the chain-pumps, and under the privations mentioned; every point of duty was performed consonant with the best system of discipline, and with the most ready and cheerful obedience to the commands of the officers their conduct might be equalled, but never surpassed, not even by the Alceste's.

There were a great many men, unfortunately, on the sick-list; their condition was wretched in the extreme, confined as they were to the cable tiers; every thing, however, that could be suggested for alleviating their situation, was done by the humanity and attention of the surgeon, who, being without an assistant, had to perform the duty himself.

As the mid-day approached, the motions of the ship became so violent, that apprehension was entertained of the immediate fall of the masts; very near noon, this apprehension was realized, the mainmast went over the side with a tremendous crash, without touching the bulwark! An idea may be formed from this circumstance, of the position of the ship at this awful moment: the weighty stick was sprung on the weather lurch, and tumbled headlong into the sea, at the moment the ship had reached her greatest inclination to leeward, when the whole of the starboard bulwarks were under water!

Shortly after, the mizen-mast followed, breaking in three pieces, the middle part falling upon deck; the two cutters were also lost; and the arm and signal chests smashed in pieces. At this moment, part of an enormous wave came with full force against the after part of the ship, and made a clear weep over the poop NO. 49.-VOL. V.

Y

deck, carrying away the captain's gig and the lantern, and making every timber quake. The portion of this sea which passed astern, was much higher than the ship's hull abaft.

I observed, when looking to leeward, that some of the waves, when pressed by others in hasty succession, curled over to windward, with a round frothy top, which suddenly gave way, and the whole body of whitened water came down at once; in general, however, they doubled over, and ran forward with a sort of jumping motion, gradually, but still rapidly, forming a deep concavity, which, when it had reached its utmost depression, began again to swell up, and so on in succession.

All now upon deck was a scene of active bustle and emulation -the recollection is heart-stirring-the disregard of personal danger, in the noble efforts of the noble fellows to clear the wreck now endangering the ship, and amid the appalling scene of desolation that surrounded them, the deafening fury of the wind, and the lofty foaming of the rushing waves-in truth beggars description. The uplifted axe, the shining tomahawk, and the handy knife, were wielded and applied in all directions; the adventurous band often overwhelmed by the surging billows which, now vessel's motion increased, broke over her with unrelenting turbulence.

as the

I cannot forbear mentioning one of these brave men (who, I dare say, will not yet have been forgotten by some of the survivors) his name was Hector Moore, a Caledonian-meet child of that poetic land-tall, bony, and powerful, with a countenance as serene and calm, amid the war of elements, as the most impassive judge ever wore. This worthy Scot's exertions were conspicuous among those made by the little band, and he was the admiration and praise of those officers who witnessed his exploits it was he, too, who had cut the cable, and rid us of the anchor. Where art thou now, "poor Hector Moore?"* gone, perhaps, to the land of spirits!-peace be to thy undaunted soul-I shall never forget thy doings on this memorable day.

It is in the hour of need and peril (as has been remarked, over and over again) that the able and orderly seaman is known, and best seen to advantage; and it is at such times that that daring spirit, the noble characteristic of the sons of Britain, shines with peculiar splendour, surmounting obstacles which often appear impossible to be overcome.

Having cut away the wreck, and seen it clear of the ship, the few men that performed this duty were sent down to the pumps, for the leak was increasing, and there was no abatement of the hurricane.

Hector was "a character;" he spoke always with humility of himself, commencing, invariably, with "poor Hector Moore;" but, like most sailors, he could not withstand the temptation of "grog."

Our perilous situation, as time advanced, became more and more apparent; the men could not possibly hold out much longer, and, as every hour lessened their strength, so the water must increase, and it was estimated that in twenty-four hours our fate would be decided! Under these circumstances, the officers came to the determination of offering to take their turn at the pumps; but this the captain, although fully appreciating their motive, would not allow, unless the men displayed symptoms of drooping. It must be observed, that the crew were ignorant of the progressive increase of the leak, which had now reached to eight feet an hour! This was certainly a wise precaution, and, indeed, under similar circumstances is generally followed; for, although I do not believe that the fact, if known to them, would have caused any feeling like despair, yet it might have created an alarm, and have given rise to serious consequences: the same motive, no doubt, influenced the commander, in not immediately yielding to the offer of the officers. Every mode that could be devised to cheer and encourage the efforts of the men, was resorted to; but in no one instance was there the slightest occasion for enforcing order; every individual did his duty cheerfully.

Thus were we situated, looking forward with anxiety to the period which was to determine whether we should sink or swim! On the gloomy side of the question, this could not be far distant; and whether the other would ever arrive to us, could only be hoped and devoutly prayed for the latter, happily, soon became apparent. At four P. M. the clouds began to break; a spot of the heavenly blue here and there was seen, and gazed at with that sort of intense satisfaction which the warrant of reprieve may be supposed to affect the unhappy wretch who had been condemned to die! and the wind, too, that mysterious power, the source of all our disquiet, began, in a slight degree, to decrease. The relief to the mind which this change afforded, can better be conceived than described.

More, perhaps, with the intent of cheering the men, than with any expectation of succeeding in the attempt, an order was given from the quarter-deck, for some of the men to come up and "make sail!" It is doubtful if ever these spirit-stirring words, ay, even to chase, were ever before received with more joy and exultation by a crew; the cheers that followed would almost have put new life into a dying seaman; they were delightful to hear, and electric in effect.

It is a common observation among seamen, that there is hope when a bit of blue, "large enough to make a Welshman a pair of breeches," is seen during a storm at sea. The first blue speck we saw, when hope was fast waning her light, may be typified as the "Pitying Angel," sent from heaven to denote that mercy had been extended to us. Blue, true blue, that colour which never fades, is the sailors, and with reason-it is the most widely-spread colour constantly before their sight.