t
somewhat to rights, the crew were mustered, when it was found that
twenty men had been drowned or seriously disabled. In a few hours she
was cleared of water, but there we lay, a helpless wreck on the ocean,
an easy prey to the smallest enemy. Our safety existed, we knew, in the
fact that every other vessel afloat must be in nearly an equally bad
condition. When the weather moderated we rigged jury-masts, and after
great exertion got back into harbour, thankful to heaven for our
providential preservation from a fate to which so many of our fellow-men
had been doomed."

Of his Majesty's ships alone, a great number were lost or dismasted.
The Thunderer, 74, Captain Walshingham, which had just arrived at the
station with a convoy from England, was lost with all hands. The
Scarborough, of 20 guns, was also lost with all hands. The Stirling
Castle, 64 guns, was lost, only the captain, Carteret, and fifty people
escaping. The Phoenix, 44--Deal Castle, 24--Endeavour brig, 14, were
lost, part only of the crews escaping. The Berwick, 74--Hector, 74--
Grafton, 74, Captain Collingwood--Trident, 64--Ruby, 64--Bristol, 50--
Ulysses, 44, and Pomona, lost all their masts, while the two first had
also to throw all their guns overboard. They formed the squadron which
had sailed from Port Royal with the trade for Europe, under Rear-Admiral
Rowley. He, with five only of his ships in a most shattered condition,
returned to Jamaica, while the Berwick separated from him, and, almost a
wreck, arrived under jury-masts in England, no one expecting that she
would keep afloat till they got there.

Again I must sing, as I often have to do--

"Ye gentlemen of England, who live at home at ease,
Ah! little do you think upon the dangers of the seas."

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Note 1. Afterwards Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. Another
son was the late Admiral Thomas Symonds, several of whose sons are or
were in the Navy. Captain Thomas Symonds here spoken of was also the
son, I believe, of a naval officer. His brother was Dr Symonds,
Professor of Modern History in the University of Cambridge.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

OLD NOL'S DREAM.--THE CHARON ON SHORE.--AFLOAT AT LAST.--EXPEDITION UP
THE CHESAPEAKE.--SENT ON SHORE.--CAPTURE GUIDES AND HOSTAGES.--VISIT
HAMPTON.--KINDLY RECEIVED BY MADELINE'S FRIENDS.--HER LIKENESS BUT NOT
HERSELF.--WARNED OF APPROACH OF AN ENEMY.-