trymen, upon the mercy of a nation which, in the

very teeth of bigotry and despotism, is one of the most noble, brave, and generous in existence.

On the 1st of July the Medusa entered the Tropics; and there, with a childish disregard to every danger, and knowing that she was surrounded by all the unseen perils of the ocean, her crew performed the ceremony usual upon such an occasion, while the vessel was running headlong on destruction. captain presided over the disgraceful scene of merriment, and had abandoned the ship to the command of a Mons. Richefort, who had passed the ten preceding years of his life in an English prison. A few persons on board, more aware of the consequences than the rest, remonstrated, but were not attended to; and, though it was ascertained that the Medusa was on the bank of Arguin, she continued her course, and heaved the lead, without slackening sail. Every thing denoted shallow water; but Mr Richefort persisted in saying, that there were one hundred fathoms. In that very moment only six fathoms were found; and the vessel struck three times, being in about sixteen feet water, and the tide full flood. At ebb tide, there remained but twelve feet water; and, after some manœuvres, which were perfectly of a piece with the preceding conduct of the crew and officers, all hopes of getting the ship afloat were abandoned.— So much for the first act of the French tragedy. Let us now see how the English one sets off.

On the 9th of February, 1816, the Alceste, Captain Murray Maxwell, sailed from Spithead, with the British ambassador, to China, and on the 4th of March following she too, upon crossing the line, had her visit from old Neptune, to the tune of Rule Britannia; but not while she knew herself to be surrounded by danger. It was upon returning from a very beautiful and interesting voyage; in which a spirit of moderation, firmness and good faith, highly creditable to the expedition, was eminently displayed, that the Alceste met with her misfortune.

A course was now shaped,' says Mr M'Leod, to avoid the numerous rocks and shoals, not well defined, which lie in that part of the Chinese sea more immediately to the westward of the Philippines, and to the northward of Borneo; and having, by the 14th, passed the whole, and got into the usual track for the passage of either of the straits of Banco or Gaspar, it was resolved to proceed through the latter, as being more direct, and less subject to calms than the former-and considering them equally safe, from the latest surveys and directions being on board, some of them by those who had personally examined them. At day-light in the morning of the 18th, we made Gaspar Island, exactly at the time expected, and, passing it, stood in for the strait. As is customary, in approaching any coast or

passage whatever, but more especially one that all are not familiarly acquainted with, the utmost precaution was taken, by keeping the leads going in both chains, men looking out at the mast-heads, yardarms and bowsprit-end; the Captain, master, and officer of the watch, on whom the charge of the ship, at such a time, more particularly devolves, having been vigilantly on deck during the whole of the previous night, and this morning. Steering under all these guarded circumstances, the soundings exactly corresponding with the charts, and following the express line prescribed by all concurring directions, to clear every danger, (and the last of this sort between us and England), the ship, at about half past seven in the morning, struck, with a horrid crash, on a sudden reef of rocks, and remained immoveable.

It was soon found that all attempts to get her off would be followed by immediate destruction; and nothing remained to be done, but to save as much as was possible of the wreck. Even in these first scenes, we think the points of contrast are sufficiently striking; but the most remarkable are yet to be stated.

When the French frigate struck, she had on board six boats of various capacitics, all of which, however, were not sufficient to contain the crew and passengers; and a raft was constructed. The scene which took place, when the signal was given for the men to quit the wreck, was most dreadful. All scrambled out of it, without order or precaution. The first who reached the boats, refused to share their chance of safety with their fellowsufferers-though there was still ample room for more. Some, who apprehended that a plot had been formed to abandon them in the vessel, flew to arms. Captain Chaumareys stole out of a port-hole into his own boat, leaving a great part of his crew to shift for themselves in the ship. No one would give the least assistance to his companions; but all were occupied in making false representations of each other's situation, in order to create an undue share of pity for themselves. At length, however, they put to sea, their intention being to steer for the sandy coast of the Desert, there to land, and thence to proceed with a caravan to the island of St Louis.

The raft had been constructed without the least foresight or intelligence. It was about 65 feet long, and 25 broad; but the only part of it which could be depended upon, was the middle; and that was so small, that fifteen persons could not lie down upon it. Those who stood upon the floor were in constant danger of slipping through between the planks; and the sea flowed in on all sides. When the 150 passengers, destined to be its burden, were on board, they stood like a solid parallelogram, without a possibility of moving; and they were up to their waists in water. The plan originally adopted was, that as much pro

visions as possible should be put upon this raft; that it should be taken in tow by the six boats; and that, at stated intervals, their crews should come on board of it to receive their rations. As they were about to leave the ship, Mr Correard inquired, whether all the necessary articles had been put on board, such as charts, instruments, seastore, &c., and was assured, by an officer, that he himself had seen that nothing was wanting. And who is to command us?' 'I am to command you, swered he, and will be with you in a moment. The officer, however, with these words the last in his mouth, went on board one of the boats, and returned no more.

an

This desperate squadron had only proceeded about two leagues, when a faulty, if not treacherous manoeuvre, broke the tow-line which joined the Captain's boat to the rest; and this became the signal to all to let loose their cables. The weather was calm. The coast was known to be but 12 or 15 leagues distant; and land was, in fact, discovered by the boats on the very evening of the day on which they abandoned the raft. They were not, therefore, driven to this measure by any new perils; and the cry of Nous les abandonnons !' which resounded through the line, was the yell of a spontaneous and instinctive impulse of cowardice, perfidy, and cruelty; and, dreadful to relate, the impulse was as unanimous as it was diabolical.

The raft then, such as we have described it, was left to the mercy of the waves; and as, one after another, the boats disappeared, despair became general. Not one of the promised articles, no provisions, except a very few casks of wine, and some spoilt biscuit, sufficient for one single meal, were to be found. A small pocket compass, which chance had discovered, and which was their last guide in a trackless ocean, fell between the beams into the sea, and was lost. As the crew had taken no nourishment since morning, some wine and biscuit were distributed; and this day, the first of thirteen which they passed upon the raft, was the last on which they tasted any solid food-except such as nature shudders at. One sentiment, however, kept alive their hopes, and animated their courage; and that sentiment was, the ardent wish to be revenged of those who had treacherously abandoned them. It was in this mood, that their hearts and prayers, as our authors ingeniously say, were lifted up, in piety, to heaven! The first night was stormy; and the waves, which had free access, committed dreadful ravages, and threatened worse. When day appeared, twelve miserable creatures were found crushed to death, between the openings of the raft, and several more were missing; though the number could not be ascertained, as many of the soldiers had taken the billets of the dead, in

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order to obtain two, or even three rations of food. The second night was still more dreadful, and many were washed off into the sea; although the crew had so crowded together, that some were smothered by the mere pressure. To sooth their last

moments, the soldiers drank immoderately; and, in their fury, attempted to cut the cables, which held together the spars and beams of the raft. A general conflict ensued, between those who attacked, and those who defended it. Many of the former were killed; and one, who affected to rest himself upon the side, but who, in fact, was treacherously cutting the ropes, was thrown into the sea. Another, whom Mr Correard had snatched from the waves, turned traitor a second time, as soon as he had recovered his senses; but he too was killed. At length the revolted, who were chiefly soldiers, being repulsed, they threw themselves upon their knees, and, with the utmost abjectness, implored mercy. At midnight, however, they rebelled again. Those who had no arms fought with their teeth; and thus it was, that many severe wounds were inflicted. One man, in particular, was most wantonly and dreadfully bitten above the heel, while his companions were beating him on the head with their carabines, previously to their throwing him into the sea. raft was strewed with dead bodies, after innumerable instances of treachery and cruelty; and from 60 to 65 perished that night. The force and courage of the strongest began to yield to their misfortunes and even the most resolute laboured under mental derangement. In the conflict, the revolted had thrown two casks of wine, and all the remaining water, into the sea; and it became necessary to diminish each man's allowance.

The

A day of comparative tranquillity now succeeded. The survivors erected their mast again, which had been wantonly cut down in the battle of the night; and endeavoured to catch some fish, but in vain. Then it was, that they were reduced to the last resource, the most repugnant to human nature;-and the bodies of their dead companions became their sustenance. A third night followed, which was interrupted only by the plaintive cries of wretches, exposed to every kind of suffering, ten or twelve of whom died of want, and awfully foretold the fate of the remainder. The following day was fine. Some flying fish were caught in the raft; which, mixed up with human flesh, afforded one scanty meal.

A new insurrection, still for the insane purpose of destroying the raft, broke out on the fourth night; and this too was marked by perfidy, and terminated in blood. Most of the rebels were thrown into the sea. The fifth morning mustered but 30 men alive; and these, in the most wretched state, sick and

wounded, and the skin of the lower extremities corroded by the salt water. Two soldiers were detected, drinking the wine of the only remaining cask; and were instantly thrown into the sea, according to a law which had been enacted among themselves, to that effect. One boy died. There remained therefore 27. Of these, but 15 appeared capable of outliving their present fatigue. A council of war, presided by the most horrid despair, was held; and it was resolved, that, as the weak consumed a part of the common store, without hope of surviving, they should be thrown into the sea. This sentence was immediately put in execution!-and all the arms on board, which now filled their minds with horror, were, with the exception of a single sabre, committed to the deep.

In such a situation, distress and misery increase with a very accelerated ratio; and, even after the desperate measure of destroying their companions, and eating the most nauseous aliments, the surviving fifteen could not hope for more than a few days existence. A butterfly lighted on their sail the ninth day; and, though is was held to be the harbinger of good, many a greedy eye was cast upon it. Some scafowl also appeared; but it was not possible to catch any of them. The misery of the survivers increased with a rapidity which cannot be described; and they even stole from each other little goblets of urine, * which had been set to cool in the sea water, and which was now considered as a luxury. The most trifling article of food, a lemon, a small bottle of spirituous dentifrice, a little garlick, became causes of contention; and every daily distribution of wine awakened a spirit of selfishness and ferocity, which common sufferings and common interest could not subdue into more social feelings.

Three days more passed over in inexpressible anguish, when they constructed a smaller and more manageable raft, in the hope of directing it to the shore; but, upon trial, it was found to be insufficient. On the 17th, the masts of a brig were seen ; which, after exciting all the vicissitudes of hope and fear, proved to be the Argus sent out in quest of the Medusa. C'est donc à des François,' exclaimed they, que nous devons notre salut! And, pray, to whom did they owe their disasters? The inhabitants of the raft were all received on board the Argus, where they were again very near perishing, from a fire which broke out in the night.

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*Mr Savigny made two physiological observations on this subject, which are not without interest. The urine of some was much more agreeable (suave) than that of others; and, in all cases, this beverage proved an instantaneous and powerful diuretic.