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for, out of 240 persons on board, when the ship first struck, I suppose 20 to have previously perished between decks and otherwise. Mr. Lawton, the gunner, the first person who attempted to swim ashore, was drowned: afterwards lieute nant Wilson, Mr. Runcie, surgeon, Mr. McCabe, surgeon's mate, Mr. Stanley, master's mate, and several men, shared the same fate, by reason of the sea breaking in enormous surges over them, though excellent swimmers. About thirty persons had the good fortune to reach the shore, upon planks and spars; among whom were, lieutenant Hervey and Mr. Callam, master's mate. Monday night our situation was truly horrid, the old men and boys dying through hunger and fatigue; also Messrs. Proby and Hayes, midshipmen. Captain Dixon remained all this night upon the bowsprit. Tuesday morning presented us no better prospect of being relieved from the jaws of death, the wind blowing stronger and the sea much more turbulent. About noon this day, our drooping spirits were somewhat raised by seeing lientenant Hervey and Mr. Callam hoisting out a boat from one of the merchant ships, to come to the as. sistance of their distressed shipmates. They several times attempted to launch her through the surf; but being a very heavy boat, and the sea on the beach acting so powerfully against them, they could not possibly effect it, though assisted by nearly 100 of the merchant sailors and Portuguese peasants. Several men went upon rafts this day made from pieces of the wreck, but not one soul reached the shore; the wind having shifted, and the current setting out, they, were all driven to

sea; among whom was our captain, who, about three in the afternoon, went on the jib-boom with three seaman; anxious to save the remainder of the ship's company, and too sanguine of getting safe on shore, he ventured upon the spar, saying, on jumping into the sea, "My lads, I'll save you all." In a few seconds he lost his hold of the spar, which he could not regain: he drifted to sea, and perished. Such was also the fate of the three brave volunteers who chose his fortune.

The loss of our captain, who, until now, had animated the almost lifeless crew; as well as the noble exertions of lieutenant Hervey and Mr. Callam to launch the boat not succeeding; every gleam of hope vanished, and we looked forward for certain death the ensuing night; not only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but the expectation of the remaining part of the wreck going to pieces every moment. Had not the Apollo been a new and well-built ship, that small portion of her could never have resisted the waves, and stuck so well together; particularly as all the after-part from the chesstrees was gone, the starboard-bow under water, the fore-castle-deck nearly perpendicular, the weight of the guns hanging to the larboardbulwark on the inside, and the bower and spare anchors on the outside, which it was not prudent to cut away, as they afforded restingplaces to a considerable number of men, there being only the forechains and cathead were it was possible to live in, and about which were stowed upwards of 150 men ; it being impracticable to continue any longer in the head, or upon the bowsprit, by reason of the breakers

washing

Al

washing completely over those success, a number of men belongplaces. The night drawing on, the ing to the merchant ships being much wind increasing, frequent showers bruised and hurt in assisting. of rain, the sea washing over us, ternate hopes and fears now perand looking every instant for the vaded our wretched minds: fifteen fore-castle giving way, when, we men got safe on shore this morning must have all perished together, on pieces of the wreck. About afforded a spectacie truly deplora- three in the afternoon of Wednes ble; the bare recollection of which, the 4th, we had the inexpressible even now, makes me shudder. The happiness of seeing the boat launched piercing cries of the dismal night, through the surf, by the indefatigaat every sea coming over us, ble exertion of the above officers, which happened every two minutes, assisted by the masters of the merwere pitiful in the extreme; the chant ships, with a number of Porwater running from the head down tuguese peasants, who were encouall over the body, keeping us con- raged by Mr. Whitney, the British tinually wet. This shocking night Consul, from Figuiera. All the the remaining strength of every per- crew then remaining on the wreck son was exerted for his individual were brought safe on shore, praising safety. From the crowding so close God for their happy deliverance together in so narrow a compass, from a shipwreck, which never had and the want of something to moisten its parallel. As soon as I stepped their mouths, several poor wretches out of the boat, I found several perwere suffocated; which frequently sons whose humanity prompted them reminded me of the black-hole, with to offer me sustenance, though imthis only difference, that these poor properly, in spirits, which I avoided sufferers were confined by strong as much as possible. Our weak walls, we by water; the least move- state may be conceived, when it is ment without clinging fast, would considered that we received no have launched us into eternity. nourishment from Sunday to WedSome unfortunate wretches drank nesday afternoon, and continually salt water, several their own urine, exposed to the fury of the watery some chewed leather, myself and element. After eating and drinkmany more chewed lead, from ing a little, I found myself weaker which we conceived we found con- than before; occasioned, I appresiderable relief, by reason of its hend, from having been so long drawing the saliva, which we swal- without either. Some men died soon lowed. In less than an hour after after getting on shore, from impruthe ship struck the ground, all the dently drinking two large a quan- ̧ provisions were under water, and tity of spirits. All the crew were the ship a wreck, so that it was in a very weak and exhausted state, impossible to procure any part. the greater part being badly bruised After the most painful night that it and wounded. About forty sail of is possible to conceive, on day-light merchant ships were wrecked at the appearing, we observed lieutenant same time on this dreadful beach. Hervey and Mr. Callam again en- Some ships sunk with all their crew, deavouring to launch the boat. Se. and almost every ship lost from two veral attempts were made without to twelve men each; yet the situ M m 3

ation of the remainder was not the boats, if a good opportunity could be made, or found. It came unsolicited March 31. Preparing to embark, we accidentally were joined by the Beaver sloop, who offered us her boats to act in concert with ours. We accepted the reinforcement, under an impression, that it would spare lives on both sides, and would shorten the contest.

equal to that of the frigate's ship's company, as the merchant ships drawing a less draught of water, were mostly driven close on the shore, and no person remained on board them after the first morning. The masters of the merchant ships had tents upon the beach, and some provisions they had saved from the wrecks, which they very generously distributed, and gave every assistance to the Apollo's ship's company. Thus was lost one of the finest frigates in the British Navy, with sixty-one of her crew. The number of souls lost in the merchants' ships was also considerable. Dead bodies were every day floating ashore, and pieces of wreck covered the beach upwards of ten miles in

extent.

in a

Interesting Account of the Capture of the Atalante Dutch National Brig, mounting 16 Long Twelvepounders, and 76 Men*, Letter from Captain G. N. Hardinge, to his Father, Mr. Justice Hardinge.

Scorpion, April 7, 1804. My ever dearest friend,-1 am on my way to the Nore, after six days of severe, but unrepented fatigue, and have sixty Dutch prisoners on board: we are accompanied by the A talante, a Dutch war brig of sixteen, guns, prize to us. I was ordered on the 28th to reconnoitre at Vlie, and perceived a couple of the enemy's brigs at anchor in the roads. Dispairing to reach them with my ship, on account of the shoals that surrounded the entrance, I determined upon a dash at the outermost one in

At half past nine in the evening, we began the enterprize in three boats from the Scorpion, and two from the Beaver. Captain Pelly (a very intelligent and spirited officer) did me the honour to serve under me as a volunteer in one of his boats. We had near sixty men, including officers, headed by your humble servant in the foremost boat. As we rowed with tide flood, we arrived along-side the enemy at half past eleven. I had the good fortune, or (as by some it as been considered) the honour, to be the first man who boarded her. She was prepared for us, with board nettings up and with all the other customary implements of defence. But the noise and the alarm, &c. so intimidated her crew, that many of them ran below in a panic, leaving to us the painful duty of combating those whom we respected the most. The decks were slippery in consequence of, rain, so that grappling with my first opponent, a mate of the watch, I fell, but recovered my position,-fought him upon equal terms, and killed him. I then engaged the captain, as brave a man as any service ever boasted; he had almost killed one of my seamen. To my shame be it spoken, he disarmed me, and was on the point of killing me, when a seaman of mine came up, rescued

* Vide Chronicle, Page $79.

me,

me, at the peril of his own life,— and enabled me to recover my sword. At this time all the men were come from the boats, and were in possession of the deck. Two were going to fall upon the captain at once. I ran up-held them back, --and then adjured him to accept quarters. With inflexible heroism he disdained the gift.-kept us at bay, and compelled us to kill him-he fell, covered with honourable wounds. The vessel was ours, and we secured the hatches, which, headed by a lieutenant, who has received a desperate wound, they attempted repeatedly to force. Thus far we had been fortunate; but we had another enemy to fight; it was the element. A sudden gale, and shifted against us, impeded all the efforts we could make. But, as we had made the capture, we determined at all events to sustain it, or to perish. We made the Dutch below surrender put forty of them into their own irons, and stationed our men to their guns; brought the powder up, and made all the necessary arrangements to attack the other brig. But as the day broke, and without abatement of the wind, she was off, at such a distance, and in such a position, that we had no chance to reach her. In this extremity of peril we remained eight and forty hours. Two of the boats had broke a-drift from us; two had swampt alongside. The wind shifted again, and we made a push to extricate ourselves, but found the navigation so difficult, that it required the intense labour of three days to accomplish it. We carried the point at last, and were commended by the admiral for our perseverance. You will see in the Gazette my letter to him. I aimed at modesty, and am a little afraid that

in the pursuit of this object I may have left material facts a little too indefinite, if not obscure. The Atalante's captain and four others were killed; cleven are wounded, and so dreadfully that our surgeon, thinks every one of them will die. To the end of my existence I shall regret the captain-he was a perfect. hero; and, if his crew. had been like him, critical indeed would have been our peril. The Atalante is much larger than my vessel; and she mounted 16 long twelve pounders:. we have not a single brig that is equal to that calibre. Her intended complement was 200 men ;--but she. had only 76 on-board. I expect your joy by the return of the post.

P.S. In two days after the captain's death, he was buried with all the naval honours in my power to bestow upon him; during the cere mony of his interment, the English colours disappeared, and the Dutch were hoisted in their place. All the Dutch officers were liberated-one of them pronounced an éloge on the hero they had lost-and we fired three volleys over him as he descended into the deep.

Ever affectionately,

and gratefully yours,
Geo. N. Hardinge.

Ceremonial of the Presentation of Colours to the Loyal London Volunteers, May 18th, 1801.

At eight o'clock this morning the different regiments repaired to the places appointed for their embarkation, which was thus arranged: In the first boats, the commander and field officers, adjutants excepted. 2d, The band. 3d, The Regiment. 4th, The adjutant and quarter-masM m 4

* Vide Chronicle, p. 379.

ter.

ter.

After the embarkation, some of the boats having to pass through London-bridge, it was ten o'clock before they all reached the place of rendezvous off the Tower. Precisely at a quarter before 9 o'clock, the earl of Harrington arrived at the Mansion-house, accompanied by lady Harrington, loid Petersham, and lady Anne Maria Stanhope, and his staff. About the same time arrived the sheriffs of London. The whole party immediately set off to the Tower-stairs,in order of procession as they arrived, preceded by the lord mayor's carriage and six horses, in which were his family. Having reached the water-side, the earl of Harrington and the lord mayor alighted, and repaired to the governor's of the Tower, where they met his royal highness the duke of York, and his four aides-de-camp, with whom they returned, and embarked immediately, together with the rest of their party, under a royal salute from the Tower, and proceeded without further delay, accompanied by the committee's barge for the day, and the lord Nelson barge, in which were several persons of distinétion. As this part of the flotilla moved along, they were preceded and followed by some hundreds of boats, many of which were elegantly decorated. An equal number still remained with the river fencible boats, containing the volunteer regiments, which was attended with a happy effect; for, had the whole of the flotilla moved off together, the attraction would have been confined to one spot, and the river would have been blocked up from the immense number of boats. The shores on each side of the river were crowded with people. tops of the houses were covered;

The

On the lord

nor was there a spot in the whole distance to Greenwich unoccupied. The ships in the river vied with each other on the occasion, in their fanciful decorations. All the way as the flotilla passed, it was saluted with incessant discharges from temporary batteries on shore, and the ships in the river. The whole of the business on the river was conducted with the greatest regularity. Four river fencible boats preceded the barges, to keep a clear stage, and each boat mounted an 181b. carronade, and was well manned. mayor's barge arriving opposite the Thames police office, the volunteers belonging to that establishment were drawn out in boats and saluted it. The same attention was paid by the volunteers at the West India docks, who appeared on the banks in military array, and fired three vollies with great precision. At Deptford the militia of the Tower Hamlets saluted. The several divisions of boats did not proceed from the Tower until near half an hour after the lord mayor's barge. Each division was commanded by an officer of the river fencibles; and space of about 150 yards was allowed between each division. The first division, which comprised the 1st regiment, was contained in 9 boats. The second regiment occupied 12 boats; the 4th 11, and the rest, about the same proportion. The bands of each regiment played all the way, and produced a most charming effect upon the water. The same good order which had hitherto prevailed, existed at the disembarkation at Greenwich. The company in the lord mayor's barge landed at the centre stairs, and were all hospitably received at the governor's house until it was time to re

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