hoisted the colours of Britain in the Adour! Following in the track of the gun-boat was a schooner-rigged vessel; but she unfortunately broached to, and instantly capsized.
“The horror,” says Mr. Gleig, “which we experienced at contemplating this event, though extreme for the moment, was necessarily of short duration; for our attention was immediately attracted to other vessels, which, one after another, drew near. Of these, all except one particular chasse-marrée, succeeded in making good the passage; – it shared the fate of the schooner. It was upset upon the curl of a wave, and went down with the whole of its crew. This last was even a more awful spectacle than the former. The little vessel, after being tossed round, rocked for a moment, as it were, upon the surf, just long enough for us to see the despairing gestures of the sailors, and to hear their shriek of consternation, – and then a huge wave striking her, she fell, not upon her broadside, but absolutely with bottom upwards.”
The author of the “Subaltern” likewise tells us, that the above mentioned schooner-rigged vessel was “guided by Captain Elliot” (the commander of H.M. brig Martial) ; but this we can prove to be an error.
“Captain Elliot,” says Sir Charles V. Penrose, “was in his gig, accompanied by Mr. Charles Norman, his assistant-surgeon:– I had spoken to him not more than two minutes before his boat overset: I observed to him how handsomely the gallant fellows were dashing in after their bold and skilful leader Cheyne, when he said, ‘I think I see one or two rather slack,’ and pulled round the gig to row towards them – I conclude he winded her the wrong way, as she was out of sight immediately in the surf. The fate of Mr. Norman was singularly unfortunate:– he managed to get safe on board a gun-boat, which was afterwards thrown up upon the beach, where he was killed by the oversetting of her 24-pounder.”
In addition to the foregoing disasters, three transports’ boats were lost, with all their crews, and several others swamped; one coasting vessel took the ground, after she entered the river, and remained fast for a considerable time.
Notwithstanding the loss of lives sustained, it may justly be said, that the daring and highly necessary attempt to cross the bar of the Adour was attended with wonderful success; and that the zeal, intrepidity, and skill of British seamen never shone forth in a more conspicuous manner than on that trying and memorable occasion.
Upon witnessing the approach of the flotilla, Captain O’Reilly, who had somewhat recovered from the effects of
