Having crossed the bay of Bengal without any accident. Captain Evans joined the commander-in-chief, and accompanied him to Point de Galle, from whence he proceeded to the Malabar coast, unattended by any vessel whatever. While on her way thither, the Hobart again made six feet water an hour, and the leak was gaining fast upon the pumps, when the Sheerness 44, Captain J. S. Garden, providentially fell in with, and towed her to Bombay.
After the Hobart had been examined by the dock-yard people, her safety was every where spoken of as quite a miracle; for it was found that, in addition to the frame of the vessel being generally much decayed, the white ant had been so busily at work that, but for her copper, she must have foundered. Many of the main-deck beams were crumbled to dust, and literally held together by the paint that covered them!
On the occasion of the great fire at Bombay, in Feb. 1803, Captain Evans particularly distinguished himself; having persevered in his endeavours to pull down some buildings until they were literally surrounded with the flames, which left him no other chance of escape than that of leaping from the top of a house already on fire, and afterwards making his way through them. The very great exertions of the navy during that awful conflagration were thus officially acknowledged:
“Sir,– The Honorable the Governor in Council at this Presidency having by letter of the 26th instant, expressed to me the great importance of the vigorous exertions of yourself, officers, and crew, in opposing and finally terminating the progress of the dreadful and destructive fire that lately broke out in this capital, ’tis with much satisfaction I herewith transmit, at their request, a copy of their letter to me on this occasion, and I desire you will be pleased to cause the same to be read to the officers and men of the ship you command. I remain. Sir, &c.
“To Captain Robert Evans.”
Enclosure.
