have been on board the Madras 54, at Malta, waiting for an opportunity to rejoin his frigate, when a magazine was accidently blown up, by which sad accident near 300 people were killed and wounded ; among the former was the gunner of the Madras, who lost his life by a shell bursting over her.
The Melpomene arrived at Malta during the mutiny of Fribourg’s regiment, a newly raised corps, consisting principally of Greeks and Albanians, quartered in fort Ricazoli, the gates of which they had shut, after killing some of their superiors, and seizing an English artillery officer, whom they compelled to point the guns against his countrymen.
On hearing of this appalling event, Captain Parker immediately landed his marines, and sent boats, under Lieutenant Badcock, with part of H.M. 44th regiment, to assist in escalading the fort by night. The assault was well-conducted, and would have been crowned with complete success had not six of the mutineers thrown themselves into the powder magazine, resolved to perish there rather than be taken prisoners.
This building, situated nearly in the middle of the fort, a sort of Acropolis, was not defensible in itself; but, as containing an immense store of ammunition, was a gigantic weapon in the hands of these desperadoes. It was in vain to attempt their forcible expulsion; threats were of no avail; and all milder negociations were prohibited by the stern policy of the military commander, who insisted upon immediate and unqualified submission. In storming and carrying the other parts of the fort, three men belonging to the 44th regiment were killed, and Lieutenant Badcock appears to have had a narrow escape, a ball having passed close to his ear just as he entered one of the works. The sequel of this melancholy business is thus narrated in the New Monthly Magazine:–
