away on the Pearl rock ; and the former was obliged to cut from her anchors, and struck several times on the bank off Cabrita point. The critical situation of the Gibraltar merits being recorded. On cutting her cable, which she did at 9 p.m., the ship set her foresail and staysails, and at 9 h. 30 m. p.m., in order to haul up clear of Cabrita point, her mainsail and main topsail. The latter sail split almost as soon as it was set. At 10 p.m., owing to the increased violence of the gale, the Gibraltar carried away her fore topmast, and split her foresail, mainsail, maintopmast staysail, and mizen staysail. At 10 h. 30 m. p.m. the ship, thus deprived of the means of clearing the land, struck several times on a bank off Cabrita point, but in five minutes drove over it, and, being a remarkably strong ship, made no water. At midnight the Gibraltar hove to, and at noon on the 11th let go her only remaining anchor in Tangier bay.

This is the substance of what is noted down in the Gibraltar's log ; but an account somewhat different appears at p. 140, vol. ii. of Captain Brenton's work. "Driven by the violence of the gale down upon Cabrito point, the topgallant yard stowed in, the main rigging caught the lee-clew of the mainsail, and prevented their setting that sail, in consequence of which she caught upon the Pearl rock, which lies about three quarters of a mile from the shore off the western point of the bay : here in a dark night, with a tremendous sea breaking over her, the crew assembled on the deck, and testified by their screams and actions every symptom of despair, and madly proposed as a last resource cutting away the masts and saving themselves on the wreck. The axes were brought, and preparations made for this purpose, but strongly opposed by the first lieutenant, who, moving the wheel, assured the captain that the rudder was free and uninjured ; a wave at the same time struck the ship forward with such force as to upset a forecastle gun, and the shock carried away the fore topmast ; the next sea lifted her off the rock : being fortunately one of the strongest built ships in the service she made no water. Sufficient sail was set to enable her to weather Cabrito point, and in the morning she got into Tangier bay, and soon after rejoined the fleet ; she was however considered to have sustained so much injury, that it was judged necessary to send her to England in order to have her taken into dock : here it was discovered that a very large fragment of the rock had pierced her bottom and remained there - had it disengaged itself the consequence might have been fatal to all on board."

Now, the log states, that the mainsail was set, and shows clearly that the ship struck on the bank, rock, or whatever it may be, in consequence of the loss of her fore topmast (half on hour before) and the splitting of nearly all her sails. These manifest inaccuracies in the account lead us to hope that there is equal untruth in the alleged behaviour of the crew, behaviour more characteristic of timid females than of hardy British seamen.

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