another gale; at 11, a very heavy sea pooped us, stove in the dead-lights, and filled the cabin with water, p.m. the wind increased to a perfect hurricane; at 1, the ship was struck by lightning, and the main-mast much hurt. At 2, most tremendous squalls, with rain, thunder, &c. the storm-slay-sails blew to atoms, the ship entirely unmanageable, and whole seas breaking over her. The rudder-head gave way, chocked the rudder, and secured it with the pendants. At 3-30, the main-top-mast went in three pieces; and at 4, both the rudder-chains gave way. At 6, a man fell from the fore-yard on the best-bower anchor, but was not killed. All the pumps obliged to be kept constantly going. 18th, the quarter-boats were stove; found the rudder gone from the stern-post. At 10 p.m. the carpenter reported the main-mast sprung, a few feet above the quarter-deck. p.m. the sea mountains high, got a cable from the stern with hawsers, &c. and struck the mizen-top-mast, but found it impossible to wear the ship. 19th, more moderate, with a heavy swell; employed in making a Pakenham’s rudder. Saw the Colombretes, two points on the lee bow, distant 5 leagues. Made all sail on the fore-mast, in hopes of wearing, as we were drifting bodily down on those rocky uninhabited islands. Finding she would not wear, anchored with a spring on the cable, in 60 fathoms. At midnight, tremendous squalls, with thunder, lightning, and rain. 30th, at 1 a.m. found the ship driving, cut the cable and spring, set the storm-stay-sails and fore-sail; saw the islands W.S.W., the ship would lie no higher. No chance remained of saving a single life, when the wind shifted in a dreadful squall, and allowed her to lie up S.E. for 40 minutes, which put us clear of danger, p.m. succeeded in shipping the rudder, and found, to our great joy, the ship once more under command. 21st, a steady breeze from S.W.; bore up for Malta. 22d, hard gales; found the fore-channel very badly started; 25th, at midnight, anchored of Valette light-house. 26th, warped into the harbour; found the fore-yard sprung and the ship very much strained.”
After her defects were made good at Malta, the Melpomene conveyed Major-General Sherbrooke, and escorted a body of troops from Messina to the coast of Egypt. She was subsequently stationed off Gaeta, to assist in the defence of that fortress, then besieged by Marshal Massena, with 30,000 men. Here the zeal and bravery of her officers and men were conspicuous; and their conduct was rewarded with the grateful thanks of its intrepid defender, the Prince of Hesse, whose long and brilliant defence is yet alive in the public recollection.
We next find the Melpomene conveying a spy, with despatches, from Palermo to the bay of Naples, and Lieutenant
