means run on shore among the Colorados, a numerous cluster of small islands or rocks, near the N.W. coast of the island of Cuba; and it was not until after twelve hours of severe and unremitting labour, in the course of which all her guns were obliged to be thrown overboard, that she was got off, and cleared from danger.
The cause of the Arethusa’s getting on shore has never, we believe, been satisfactorily ascertained. While some are disposed to impute blame to the officer who had charge of the watch at the time when the disaster happened, others contend, that, as the currents are very variable in those seas, the ship might have been carried nearer to the land by them than was expected, and that the accident might have befallen the most careful officer.
A circumstance occurred immediately after this unfortunate event, which served to place the dauntless bravery of the Arethusa’s crew in the most conspicuous light. In working up to the Havannah, she fell in with a Spanish line-of-battle ship; when Captain Brisbane, confident in his men, although without a single great gun, told them, that it was his determination to lay the enemy on board, and that in the attempt to carry her they should be led by their officers. Three cheers from every man in the ship, was all the answer that these brave fellows gave to their commander, who immediately ordered all possible sail to be set; but unfortunately, the enemy stood for the Moro Castle, and it was found impracticable to reach her before she had got under its protection.
Captain Brisbane, disappointed in his intention of boarding the Spaniard, returned to Jamaica, to get fresh guns on board, and to refit, after which he resumed his former station; and on the morning of Aug. 23d, discovered a sail, which afterwards proved to be the Pomona, a Spanish frigate, of 38 guns and 347 men, from Vera Cruz. When Captain Brisbane first perceived her, she was within two miles of the Moro Castle, standing for the Havannah, under a press of sail. He immediately made the signal to Captain Lydiard, of the Anson, then under his orders, to lay the enemy on board on coming up with her; but his design was frustrated by the Pomona bearing up, having been joined by twelve gun-boats, from
