of eighteen months growth, leaving but little of the “humble form divine” at first sight distinguishable.
On the 5th Aug. 1809, the Agamemnon was wrecked near Gorita, an island in the Rio de la Plata. Mr. Woollnough’s exertions after the ship struck, in saving her stores, &c. were most incessant and laborious; they attracted the notice of Captain Richard Turner Hancock, commanding the Foudroyant 80, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral De Courcy, who offered him a mate’s rating in that ship, which he accordingly joined on the 8th of the same month. The admiral and his lady also paid him the most polite attention; the former even supplying him with body linen until his chest could be recovered[1].
Thus ended the services of Nelson’s favorite ship, always before a fortunate, and always a favorite one. Many of the older seamen, when they went over her side for the last time, were actually shedding tears. Her name will always be associated with that of Britain’s greatest naval hero. Still, among all our new ships, we have not an “Agamemnon.” Mr. Woollnough’s stay in the Foudroyant was but short. He passed his examination on the 23d of August; and, in three days afterwards, was appointed sub-lieutenant of the Steady gun-brig, then under the command of the late Captain Arthur Stow. While in this vessel he became a good pilot for the Rio de la Plata and the adjacent coast of Brazil.
In the spring of 1810, the Steady was ordered to bring home Mr. Hill, Secretary of Legation, and the bearer of a treaty highly advantageous to the commercial interests of Great Britain; also a Portuguese Consul for St. Petersburgh.
- ↑ To Captain Adam Mackenzie, of the Bedford 74, and the officers of that ship; also to Lieutenant (now Captain) Robert Ramsay, who then commanded the Misletoe schooner, the Agamemnons were particularly indebted for their unwearied kindness and attention to them while on the wreck. The schooner anchored alongside, and cooked the people’s dinners; the Bedford’s supplied their distressed brother officers with their daily meals.
