e commands of
the governor and other authorities, had no influence save with a few
only, and even these, when they did venture to the rescue, were with
great difficulty prevailed upon to approach the vessel. A boat from an
American ship presented a striking contrast. She was manned by three
men only, who, in their generous ardour to save the lives of their
fellow-creatures, came alongside too incautiously, so that the
wretched sufferers from the burning deck leaped into the boat in such
numbers that she capsized, and every one of them perished. The fire
had now advanced so rapidly that it was impossible to bear the heat on
the forecastle, and most of the people got on to the bowsprit and
jib-boom. The latter, however, gave way under the pressure, and
numbers were precipitated into the water and drowned.

The boats, headed by Lieutenant Stewart, approached about ten o'clock,
and the people continued dropping into them from the ship for some
time. Captain Todd and Mr. Bainbridge continued to the last to give
orders for the safety of those who remained alive.

Lieutenant Duff gives the following account of the closing scene:--

'Lieutenant Stewart's ardour in the cause of humanity was only
equalled by his judgment in affording relief. When he reached the
Queen Charlotte, he dropped his tartane under the bows, where almost
all the remaining crew had taken refuge. Little more than an hour had
elapsed, after this assistance was given, before the ship blew up. All
that had been left unburnt immediately sunk down by the stern, but
when the ponderous contents of the hold had been washed away, she for
an instant recovered her buoyancy, and was suddenly seen to emerge
almost her whole length from the deep, and then, turning over, she
floated on the surface, with her burnished copper glistening in the
sun.'

Such was the fate of the Queen Charlotte, which, excepting the Ville
de Paris, was the largest ship in the British navy.

With the gallant vessel perished six hundred and seventy-three of her
men and officers; amongst whom were Captain Todd and Lieutenant
Bainbridge. These two officers, with heroic self-devotion, remained to
share the fate of their ship, occupied to the last in endeavouring to
save the lives of the men.

Before Captain Todd fell a victim to the flames, he had the presence
of mind to write the particulars of the melancholy event, and to give
copies of his account to several of the sailors, charging them t