The Loss of the Royal George | Page 2

morning, the Maidstone, one of our look-out
frigates, made the signal that the enemy's fleet was in sight! We, on this,
threw out the signal for our ships to form in line, while the frigate was
sent inshore to ascertain how far we were from it. You will understand
that the fog prevented us from seeing the land or the enemy, and from
the same cause it was no easy matter, as we all sailed close together, to
prevent one ship from running into another.
We had not long to wait, however, before, the fog lifting, we caught
sight of the French fleet, crowding all sail to get away from us, for their
frigates had found out our fleet, while ours had discovered theirs. We
made all sail in chase, both the enemy's ships and ours having every
stitch of canvas they could carry. In about three hours the van of our
fleet got up with them.
I remember standing by my father's side, in the forecastle, and thinking
what a grand sight it was, as the Warspite and Dorchester gallantly
commenced firing their broadsides into the enemy. The next ship that
got into action was the Magnanime, commanded by the brave Lord
Howe, followed quickly by the Revenge, Torbay, Montagu, and many
others whose names are known to fame. There was a heavy sea running
at the time, and, big as were our ships, they kept tumbling about so
much that we were unable to fight our lower-deck guns. The captain of
one of the French ships, the Thesee, engaged with the Torbay, thought
that he could do so; and Captain Keppel, who commanded the English
seventy-four, unwisely followed his example. The two ships were thus
hotly engaged, firing their broadsides into each other, when we saw the
Frenchman give a lurch to starboard, and then down she went; out of all
her gallant crew of eight hundred men, only twenty being saved by the
British boats. The Torbay was very nearly following her, but by great
exertions the guns were run in, and the ports closed, though not till she
had shipped a good deal of water. Directly afterwards another
Frenchman sank before our eyes, as we guessed, from the same cause.

I can't say that I saw much more of what took place, for we were now
going into action, and I was sent below to attend to my duty, which was
to bring up ammunition in a tub, and to sit upon it on the main-deck,
with the other ship's boys, till it was wanted to load the guns. We were
soon thundering away at the enemy, clouds of smoke filling the space
between the decks, through which I could dimly see the crews of the
guns, stripped to the waist, running them in to load, and running them
out again as rapidly as they could. Shouts from the upper deck reached
us, and we heard that one of the French ships had struck, but so heavy a
sea was running, that no boat could be lowered to take possession of
her; several others were also severely handled, and one completely
dismasted. Night was coming on; and as we were but a short distance
from the shore, the admiral made a signal for the fleet to anchor, and
we, rounding-to, brought up. There we lay, the wind roaring and the sea
foaming and tossing around us, anxiously waiting for daylight. I had
not seen my father, who was, as I supposed, at his station on the upper
deck, when the order came to secure the guns. I was still sitting on my
tub joking with the other boys, who were congratulating themselves at
not being killed, when Jerry Dix came stumping along the deck towards
me; he took my hand kindly, and I thought I saw him wipe away a tear
from his eye.
"What is the matter, Jerry?" I asked, seeing that something was wrong.
"Ben, my boy, he that's gone told me to look after you, and so I will as
long as I have a shot in the looker. You don't hear his pipe, do you? and
you never will no more. There's the order to return powder to the
magazine--as soon as you come up again, look out for me."
The other boys and I hurried below to the magazine with our tubs; as
soon as I came up I looked out for Jerry.
"What were you talking about?" I asked, having a feeling that
something had happened to my father, though I scarcely dared to ask
what.
"As I was saying, Ben, you have a friend in me if you have no other,"
said Jerry, again taking my hand. "You will grieve, my boy, I know, but

it can't be helped; so I