pain, 'twas best at once to lay hold of him, and let the cook cut his throat!" O'Brien, now roused and driven to extremity, seemed working himself up for resistance, and declared he would not let them; the first man, he said, who laid hands on him, 'twould be worse for him; that he'd appear to him at another time-that he'd haunt him after death. The poor youth was, however, among so many, soon overcome, and the cook was once again called upon to put him to death. The horror-stricken man, over and over again endeavoured to summon up hardihood for the deed; but when he caught the boy's eye, his heart always failed him, and then he looked supplicatingly to the men again. Their cries and threats were, however, loud for death he made a desperate effort there was a short struggle, and O'Brien was no more !

As soon as this horrid act was perpetrated, the blood was served to the men; but a few of them, among whom was Mahony, refused to partake of it. They afterwards laid open the body, and separated the limbs; the latter were hung over the stern, while a portion of the former was allotted for immediate use, Shocked, as for the sake of human nature it is to be hoped many were, at the scene they had just witnessed, a gnawing hunger came upon them all when they saw even this disgusting meal put out for them, and almost every one, even the unwilling boys, partook more or less of it. This was the evening of the 16th day. They ate again late at night, and some greedily; but the thirst, which was before at least endurable, now became craving, and, as there was no more blood, they slaked it with salt water. They then lay down to rest, but several were raving and talking wildly through the night; and in the morning the cook was observed to be quite insane-his eyes inflamed and glaring, and his speech rambling and incoherent; he threw his clothes about restlessly, and was often violent. His raving continued during the succeeding night, and in the morning, as his end seemed to be approaching, the veins of his neck were cut, and the blood drawn from him. This was the second death. On the night of that day Michael Behane was mad, and the boy George Burns on the following morning; they were both so violent that they were obliged to be tied by the crew, and the latter was eventually bled to death, like the cook, by cutting his throat. Michael Behane died unexpectedly, or he would have suffered the same fate. Next morning the captain came off deck, and feeling too weak and exhausted to keep a look out any longer, desired some one to take his place above. Harrington and Mahoney went up very soon after the latter thought he could distinguish a sail, and raised a shout of joy, upon which those below immediately came up. A ship was clearly discernible, and, apparently, holding her

course towards them. Signals were hoisted with as much alacrity as the weakness of the survivors would allow, and when she approached, and was almost within hail, their apprehension of her passing by, like the former vessel, was so great, that they held up the hands and feet of O'Brien to excite commiseration.

"How did we long, as memory rose,

And our very heart-strings yearned
For a sight, or a sound, from that dear land
To which our thoughts were turned,

As on the waves we spied a sail

In the distance, blue and clear;
And we fondly gazed on the stranger ship
As though our home was there."

The vessel proved to be the Agenoria, an American. She put off a boat to their assistance, without any hesitation,

although the weather was so rough at the time, and that the crew came out in their shirts. The survivors there seemed to be such an apprehension of its swamping, of the Francis Spaight were all at length safely got on board the American, where they were treated with the utmost kindness.

ON THE LAUNCH OF THE VANGUARD OF EIGHTY GUNS, AT PEMBROKE, AUGUST 25, 1835.

AWAY, bold ship!-'tis thine no more
In cradled stillness here to rest;
Away!-'tis time thou quitt'st this shore-
Thy home shall be the billows' breast.
For, like long-severed friends ye meet,
Disporting waves thy bed prepare ;
And thou, so pleased the embrace to greet,
A woman's arm propels thee there.

Yet ere we part, a word :—this land

Forget not as thy bounteous mother; Guard her who nurtured thee,-whose hand Makes thee the awe of every other. Then onward!-far as ocean flows, Though storms be rife and surges sweep; O'ercome whate'er thy course oppose, For thou and thine must rule the deep. Where'er the weak require a friend,

Where force or fraud deserve a foe, Where England tyrants' chains would rend, Be there, the first to strike the blow.

Not conquest be thine aim-but right—
So freedom's friends in thee shall trust;
And foemen, while they feel thy might,
Confess that thou, if strong, art just.

And bear, as kindred bulwarks bore,
Untarnish'd still by foes or time,
That flag, triumphant as of yore,
Unfurled and feared in every clime.

Wreath victory round the seaman's brow-
Rear future Nelsons from our isle,
Like him whose form adorns thy prow-
Thus did thy namesake at the Nile.

December, 1789.

"'Midst dangerous shoals the sea-tossed bark is borne,
By tempests shaken, and by lightnings torn;
Still freed from harm, though peril's ever nigh,
Death's shaft flies near her-but it passes by."

THE sloop Guardian, commanded by Lieutenant Riou, (afterwards Captain Riou, who gloriously fell in the action before Copenhagen, on the 2d of April, 1801,) and manned with a crew of one hundred and twentythree persons, including twenty-five convicts, bound to Botany Bay, was uncommonly well stocked; for such had been the care of the government for the infant colony, that an ample supply of the most minute articles had been provided. The vessel having touched at the Cape of Good Hope, proceeded on her way to New South Wales. Twelve days after her departure from the Cape, being in lat. 449 S., and long. 41° 30' E.

covered. The weather was extremely foggy, and when first descried, the island was not very far distant. Lieutenant Riou gave directions to stand towards it, that they might collect lumps of ice to supply the ship with water, which was very much needed, as their demand was so great, having a great number of cattle on board. As the ship approached the island, the boats were hoisted out, while the ship lay-to, and the supply being brought on board, she attempted to stand away; there being very little apprehension as to her safety, although the magnitude of the island occasioned a partial current, and gave, in some degree, a partial direction to the wind.

On a sudden, the base of the island, which, under water, projected a considerable way beyond the limits of the visible part, struck the bow of the ship, when she instantly swung round and her head cleared; but her stern coming on the shoal, she struck repeatedly, and the

H

sea being very heavy, broke away her rudder, and shivered all her works abaft. In this situation, the ship became embayed as it were under the terrific bulk of ice, which was twice the height of a first-rate's mainmast, the head of which they expected every minute to break away and overwhelm them; but after very great exertion, she was got off the shoal, and the ice floated past her.

Upon sounding, they found that the ship had six feet water in her hold, and increasing very fast: all hands were immediately set to the pumps, and to find out the leaks, occasionally relieving one another, and thus they continued to labour incessantly the whole of the 24th, although not one of them had had any rest the whole of the preceding day.

By extreme exertions at the pumps, the leak became reduced, and continued to diminish until eleven o'clock, when there was only nineteen inches, but in half an hour the leak began to gain upon them again, upon which a second sail was fothered and got under her bottom; but the gale was so strong, attended with a heavy sea, which frequently broke over the ship, that it had little, if any, effect. At four in the afternoon, Mr. Clements, the master, went down by way of the rudder into the gun-room, and from thence into the bread and spirit-room, to endeavour, if possible, to discover the leak; but not being able to succeed, it was thought necessary to scuttle the deck close aft, which being out of the roll of the water, would enable them to get out and throw overboard some of the provisions and stores.

Lieutenant Riou, the chaplain, the purser, and two men, were employed in this business; but, unfortunately, in endeavouring to get up a cask, it fell back on Lieutenant Riou, and bruised his hand in so shocking a manner, that he was unable to give any further assistance. They gave up all further attempts to lighten the ship, and again assisted at the pumps.

At midnight the water had increased to four feet and a half in the hold, and the winch of the starboard pump breaking, it became disabled, so that at six in the morning of the 25th, it had increased to seven feet : the night had also been very tempestuous, and, by the violence of the wind, the fore and main-topsails were blown to pieces, leaving the ship entirely at the mercy of a most tremendous sea. This so disheartened the crew, that they began to break off from the pumps and to secrete themselves, and it was only by threatening to have them thrown overboard that they could be kept to their duty. All this time they were ignorant of the true state of the ship, until one of the carpenters, stationed to sound the well, came up and reported that the water was as high as the orlop-deck, and gaining above a foot every half hour. The officers could not possibly sup

press this report, and many of the people who were really unable to bear the fatigue any longer, immediately desponded, and gave themselves up to perish with the ship. Some of those who had got any strength left, seeing that their utmost efforts to save the ship were likely to prove in vain, applied to the officers for the boats, which were ordered to be got in readiness, and the boatswain was directed to put the masts, sails, and compass in each. The cooper was also set to work to fill a few quarter-casks of water, out of some of the butts on deck; and provisions and other necessaries were got up from the hold.

While they were making these preparations, Lieutenant Riou withdrew, and penned the following letter, to the secretary of the Admiralty, which affords one of the most uncommon proofs of fortitude and virtue.

"H. M. S. Guardian, Dec. 25, 1789. "SIR,-If any part of the officers and crew of the Guardian should ever get home, I have only to say,

that their conduct, after the fatal stroke on an island of

ice, was admirable and wonderful in every thing that relates to their duties, considered either as private men or in his majesty's service.

"As there seems to be no possibility of my remaining many hours in this world, I beg leave to recommend to the consideration of the Admiralty, a sister, together with a widowed mother, to whom their favour might be with a widowed mother, to whom their favour might be shown, if my conduct or services should be found deserving of any remembrance. "I am, sir, with great respect, Your ever obedient servant, "E. RIOU."

Philip Stevens, Esq.

This letter Lieutenant Riou delivered to Mr. Clements, the master, that in case he was fortunate enough to escape, he might be enabled to forward it to England.

Many hours previous to this, Lieutenant Riou had declared to his officers, that he saw the final loss of the ship was inevitable, and could not help regretting the loss of so many brave fellows. "As for me," said he, I have determined to remain in the ship, and shall endeavour to make my presence useful as long as there is any occasion for it."

He was entreated, and even supplicated, to give up this fatal resolution, and try for safety in the boats. It was even hinted to him how highly criminal it was to persevere in such a determination, but he was not to be moved by any entreaties.

He was, notwithstanding, as active in providing for the safety of the boats, as if he intended to take the opportunity of securing his own escape; and was throughout as calm and collected as in the happier moments of his life.

The ship had settled considerably abaft at seven o'clock, and the water was coming in at the ruddercase in great quantities. At half-past seven, the water in the hold obliged the people to come upon deck; the ship appeared to be in a sinking state and settling bodily down; the boats were, therefore, immediately hoisted out, to offer a chance of safety to as many as it could be done with propriety. They were fortunately all got into the water with very little damage; but the sea running so high, it was with great difficulty that they were kept from being stove alongside. The launch being forced to drop on the quarter, in order to make room for the two cutters, was nearly drawn under the quarter and sunk, and at last obliged to cast adrift from the ship with only seven or eight men on board, and without any provisions or water. A coil of rope was then handed over from the quarter-gallery, and passed over to Mr. Somerville, the gunner, in the jolly-boat, which hung over the stern; but this boat on being lowered down was drawn under and sunk. As soon as the launch had again rowed nearer the ship, one of the people in her caught hold of a rope, until the cutters brought them provisions, &c., and then veered to a great distance astern. A small quantity of biscuit, and an eighteen-gallon cask of water, were then let down between the main and mizen-chains into the small cutter. The purser then got into the main-chains, and from thence leaped into her; Mr. Wadman and Mr. Tremlett likewise fortunately got into her. The boat was, with great difficulty, rowed clear of the ship, and steered for the launch. The agitation of mind, on this melancholy occasion, may be better imagined than described.

"Rent was the sail, and strained the mast,
And many a leak was gaping fast,
And the pale steersman stood aghast,
And gave the conflict o'er."

Lieutenant Riou was at this time walking the quarterdeck, and seemed happy that the boat had got safe from alongside. The ship was drifting astern, and sinking fast in the water, so that Mr. Clements began to be afraid she would drive upon the launch, and called to the crew to cut the tow-rope, and row out of the ship's wake; but Mr. Somerville, the gunner, who was looking over the ship's stern, hearing the order, prayed them to hold fast a moment, and he would jump overboard and swim to them, which he did, and was followed by John Spearman, a seaman, who were both taken on board, upon which they cut the rope and rowed out of the ship's track.

The launch soon got alongside of the cutter, out of which they took two bags of biscuit and a cask of water. The Rev. Mr. Crowther, Mr. Clements, Mr. Tremlett, Mr. Wadman, and the purser, with two more of the men, got into the launch, and the cutter was

ordered back to the ship for further supplies, and to receive as many of the people as could with safety be taken on board; but the crew could not be prevailed on to return, but rowed off to some distance and lay by. In it were Mr. Brady, midshipman, Mr. Fletcher, captain's clerk, and five seamen.

The jolly-boat had put off from the ship without either provisions, water, compass, or quadrant, and rowed towards the launch, in hopes of either getting relief, or the crew being taken on board; but she had already got fifteen people in her, which were as many as she could carry with safety; and the quantity of provisions was very inadequate to support such a number, who had above four hundred leagues to travel in a boisterous ocean, without any means of relief; but there being a spare compass and quadrant, Mr. Clements handed them into the jolly-boat.

At this time one of the convicts attempted to get into the launch, but was opposed by the crew, and pushed into the sea; but in the struggle, the fellow caught hold of Mr. Clements, who was with difficulty. saved from being pulled out of the boat along with him. The people in the jolly-boat picked up the man again, and then took to their oars, and rowed close up to the launch, as if determined to board her by force, when, to prevent any scuffling, it was immediately agreed to make sail, and they took their final departure from this scene of misery and distress about nine o'clock.

The large cutter and jolly-boat made sail after the launch, but the latter almost instantly filled and went down. The ship, meanwhile, continued for several days in a hopeless state, without a rudder, and wholly unmanageable.

"Didst thou not mark the vessel reel,
With quivering planks, and groaning keel,
At the last billow's shock?

For look on sea, or look on land,

Or yon dark sky, on every hand
Despair and death are near."

Lieutenant Riou was indefatigable in his efforts to preserve the ship; and, by his noble example, encouraged the remnant of the crew who had remained with their heroic commander to share his fate, to use every exertion in their power to this effect. He had not only to struggle against the boisterous element in which this melancholy accident had occurred, but also to discover means by which he could divert the minds of a desponding crew, worn down with fatigue, and in despair of ever being relieved from their miserable situation. And a still more difficult task with which he had to contend, was frequently observing symptoms of discontent among the people, which were only prevented from breaking into open rebellion, by the firm and resolute conduct which he maintained, and the strict discipline