it being impossible to bring her out through such an intricate navigation at that late hour.
Scarcely had Lieutenant Willoughby returned from this service, when he obtained additional credit by jumping overboard and endeavouring to extricate a poor fellow who was unable to get from between the bottom and the thwarts of a boat, swamped under the ship’s quarter, owing to the mismanagement of the officer commanding on deck, who had ordered her to be hoisted up whilst the Sceptre was going fast through the water. This generous and humane attempt proved unsuccessful, and the unfortunate man consequently perished; but Lieutenant Willoughby’s efforts to save him did not cease until his own strength was quite exhausted.
On the 5th Nov. following, the Sceptre was driven on shore in Table bay, and totally wrecked, by which disaster about 290 persons lost their lives, among whom were her Captain, two Lieutenants, the Master, and four Midshipmen: most of the other officers, including Lieutenant Willoughby, were then at a ball on shore, and thus providentially escaped. A list of those who were saved will be found at p. 222 of Suppl. Part I.
Lieutenant Willoughby’s next appointment was, Aug. 26, 1800, to the Russel 74, Captain (now Sir Herbert) Sawyer; which ship formed part of Lord Nelson’s division at the capture and destruction of the Danish line of defence before Copenhagen, April 2, 1801[1].
On that glorious occasion. Lieutenant Willoughby greatly distinguished himself by his gallantry in boarding the Provesteen block-ship, of 50 guns, under a heavy fire from her lower-deck, kept up in opposition to the wishes of her commander, who had hauled down his colours in token of submission. The manner in which this service was performed excited general admiration, and obtained him three cheers from the Russel’s crew, by order of their new captain, the late Rear-Admiral William Cuming.
It appears that, of the Danes on the lower-deck, many
