only to the ship's company, but
likewise to the captain and officers, in whom the crew must have
reposed most perfect confidence, or such real good order could not
have been maintained at such a time.

The ship was settling fast, when the boats returned to carry away the
remainder of the officers and men, they left the pumps and embarked in
the boats, taking with them the hammocks and clothes belonging to the
ship's company. The last man who stood upon the deck of the sinking
ship was her captain. When all others had gone, he too with a heavy
heart stepped into the boat which bore him from her side; sadly and
sorrowfully he fixed his gaze upon the wreck of 'his home on the
waters.' In a few minutes the ship gave a lurch, and, falling on her
beam ends, remained in that position for the space of a minute, then
she righted, showing only her quarter-deck ports above water, and then
gently and majestically sunk into the bosom of the deep blue sea.

THE PERSIAN.

The Persian, an 18-gun brig, commanded by Captain Charles Bertram, was
lost on the Silver Keys, St. Domingo, in the West Indies, on the 26th
of June, 1813. It appears from Captain Bertram's statement, that the
Keys were laid down on the chart too far to the southward, or that the
ship was carried in that direction by a strong current not mentioned
in any of the charts. The Persian struck about five o'clock P.M., by
running stem on, upon one of the rocks; she was at the time going at
the rate of three or four knots an hour. Everything was done to back
her off; the water was started, most of the guns thrown overboard, the
boats were got out, and the anchors cut from the bows. These measures
for the moment seemed to have the desired effect; but in paying off,
she struck on another rock, and from this it was impossible to move
her. Again the same means were resorted to; the remainder of the guns,
spars, &c, were thrown overboard, but to no purpose. The pumps had
been kept in active play from the first moment of alarm, but the water
gained on them so fast, there was little hope of the vessel keeping
afloat till daylight. The Captain, therefore, resolved to prepare for
the worst, and he directed a large raft to be made for the safety of
some of the ship's company. About seven o'clock, two hours after she
first struck, Captain Bertram perceived that she was gradually
sinking; he therefore ordered as many of the ship's company as the
boats would hold, to get into