together such coops and empty casks as were within their reach, while the remainder of the crew were engaged in similar precautions abaft. The violent striking of the ship on the sand threatened every monient to stave in her side; the fate of the poor invalids, the women, and the children, in the event of such a calamity, was the most afflicting consideration. The moon broke forth in brilliant splendour; the tide was at its height; and our eyes were fondly bent towards that shore, to reach which, even naked and outcast, was the prayer of all. We could discern some lights glimmering in the distance, cheering, perhaps, some circle of happy holiday folks, whose joyous revels the thoughts of such a scene as ours did not cloud. We contrived to lower the main-yard, and, by great exertion, lashed it athwart-ship; our mainmast stood as firm as the forest oak, and the resistance of the vessel to the repetition of such constant and heavy shocks proved the integrity of her northern build; she held together as if composed of one entire mass of timber. Our bell remained pendant and uninjured: we called out to the men forward to sound the dismal note of distress, while, with the aid of the cartridge we had preserved, we let off "devils," as they are called, of moistened powder, every quarter of an hour. In this way we passed the dreadful night which ushered in the new year of ninety-eight. Before midnight an awful stillness prevailed, which, to many, appeared the harbinger of coming death; it was, however, of happier omen. The sea subsided by degrees into languid heavings, and at length settled into a dead and peaceful calm. Some time after twelve the lately brilliant moon sunk into leaden paleness, and on all sides “Night's candles were burnt out." Darkness and the chilling gloom of a wintry midnight hung over the deep; but every heart felt, that the brighter beam of Divine mercy had lighted on us in the last hour of our heavy trial. The tide in its reflux and return scarcely rippled the surface of our shoally berth. During the night, the three forecastlemen, trusting to their raft, launched themselves off at low water, and happily reached the shore in safety. Long before day broke, the twinkling light of several lanterns approaching the wreck, assured us that succour was at hand: the winds of heaven seemed hushed to silence during this vital moment. Four boats came in succession alongside, not as inhuman wreckers, but as friends to the forlorn and distressed. The first impulse of our joyous hearts was to utter a spontaneous cry of thanksgiving to our Divine and Merciful Protector; after which our efforts were immediately directed to collecting the poor women and helpless little innocents that yet survived our misfortunes, and place them with safety in the boats. This was happily effected by the help of the gratings, which, lashed together, formed a safe platform. 66 Two boats, loaded with the feeble and the helpless, had already put off for the shore'; the officers made their way into the third; on taking our places in which, the insane captain thought it right to enter his protest against us all, and authoritatively remarked, Gentlemen, you will recollect I do not waive my command; I consider you all under arrest." The fourth boat yet remained for its freight. Of the crew all had gone off but Bateman, one of the boys, and one steady Dane. No inducement could tempt honest Tom to quit, the hull of the Ellison while it stuck together, nor would the boy or the faithful Dane consent to leave him to perish alone. To press the hand of a brave and honest seaman I shall ever deem an honour, and before we cast off, I sprang up the slanting deck, on which the lion-like Tom held his uncertain footing, and seizing his rough and weather-tanned hand, said, "Bateman, the squeeze of the hand from such a noble-hearted fellow is worthy a king's acceptance-farewell, brave soul! God give us a happy meeting, for we all owe our lives to you!" Tom, who was evidently melted, but not unmanned, fervently answered, "Awmen! awmen! You aund oye mout haw sailed round the world, and never haud no words of contrariness. And as for that theere poor leeftenant as went overboard wi' our d― (God forgive me! whaut waus oye a gowing to say!) our poor little coptain, whoy he was a troomp too, and loike yourself worked hank for hank wi' the best mon o' the ship. But as for that theere mad coptain, aul oye sauy is a clear berth from him-aunly for he, we should naw haw had the dommed blaucks aboord; it waur a heavy hoor we shipped 'em. This poor Ellison is naut much harmed: if we can get her off at the springs, well aund good, if naut, woorse luck; but oy'll stick boye her, an do moy obleegation. So naw, God bless you, coptain, an' a happy meeting wi' all at home!" We were soon off; and as I surveyed the situation of the vessel in the gray morning's light, I felt additional claims on my gratitude to Heaven for our preservation. The fourth boat remained with the salvagers. We had rather a long row to the shore: the beach shoaled out to the distance of a mile or more; and when our boat grounded, my impatience would not permit me to be carried on shore in my turn, on the back of VOL. II. 15 ་ one of the boatmen. I jumped into the water, nearly hip-deep, and wading to the beach, hurried to an unobserved spot, where, falling on my knees, I uttered in all the thankfulness of an adoring and grateful heart, my humble acknowledgments to our Creator and Preserver, "Whose hands prepared the dry land," On joining my comrades, we made up a purse for the boatmen, amounting to two guineas each boat, and accompanied by the men, women, and children, marched in a body to the nearest village. The poor dear little ones, unconscious of their late perils, no sooner felt their safe footing on shore than they gambolled about, throwing snow-balls, and heedless of the piercing cold. Whilst all the rest were rejoicing at our providential escape from death, enjoying every trifling incident on our march as a happy occurrence, Captain Hawkins stalked on in gloomy silence, seemingly wrapt in feelings of wounded pride and offended honour. His repeated expression of " You may laugh, gentlemen! but by and by you'll find it no laughing matter !” although, at the moment it increased our mirth, proved but too prophetic of our future trouble. On reaching the village, we made the necessary arrangements for passing on the invalids, the women, and children in wagons, during the preparation for which they one and all received the kindest attention, with the aid of some warm clothing from the pitying inhabitants. During our walk towards the nearest post-town, where those, in companionship with me, intended that we should take a post-coach for London, we offered the hand of good fellowship, and oblivion of all past differences, to our late messmate, Hawkins, who had so unexpectedly assumed the commanding of ficer over us; but he remained silent and inexorable. CHAPTER XLII. "Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove never would be quiet; Would use his heaven for thunder." THE welcome sight of London put us all in spirits; but we were obliged to keep house until we could equip ourselves with habiliments fit for the street; for, strange to say, the officers of either service, to whom the family of the Bulls are indebted for a country to live in, and for the use of streets to walk in, would be hustled about, followed, mobbed, and stared at, should they dare to appear in the livery of honour. Three days had passed, before we were all equipped so as to be able to report our arrival in person at the adjutant general's office; where, greatly to our amazement, we found that charges of a most serious nature had been preferred against the whole five of us, by that mischievous maniac, Captain Hawkins, and against me particularly as the primum mobile of the mutiny. Our astonishment and indignation were almost lost in the feeling of ridicule, which, in spite of our annoyance, we could not but indulge at this communication; but the deputy adjutant-general seemed to view it in a very serious way. The subsequent experience of thirty years, has convinced me that there is nothing too ridiculous in the nature of accusation not to be treated in a serious way at the Horse Guards, War Office, or Treasury; and not any thing half so difficult as to obtain attention to, or redress of a real grievance ! "The whole affair," said this official soldier, (What AFFAIR ?) 66 was under the consideration of the commander-in-chief, and until his Royal Highness's commands were communicated thereon, we would be pleased (!) to consider ourselves in open arrest. "Long Life to LUNACY!" I exclaimed, as with my four inculpated companions, I counted the stone steps of the two flights of the adjutant-general's stairs, and thought on that one extraordinary flight of our mad captain, which placed us in this unpleasant predicament. To find him out, and pummel him to death, was our first determination, but happily not followed up. After a variety of projects, in which no two of us agreed, we at length hit upon one resolution, which was carried unanimously; namely, to adjourn to the old military house of call, the Cannon, in Cockspur Street, (which formerly stood nearly opposite Spring Gardens,) to dinner, after which we could talk over our grievances. In the course of the evening, we fortunately fell in with a surgeon, to whom two of our party had been known in the West Indies, and to him we told our whole story. He was a shrewd, cool, clear-headed Scotchman. After patiently hearing us out, he asked us what we meant to do; and on receiving for answer that we knew not, he invited the whole of us to call on him next morning, AFTER breakfast, at his lodgings in Suffolk Street, (the Scotch barracks, as it was termed in those days,) to receive his opeenion and adveese, both of which, to his credit, he bestowed with equal good sense and feeling. We, accordingly, drew up under his correction a statement of our voyage, and all its occurrences, not sparing our accuser, Captain Hawkins, whose conduct we fully described; the fidelity of which statement in every particular, we expressed our readiness to verify on oath. This was duly presented: we received a cold, formal official letter in reply, stating that our DEFENCE should be submitted for consideration. After six weeks' mortification and delay, it was notified to us, "that although our conduct in resisting the authority of Captain Hawkins, our senior officer, was reprehensible, and subversive of that good order and discipline so essential for the good of his Majesty's service in all situations; yet, under all circumstances, his Royal Highness did not feel it necessary to institute farther proceedings, trusting that the lenity thus exercised towards us would have its due cffect on all the parties implicated in those acts of insubordination, which his Royal Highness had been so forcibly called on to notice and condemn. This precious document, signed by the secretary of that day, was handed about all the military tables in town, and there was but one opinion on its absurdity and injustice: but, as if to put to shame the judgment of the secretary and his royal master, this same rigid defender of discipline-this said captain-proved his insanity by going one day to the Horse Guards vociferously demanding a majority; and being obliged to be removed by force, he SHOT HIMSELF under the roof of that building in which his scandalous and groundless complaints against five innocent and honourable young men had been so eagerly received and fostered! Had the press of that day been so unfettered and bold as it is at present, we should not have sat down under such an insult so quietly, One of the party, Lieutenant Harvey Powell, immediately |