He gave me a piece of advice respecting the coast of America which I shall never forget, and as it is of that sort which all seamen liable to be sent on the North American station ought to be acquainted with, I shall mention it here. “Never lay your ship to at night in a gale of wind to the S.S.W. on the coast of America on the larboard tack, for the wind generally flies round at once to the N.W. with a heavy squall, and takes the ship flat back.” It was this, and lying-to under a main-sail, which caused the loss of the Ramilies at that period. He often gave me an account of that misfortune. It was as follows:—“We were on the larboard tack, with a reefed main-sail set. The gale commenced from S.E., and gradually came round to the S.S.W., blowing extremely hard. When in the middle watch of the night of the 16th of October, 1782, the wind flew round in a most tremendous squall to the N.W., taking the ship aback, and throwing her nearly on her beam ends. We tried to brace the main-yard round, but, finding it impossible, we cut the foot rope of the main-sail, which was quite a new one, with the hope of splitting it, but it was bound so tight against the mast and rigging that we could not effect this. The ship at this time had great stern-way upon her; the sea, breaking over her poop, stove in the dead-lights and windows, and filled the ward-room and admiral’s cabin with water, and before anything could be done the main-mast, mizen-mast, and foretop-mast went over the side; the stern-post was much shaken, and the ship, nearly a new one, sprung a dangerous leak. At daylight the whole convoy was scattered; many of the vessels dismasted—some had foundered—and the sea was covered with wreck; the wind blowing a hurricane. By dint of perseverance, having thrown overboard most of her guns and heavy stores, we succeeded in keeping the ship afloat until the 22nd, when, finding she would not float much longer, we took advantage of a lull of wind, and saved the crew on board a few of the merchant ships that had continued by her.”
Captain J. Conn also mentioned that had the orders of Rear-Admiral Graves been attended to the ship would probably not have been lost. The admiral came out of his cabin in the middle watch, and, after looking about him and making his remarks to the officer on deck, said, “It looks black under the lee bow, and I see some flashes of lightning. Should the clouds appear to near you, immediately haul up the main-sail and wear ship.” Unfortunately the admiral went into his cabin without sending for the captain, who slept in the ward-room. The moment the admiral had gone in, the officer of the watch ran down to Captain S. M., and mentioned the directions he had received. The captain replied, “It is my positive order you do no such thing without first coming to acquaint me.” The lieutenant of the watch had scarcely got on deck when he saw that a most violent squall, with shift of wind, was about to take place. Down he ran to acquaint his captain, according to orders, but before he could get again upon the deck to give the necessary directions the mischief had been done: she was taken aback, lost her masts, and was finally abandoned and burnt—all owing to adhering too closely to etiquette. The captain very properly was never employed afterwards.
From Bermuda we sailed to Halifax, where, one afternoon, a man fell from the main-top, and striking first against the main-rigging, then against the spare topsail-yard in the chains, dropped into the sea. Being on deck, I ran to the gangway, and, seeing no time was to be lost, jumped overboard, and, fortunately, getting hold of the man just as he was sinking, I kept him up until a boat was sent to our assistance. His fall having been broken by the main-rigging, previous to his striking the topsail-yard, was probably the cause of his life being saved.
After remaining in port some time, orders arrived from England for the 7th Fusiliers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney, to proceed to join the army of Lord Wellington. We embarked the headquarters and four hundred men of this fine regiment. The remainder were sent out in other men-of-war, and, after a passage of three weeks, were landed at Lisbon. The officers were a most pleasant, gentlemanly set of men; but out of the whole of those whom we took thither only the gallant Sir Edward Blakeney (now a Major-General) and another are alive.
After returning to Halifax nothing of interest occurred on the station for the remainder of our time, except that Captain Charles Austen, a very amiable man and excellent officer, who had been placed in command of the Swiftsure in lieu of Captain Conn, who was drowned, was appointed to the Cleopatra, Captain Lloyd joining the former ship in his stead.
We returned to England in the spring of the year 1811, and the ship was paid off at Chatham.
After a month at home, I took a passage in the Port Mahon, brig, of 18 guns, to Lisbon, and on the 11th of June arrived in the Tagus, and was placed on the Admiralty list for promotion.