The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson | Page 5

the fury of the
wind increased, many signals of distress were seen flying in the offing.
Finding the Lady Nelson drag very much, her commander let go
another anchor, with the result that she rode out through the gale with
ease, although next morning six vessels were ashore dismasted, while
two others had lost both their masts and bowsprits. He then decided to
take shelter in Ramsgate, where he remained until the 7th, when he
sailed to Spithead and thence to Portsmouth. Here four more guns were
placed on board and some oak planking, which caused the brig to lie
deeper in the water, so that Grant writes "there were then only 2 feet 9
inches clear abreast the gangway." He believed, however, that the
consumption of coal and provisions would soon bring her to a proper
degree of buoyancy.
During her stay at Portsmouth the Lady Nelson lost two men, one
through illness, the other by desertion. On March 15th, when she was
quite ready for sea, Captain Schanck and Mr. Bayley* (* W. Bayley,
formerly astronomer on board the Adventure.) paid her a visit. Orders
had been given for her to leave port in company with H.M.S. Anson,
Captain Durham, who (as the Powers were at war) was to convoy a
fleet of East Indiamen, then on point of sailing, and with whom was
H.M.S. Porpoise, bound to New South Wales. The wind being fair, on
the night of March 16th, 1800, the signal for sailing was given by the
Commodore. While all hands were busily engaged getting up the kedge,
the carpenter made his escape in the darkness. Anxious to avoid further
delay, and somewhat consoled by the thought that the vessel was new
and that he had already tested and found out her good qualities,

Lieutenant Grant decided to put up with the loss of the man's services.
At 6 P.M. on the 18th the ship finally bade adieu to England. At first
she was scarcely able to keep pace with the big ships which bore her
company, and very soon the Commodore despatched an officer to her
commander to suggest that he should go into Falmouth and await there
the departure of the West India Fleet. But, as the final decision was left
with Lieutenant Grant, he preferred to go on, believing that he could
keep pace with the convoy. During the afternoon of the 19th a
namesake of his, Captain James Grant of the Brunswick, East Indiaman,
hailed him and informed him that he had orders to take the Lady
Nelson in tow. The commander of the brig did not at all relish this
news, but dreading further detention as he was in the track of the
enemy, he took the proffered hawser on board. The brig towed well as
long as the sea was smooth, and at first no discomfort was felt. Then a
continued spell of bad weather ensued, and a driving rain, which found
its way under the covering boards and along the gunwale of the ship,
caused great unpleasantness. Worse was to follow, for it began to blow
very hard, and the Brunswick set off at high speed, dragging the little
brig mercilessly through the heavy seas which almost enveloped her.
The sight evoked much amusement among the passengers on board the
big Indiaman, who frequently visited the stern galley to watch the
waves wash completely over the Lady Nelson.
On the 23rd of March an unusually heavy sea strained the brig to such a
degree that Grant ordered the hawser to be let go, and bade the
Brunswick farewell. It was imagined by those on board the larger
vessel that the Lady Nelson, deeming it impossible to proceed, had
turned back to Portsmouth. Grant, however, had determined to continue
his voyage alone.
He lost sight of the fleet during the night, and next day, in latitude 43
degrees 55 minutes north and longitude 14 degrees 17 minutes west,
the weather being fine and clear, he ordered the saturated bedding to be
brought up from below and placed on deck to dry. This practice was
continued throughout the voyage, and to it, and to the care taken to
prevent the men sleeping in wet clothes, Grant attributed the healthy

state of the crew on reaching Sydney. When the sea moderated it was
also possible to stop the leaks on deck.
On the 25th a strange sail was sighted, and from the masthead a large
fleet was soon afterwards made out bearing north-north-east. One ship
detached itself from the rest and gave chase to the Lady Nelson,
gaining fast upon her. She was perceived to be an English frigate. At 6
P.M. she fired a shot which compelled Lieutenant Grant to shorten sail
and to show his colours. As a second shot was