and in a very few minutes was a complete wreck. By this melancholy accident nearly 500 brave fellows lost their lives, not more than 124 having escaped to relate the unhappy fate of their companions. The survivors lived about a week on a very small quantity of dried beans, and were six days more in marching through the country; at which time, however, the Moors gave them as much bread once a day as they could eat. They at length reached Gibraltar in a state of entire destitution[1].
At the time the Courageux was driven from the anchorage in Gibraltar Bay, Captain Hallowell was attending a court-martial. Being made acquainted with her situation, he wished very much to go on board previous to her moving from the neighbourhood of the Spanish batteries; and it being in the power of the Court to release him from his attendance he asked permission to do so; but the President, Vice-Admiral Thompson, refused to comply with his request, and thus the life of a valuable officer was preserved to the service and his friends.
In the memorable action off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797[2], the subject of this memoir served as a volunteer on board the Victory; and Sir John Jervis was so much pleased with his conduct on that occasion, that he strongly recommended him to the Admiralty, and sent him home with the duplicates of his despatches. He was in consequence immediately appointed to the Lively frigate, and again ordered to the Mediterranean station.
On the 28th May, in the same year, the boats of that ship and la Minerve, under the direction of Lieutenant (now Sir Thomas Masterman) Hardy, cut a French brig of war, la Mutine, of 14 guns and 130 men, out of the bay of Santa Cruz, notwithstanding a heavy fire from the town, and a large vessel at anchor there. Captain Hallowell’s next appointment was to the Swiftsure of 74 guns, which ship formed part
- ↑ The extreme darkness of the fatal night of Dec. 19, and the boldness of that part of the African coast, may readily he conceived when we state that the bowsprit of the Courageux actually struck the shore, and the main-mast after its fall served as a bridge for the small portion of her crew that escaped to pass to the land by.
- ↑ See p. 21, et seq.
