hands, they were so benumbed with cold and wet, that I was incapable of climbing a rope, though my existence depended on it. Nevertheless, I held fast by one thrown out, with both hands, to prevent the boat from staving off; and, while doing so, the boat struck three times against the ship's side, owing to the heavy sea, and as often the shock threw me down to the bottom, which was half full of water. Fortunately, the boat did not give way, and two seamen at length came down to assist me up the ship's side, which the weight of my clothes and weakness prevented. A rope with a noose was then handed down by a seaman, who directed me to put it about my middle; but he began to pull when I had got it over only one shoulder, and nearly drew me overboard. But, having secured myself, and the boat casting off, I was, in fact, drawn through the sea, where I made the narrowest escape; for the seaman having neglected to tie the rope, as he afterwards told me in England, it was prevented from slipping, by a knot which was by chance at the end, otherwise I must infallibly have gone down. I may truly say, there was not an inch between me and death. The next pull stunned me against the side of the ship; and, when I came to myself the following morning, I found the master's own cabin had been devoted to my service.'

Still more dreadful calamity, how ever, is produced by the effects of fire at sea, which produces a crisis the most horrible to which human nature can be exposed. Yet, from causes noticed above, it is still a situation which the human mind wishes and seeks to contemplate; and we have here some highly striking details of its occurrence. The following passage describes the explosion of two vessels, one French and the other English, the former of whom had cap

tured the other. It is written by the French captain, the Sieur de Montauban.

'I already rejoiced within myself in capturing so considerable a prize, and the more so, as, after having ta ken her, which was the guard-ship of the coast, and the largest, belonging to the English in these seas, I should be in a condition to attack any manof-war that I should meet, and make prizes still greater. My crew were no less satisfied than myself, and were executing their work with much alacrity. But the enemy's powder suddenly taking fire, from a match purposely left burning by the captain, who hoped to escape in his two boats, both the vessels blew up with a most dreadful explosion.

To describe the horrible spectacle is impossible: the spectators were themselves the actors in the bloody scene, hardly knowing whether they beheld it or not, and so confounded, as to be unable to judge of what was passing. The reader must figure to himself our horror at two ships blowing up above two hundred fathom into the air, where there was formed, as it were, a mountain of fire, water, and wreck; the awfulness of the explosion below, and the cannon going off in the air; the rending of the masts and planks; the tearing of the sails and cordage, added to the cries of the men. These things, I say, must be left to the imagination of the reader, and I shall only describe what befell myself.

"When the ship first took fire I was on the forecastle giving orders, and then carried so far up on the deck, that it was the height alone, as I conceive, that saved me from being involved in the wreck of the ships, where I must have infallibly perished. I fell back into the sea, and remained a considerable time under water, without being able to gain the surface. At last, struggling like one

afraid of being drowned, I got up and seized a piece of a mast, which I found near at hand. I called to some of my men, whom I saw swimming around me, and exhorted them to take courage, as we might yet save ourselves, if we could fall in with any of the boats.

" What gave me more distress at this moment than even my own misfortune, was seeing two half bodies, still with some remains of life, rising from time to time to the surface of the water, and then disappear, leaving the place dyed with blood. It was equally deplorable to behold many limbs and fragments of bodies, spitted, for the greater part, on fragments of wood.

'At last, one of my men having met with a boat, almost entire, amidst all the wreck, swimming in the water, informed me that we must stop some holes which were in it, and endeavour to take out the yawl lying. on board. Fifteen or sixteen of us, each supported by a piece of wood, nearly reached the boat, and attempted to disengage the yawl, which we at length effected. All then went on board, and, after getting there, saved the principal gunner, who had his leg broke in the engagement. Then taking up three or four oars, or pieces of boards for the purpose of oars, we sought out something to make a small mast and a sail; and, having prepared all things as well as we possibly could, committed ourselves to the protection of Divine Providence, who could alone give us life and deliverance."

The following account is more detached and interesting; and tho' not written with any peculiar force, the simple narrative of the facts presents a picture of horror which perhaps has never been surpassed. It relates to. the burning, in 1752, of the Prince, a French East Indiaman. Lieut. de la Fond relates it in the third person.

'While in south latitude 8o 30', and in 5° west longitude from Paris, M. de la Fond, one of the Lieutenants of the ship, was, just at the moment of this observation, informed by a seaman that smoke was issuing from the main hatchway. The first lieutenant, who had the keys of the hold, immediately ordered every hatchway to be opened to ascertain the truth.

But the fact was too soon verified, and, while the captain hastened on deck from the great cabin, where he sat at dinner, Lieutenant de la Fond ordered some sails to be dipped in the sea, and the hatches to be covered with them, in order to prevent the access of air, and thus stifle the fire. He had even intended, as a more effectual measure, to let in the water between decks to the depth of a foot, but clouds of smoke issued from the crevices of the hatchways, and the flames gained more and more by degrees.

Meantime, the captain ordered sixty or eighty soldiers under arms, to restrain any disorder and confusion which might probably ensue; and in this he was supported by their commander, M. de la Touche, who exhibited uncommon fortitude on the occasion.

'Every one was now employed in procuring water; all the buckets were filled, the pumps plied, and pipes introduced from them to the hold.But the rapid progress of the flames baffled the exertions to subdue them, and augmented the general consternation.

'The yawl, lying in the way of the people, was hoisted out by order of the captain, and the boatswain, along with three others, took possession of it. Wanting oars, they were supplied with some by other three men who leaped overboard. Those in the ship, however, desired them to return, but they exclaimed, that they wanted a rudder, and desired a rope to be thrown out. However, the progress of the flames soon shewing them their only

alter

alternative for safety, they withdrew from the ship, and she, from the effect of a breeze springing up, passed by.

• On board the utmost activity still prevailed, and the courage of the people seemed to be augmented by the difficulty of escape. The master boidly went down into the hold, but the intense heat compelled him to return, and, had not a quantity of water been dashed over him, he would have been severely scorched. mediately subsequent to this period, the flames violently burst from the main hatchway.

Im

At that time the captain ordered the boats to be got out, while consternation enfeebled the most intrepid.The long-boat had been secured at a certain height, and she was about to be put over the ship's side, when, unhappily, the fire ran up the mainmast, and caught the tackle; the boat fell down on the guns, bottom upwards, and it was vain to think of getting her righted.

'At length it became too evident that the calamity was beyond the reach of human remedy; nothing but the mercy of the Almighty could interpose; consternation was universally disseminated among the people; nothing but sighs and groans resounded through the vessel, and the very animals on board, as if sensible of the impending danger, uttered the most dreadful cries. The certainty of perishing in either element was anticipated by every human being here, and each raised his heart and hands towards Heaven.

"The chaplain, who was now on the quarter-deck, gave the people general absolution for their sins, and then repaired to the quarter-gallery to extend it yet further, to those miserable wretches who, in hopes of safety, had already committed themselves to the waves. What a horrible spectacle! Self-preservation was the only object; each was occupied in throwing over

board whatever promised the most slender chance of escape; yards, spars, hen-coops, and every thing occurring, was seized in despair, and thus employed.

Dreadful confusion prevailed.Some leaped into the sea, anticipating that death which was about to reach them; others, more successful, swam to fragments of wreck; while the shrouds, yards, and ropes, along the side of the vessel, were covered with the crew crowding upon them, and hanging there, as if hesitating which alternative of destruction to choose, equally imminent and equally terrible. A father was seen to snatch his son from the flames, fold him to his breast, and then, throwing him into the sea, himself followed, where they perished in each other's embrace.

'Meantime, Lieutenant de la Fond ordered the helm to be shifted. The ship heeled to larboard, which afforded a temporary preservation, while the fire raged along the starboard from

stem to stern.

• Lieutenant de la Fond had, until this moment, been engrossed by nothing but adopting every means to preserve the ship: now, however, the horrors of impending destruction were too conspicuously in view. His fortitude, notwithstanding, through the goodness of Heaven, never forsock him: looking around, he found him self alone on the deck, and he retired to the round-house. There he met M. de la Touche, who regarded the approach of death with the same heroism which, in India, had gained him celebrity. "My brother and friend," he cried, " farewell."-" Whether are you going?" asked Lieutenant de la Fond; "To comfort my friend the captain," he replied.

'M. Morin, who commanded this unfortunate vessel, stood overwhelmed with grief for the melancholy state of his female relatives, passengers along with him. He had persuaded them to commit themselves to the

waves on hen-coops, while some of the seamen, swimming with one hand, endeavoured to support them with the other.

'The floating masts and yards were covered with men struggling with the watery element, many of whom now perished by balls discharged from the guns as heated by the fire, and thus presenting a third means of destruction, augmenting the horrors environing them. While anguish pierced the heart of M. de la Fond, he withdrew his eyes from the sea; and a moment after, reaching the starboard gallery, he saw the flames bursting with frightful noise through the windows of the round-house and of the great cabin. The fire approached, and was ready to consume him. Considering it vain to attempt the further preservation of the ship, or the lives of his fellow-sufferers, he thought it his duty, in this dreadful condition, to save himself yet a few hours, that these might be devoted to Heaven.

'Stripping off his clothes, he designed slipping down a yard, one end of which dipped in the water; but it was so covered with miserable beings, shrinking from death, that he tumbled over them and fell into the sea. There a drowning soldier caught hold of him: Lieutenant de la Fond made every exertion to disengage himself, but in vain; he even allowed himself to sink below the surface, yet he did not quit his grasp. Lieutenant de la Fond plunged down a second time; still he was firmly held by the man, who was then incapable of considering that his death, instead of being of service, would rather hasten his own At last, after struggling a considerable time, and swallowing a great quantity of water, the soldier's strength failed; and sensible that Lieut. de la Fond was sinking a third time, he dreaded being carried down along with him, and loosened his grasp. No sooner was this done, than M. de la Fond, to guard against a repetition, dived beSept. 1812.

low the surface, and rose at a distance from the place.

This incident rendered him more cautious for the future; he even avoided the dead bodies, now so numerous, that, to make a free passage, he was compelled to shove them aside with one hand, while he kept himself floating with the other; for he was im pressed with the apprehension, that each was a person who would seize him, and involve him in his own destruction. But strength beginning to fail, he was satisfied of the necessity of some respite, when he fell in with part of the ensign staff. He put his arm thro' a nooze of the rope to secure it, and swam as well as he could ; then perceiving a yard at hand, he seized it by one end. However, beholding a young man scarce able to support himself at the other extremity he quickly abandoned so slight an aid; and one which seemed incapable of contributing to his preservation.Next the spritsail-yard appeared in view, but covered with people, among whom he durst not take a place without requesting permission, which they cheerfully granted. Some were quite naked, others in nothing except their shirts; the pity they expressed at the situation of Lieutenant de la Fond, and his sense of their misfortunes, exposed his feelings to a severe trial.

Neither Captain Morin, nor M. de la Touche ever quitted the ship, and were most probably overwhelmed in the catastrophe by which she was destroyed. But the most dismal spectacle was exhibited on all sides; the main mast, consumed below, had been precipitated overboard, killing some by its fall, and affording a temporary reception to others. Lieutenant de la Fond now observed it covered with people, driven about by the waves; and at the same time, seeing two seamen buoyed up by a hen-coop and some planks, desired them to swim to him with the latter; they did so, accompanied by more of their comrades,

and

each taking a plank, which were used for oars, they and he paddled along upon the yard, until gaining those who had secured themselves on the main-mast. So many alternations only presented new spectacles of horror. The chaplain was at this time on the mast, and from him Lieutenant de la Fond received absolution; two young ladies were also there, whose piety and resignation were truly consolatory; they were the only survivors of six; their companions had perished in the flames, or in the sea. Eighty persons had found refuge on the mainmast, who, from the repeated discharges of cannon from the ship, according to the progress of the flames, were constantly exposed to destruction.The chaplain, in this awful condition, by his discourse and example, taught the duty of resignation. Lieutenant de la Fond observing him lose his hold on the mast, and drop into the sea, lifted him up. "Let me go," said he," I am already half-drowned, and it is only protracting my sufferings."" No, my friend," the lieutenant replied," when my strength is exhausted, but not till then, we will perish together;" and in his pious presence he calmly awaited death.After remaining here three hours, he beheld one of the ladies fall from the mast and perish. She was too remote to receive any assistance from him.

But when least in expectation of it, he saw the yawl close at hand, at five in the afternoon. He cried to the men that he was their lieutenant, and requested to be allowed to participate in their fate. His presence was too necessary for them to refuse his solicitation, they needed a conductor who might guide them to the land; thus they permitted him to come on board, on condition that he should swim to the yawl. This was a reasonable stipulation; it was to avoid approaching the mast, else the rest, actuated by the same desire of self

preservation, would soon have overloaded the little vessel, and all would have been buried in a watery grave, Lieutenant de la Fond, therefore, summoning up all his strength and courage, was so happy as to reach the seamen. In a little time afterwards, the pilot and master, whom he had left on the mast, followed his example, and swimming towards the yawl, were seen and taken in.

The flames still continued raging in the vessel; and as the yawl was still endangered by being within half a league of her, she stood a little to windward. Not long subsequent to this, the fire reached the magazine; and then to describe the thundering explosion which ensued is impossible. A thick cloud intercepted the light of the sun, and amidst the terrific darkness nothing but pieces of flaming timber, projected aloft into the air, could be seen, threatening to crush to atoms in their fall, numbers of miserable wretches still struggling with the agonies of death. Nor were the party in the yawl beyond the reach of hazard; it was not improbable that some of the fiery fragments might come down upon them, and precipitate their frail support to the bottom. Tho' the Almighty preserved them from this calamity, they were shocked with the spectacle environing them. The vessel had now disappeared; the sea, to a great distance, was covered with pieces of wreck, intermingled with the bodies of those unhappy creatures who had perished by their fall. Some were seen who had been choked, others mangled, half- consumed, and still retaining life enough to be sensible of the accumulated horrors overwhelming them.'

A not unfrequent consequence of naval disaster is that of shipwrecked mariners thrown upon barbarous and uninhabited coasts. A few instances have even occurred of individuals being cast upon islands entirely desolate,

and