ing, which, by-the-by, increased the danger of her position, but of this I was unaware, I trusted the boats might be enabled to reach her, and thus hoped for the best. In half an hour afterwards, her mainmast fell over her side, the ship parted in four different places, and in less than ten minutes upwards of 200 unfortunate beings were precipitated into the raging surf. About 70 escaped by swimming on shore; among them Mr. Leigh, of the 99th Regt. ; many were crushed between the falling spars; ghastly faces gleamed up from the boiling waters, and with outstretched arms implored help from the shore. Eyes, glazed with agony and despair, burst from their sockets as the rising heads of the sufferers got jammed between floating timbers; and mothers, with infants clinging to their bosoms, were washed off the rafts to which they vainly strove to cling, while the shriek of "some strong swimmer in his agony," rose above the roar of the elements, and in a moment was smothered by the dash of the bubbling waters over his helpless limbs. Only one woman was saved: she, poor creature, had seen her husband and child swept away before her. On being brought into the barrack square at Cape Town, where the Governor and his Staff were assembled, the unfortunate woman flung herself at the feet of the former, and embracing his knees, exclaimed, "Can you not help me? you have power here; can you not give me back my husband and my child? You look a good man; can you do nothing for me? Ah! I know you will help me. Sir, I beseech you give me back my husband and my child!" And this was only one of many scenes of distress. Great praise was afterwards deservedly bestowed on our men for their steady conduct and ready obedience to their officers. The detachment of the 27th and Cape Mounted Riflemen deserved equal praise. Young men, too, they were-the average age of the battalion being scarcely more than twenty-one years. Many of them had never been drillednever even had arms in their hands-almost all the rest were volunteers from different regiments, and consequently little known to their superiors. The real secret, however, may be traced to the example shown them by their officers; and too much eulogy cannot be bestowed on Capt. Bertie Gordon, to whose charge they fell on the senior officer's leaving the ship. Young in years, and comparatively so in experience, he acted with a calmness, decision, and judgment, that bespeak high promises of future good. Much more could I say on this subject, but that (as is the case with all high and generous spirits) he who most deserves praise is always the most unwilling to have it blazed abroad. All, however, must have esteemed themselves fortunate in falling uuder the command of one so able to do his duty under such trying circum stances. It may not be irrelevant to say a word or two here on the subject of the frequent wrecks in Table Bay during the winter months, viz., in May, June, July, and August. Ships during these months are ordered to go round to Simon's Bay, but this cannot always be done, as in our case. There had been a great deal of sickness on board during the whole of the voyage: three days before we made the land, three men belonging to the 91st Regiment had died of typhus fever in the short space of thirty-one hours and a half, their bodies and their bedding being committed to the deep without a moment's unnecessary delay. Although application was made before we left Ireland for a second Surgeon it was refused; and the troops, women, and children, were committed to the charge of a very young man, who however anxious he might be to do his duty, must have found some difficulty in giving his attention to all who required it. Had he been laid up on the sick-list, there is no knowing to what evil consequences it might have led. Besides typhus fever on board, there was one decided case of scarlet. fever (my own was of this description also), and several casualties arising from accidents. Fresh provisions and vegetables were thus most desirable, especially for the invalids. Simon's Bay being between forty and fifty miles by sea, and twenty-three by land, from Cape Town, it was a point of great importance to disembark the troops if possible at the latter place. It must be remembered that it was only on arriving in Table Bay, when the commanding officer communicated with the Governor, that we learned we were to proceed to the frontier. It was also necessary to take in fresh stock. Furthermore, the wind (after we had been beating about the offing for three days in a calm) became favourable for entering Table Bay, the weather was remarkably fine, and the winter season at its close. Had the ship been properly found in anchors and anchor chains, it is most likely she would have ridden out the hurricane; as it was, it is just as likely she would have parted her anchors in Simon's Bay, where the gale was felt considerably. It is true, the Port Captain desired our Captain to haul up his anchors and shift his berth next morning, as he was too near in-shore; but the wind then blowing into the bay rendered this a dangerous experiment. The Waterloo convict-ship had taken up an excellent position: we were to have moved towards that part of the bay where she lay at anchor; had we been even enabled to do so, what might have been the consequence ? since the Waterloo herself was driven from her anchors on the rocks, and there dashed to atoms. Our vessel was one of Soames' finest ships, and even now (nearly a month after the wreck) lies firm in the sand. It is possible she might not have shared the fate of the Waterloo, it is hardly probable however, though she might have held together much longer in such a position. But who surveyed the Waterloo and pronounced her sea-worthy? The pieces of her hull, which were picked up on the beach, crumbled to dust in the hands of those who tried their strength. As, however, most able commissioners have been appointed to make proper inquiries into the wrecks of the Abercrombie Robinson and the Waterloo convict-ship, abler pens than mine have already been employed in sending home an unprejudiced account of the whole unfortunate affair. I have said thus much of ourselves, and I have said it impartially, because, in cases of shipwreck, the Captain is frequently blamed for what he cannot help-for what, in fact, is a visitation of the Almighty. To Capt. John Young, Master of the troop-ship, as well as to Lieut. Black, R.N., we were indebted, during the whole of the voyage, for the utmost attention and kindness; the more so as, from the unanimity subsisting between them, they were enabled to act together for the benefit of us all; and I think I cannot close this article better than by quoting a letter* written to Capt. Young a few days since by Capt. Gordon. *One equally complimentary has been written to our esteemed friend Lieut. Black, but I have it not at hand at this moment. Capt. Gordon's letter to Capt. Young. Main Barracks, Cape Town, Aug. 31, 1842. MY DEAR SIR,-As commanding the Reserve Battalion of the 91st Regiment at the time of the wreck of the transport Abercrombie Robinson in Table Bay, I feel myself authorized to express my sense of your coolness, intrepidity, and readiness of resource, during those anxious hours of responsibility, when, from eleven o'clock on the night of the 27th of August, to daylight on the morning of the 28th, the lives of seven hundred souls depended, under God, on your firmness and seamanship. They are qualities essential in the commander of a ship at all times, and must be more than ever necessary when several hundred soldiers, women, and children crowd his decks. They conspicuously distinguished your conduct throughout that night, whose scenes were too full of danger not to have impressed every one with the near possibility of destruction. The question of life or death seemed often to hang on each minute's duration, but through God's mercy your able conduct brought us safely through a host of perils. On the part of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Reserve Battalion 91st Regiment, and of the detachments of the 27th Regiment and Cape Mounted Riflemen, then on board, I beg to offer our united acknowledgments of the praise and gratitude which your exertions so highly merited. I remain, my dear Sir, very truly yours, BERTIE E. M. GORDON, Capt. 91st Regt. The undersigned officers of the 91st Regiment, on board the Abercrombie at the time of her being driven ashore on the morning of the 28th of August, beg to subscribe their names to the above letter of thanks. J. WARD, Capt. 91st Regt. J. C. CAHILL, Paymaster, Reserve Batt. 91st Regt. J. M'INROY, Ensign 91st Regt. ROBT. LAVERS, Ensign 91st Regt. BERTIE E. M. GORDON, Capt. 91st Regt. THE FRENCH AT FISHGUARD IN 1797. THE February of 1797 had been a series of the finest weather in my remembrance before or since, so fine, indeed, that we country people recall it as the only February in which we recollect to have sown oats. On Wednesday, the 24th of that month, I was standing upon the cliffs called, in Welsh, Pencaird, in English, Strumble Head, directing my labourers where to cut furze,-in these parts the favourite food of horses and cattle. Happening to cast my eyes seaward, I saw four large vessels making for the Bay. Now, as Fishguard is not a port to which ships of any considerable burden resort, being out of the general course of foreign vessels, this unusual circumstance excited my curiosity. Presently they had approached within a mile of the cliff on which we were standing, and there came to anchor. The opinion now was that they must be outward-bound West Indiamen, seeking a supply of water and fresh mutton,-two articles which, in our Welsh mountainous country, are especially good. There was an old man-of-war's man living in a cottage on my land, who I knew, among other professional relics, possessed a spyglass. He was sent for, and, after regarding the strangers for a few minutes, declared with an oath they were no traders, but three French frigates and a corvette. In order to deceive the spectator into a belief of their being English they had adopted the ruse of keeping a sentinel in scarlet uniform marching to and fro upon the decks. In the mean time one of the small craft that bring coal and limestone to Fishguard hove in sight. As she gradually neared the stranger vessels a single armed boat came round from the opposite side, boarded her, carried off the Captain and a seaman, and then scuttled her; for, a short time afterwards, she went down before our eyes. These proceedings were, of course, alarming, but curiosity prevailed; we still remained; and our anxieties were further increased when, after watching the vessels signalling each other with small flags, which went up and down very fast, we saw sixteen boats, as if by magic, lowered from their sides. These were as quickly filled with armed men, and, with one of superior size in their centre, carrying a large fire, the whole pulled rapidly for the land. All doubt of their being enemies was now removed. I hastened to Llanunda with the news; but it had found its way there before me. The whole village and neighbouring farms presented the appearance of a large fair, or one of our Welsh country auctions. Carts and waggons, with the horses harnessed, were drawn up before every door, the owners engaged rapidly loading them with their most valuable property. The elder women were as active and resolute as the men; but many a young mother stood helpless by, pale with terror, clasping one, and in some instances two infants to their bosoms. They evidently magnified the real danger a thousand fold, bewailing it in their native language, the only one they understood. Nothing so strange and terrible had ever before reached them, by tradition, experience, or report. My own dwelling lay about two miles from this scene of hurry and distress. Thither I next hastened, to take measures for the safety of a young wife and only child,-for we had been then married only eighteen months. I found her in the haggard with her infant, standing upon a mow of straw, by which she obtained a more extended view around, anxiously watching for my return, and filled, like her neighbours, with excessive terror and distress. The men and maid-servants, too, had all quitted their labour; the latter standing in a long row upon the boundary wall, chattering and gesticulating with vehemence as they gazed seaward; the former sullen and thoughtful, engaged fixing their hedgingbills and scythes to ashen poles, or in sharpening the prongs of manureforks upon a grindstone. But to provide for our personal security was, at that moment, a necessity more urgent than offensive operations; wherefore, having gently released myself from my wife's embrace, who clung to me as if my presence were safety, I hastened to collect many things whose loss would be irreparable, in case the enemy should fire our dwellings after pillaging them. There was at a short distance from the house an extensive furze-brake, the stalks of which had grown much higher than a man. In the middle of this shelter we first constructed a warm nest of barley-straw, on which we placed our best feather-beds, and thither I conveyed my wife and child. Having arranged all as safe and comfortable as I could well make it, I was returning through my fold to the house, when an immense volume of flame suddenly burst forth in the direction of Pencaird. No doubt existed in the minds of any present but that the French had commenced firing the homesteads, and I naturally anticipated my own turn would shortly arrive. The nature of the fire was, however, mistaken,-hap pily so, for a knowledge of the reality must have redoubled my anxieties. It was a quantity of blazing furze. The enemy had stolen an ox and several sheep, and no wood for fuel being found on our heights, they had resorted to this means of half-broiling their provisions. I recollect being told afterwards that above sixty poor cottagers, men, women, and children, with everything of value they possessed, were secreted during the night in a similar brake at Treleaze, quite as near the camp as that I saw burning. We esteemed it a very providential interference that the whole party had not miserably perished. It was now about ten o'clock in the evening. I had just seen our doors and windows as well secured as the nature of the fastenings would allow, for in these simple agricultural districts depredations of any kind are not heard of once in a century-most of the houses have neither locks, bolts, nor any security, night or day, except the doorlatch. The men and boys, seated in the ingle-nook, were smoking their short pipes in silence; the girls, restless and alarmed, were engaged, some preparing a large mess of potatoes and herrings for their suppers, others in arranging the large oak table; whilst myself, alive to the faintest alarm, sought to dissipate a very natural state of excitement by pacing through the centre of the room. On a sudden came the sounds of rapid conversation-then the trampling of feet-and presently after a loud and strange voice, speaking words in a strange language. From the tone it seemed a summons to those within to open. None, however, stirred. All kept mute,-looking from each other to the door, in expectation of what was to happen next. But our suspense was of short duration. In the space of a moment, without an attempt to lift the latch, the but-ends of a dozen muskets commenced thundering against the door, and at once drove it off its hinges into the middle of the floor. My unwelcome visiters quickly followed it, and, laughing and singing, crowded up to the fire. Their personal appearance, as I have them even now before me, was far from prepossessing, or calculated to allay our fears respecting life and property. All appeared completely armed with sword, fusee, and bayonet-but only half-equipped in rusty black, ragged old uniforms faced with yellow. Many were without shoes or stockings, and wore huge wooden clogs, stuffed with straw; and their swarthy, ferocious-looking moustachioed or bearded countenances, completed the resemblance of a banditti horde, rather than a detachment of regular troops. I had mechanically stood still at their entrance, and half-a-dozen hands at once roughly grasped mine. Others of those nearest the fire were busily engaged examining with a candle, and lifting off the food cooking there, which they dexterously fished up at the point of sword and bayonet. Hunger appeared the predominant impulse. One man, however, with the characteristic habits of his nation, was very busy treating my dairymaid to certain warm gallantries. These, however, obtained no sympathy or recompense, except a thundering cuff on the side of the head, which must have made the lights dance. The maiden flew out on the wings of fear to join her fellows, and the gay Lothario staggered into the arms of his nearest comrades. Roars of laughter followed his defeat, in which, notwithstanding my peculiar situation, it was impossible not to join. It is scarcely in my power to furnish any adequate idea of the scene |