THE SOUTH DEVON 



MONTHLY MUSEUM. 



PLYMOUTH, FEBRUARY 1st, 1836. 

 No. 38.] Price Sixpence. [Vol. VII. 



THE WRECK OF THE BUTTON. 



On the 26th of January, 1796, when the Indefati- 

 gable was lying in Iiamoaze, after having been 

 docked, the Button, a large East Indiaman, em- 

 ployed in the transport service, on her way to the 

 West Indies, with part of the 2nd, or Queen's regi- 

 ment, was driven into Plymouth by stress of weather. 

 She had been out seven weeks, and had many sick 

 on board. The gale increasing in the afternoon, it 

 was determined to run for greater safety to Catwater ; 

 but the buoy, at the extremity of the reef off Mount 

 Batten, having broke adrift, of which the pilots 

 were not aware, she touched on the shoal, and car- 

 ried away her rudder. Thus rendered unmanageable, 

 she fell off, and grounded under the Citadel, where, 

 beating round, she lay rolling heavily with her broad- 

 side to the waves. At the second roll, she threw all 

 her masts overboard together. 



Sir Edward and Lady Pellew were engaged to 

 dine on that day, with Dr. Hawker, the excellent 

 vicar of Charles, who had becorae acquainted with 

 Mr. Pellew, when they were serving together at 

 Plymouth, as surgeons to the marines, and continued 

 through hfe the intimate and valued friend of all the 

 brothers. Sir Edward noticed the crowds running 

 to the Hpe, and having learned the cause, he sprang 

 out of his carriage, and ran off with the rest. Ar- 

 rived at the beach, he saw at once that the loss of 

 VOL. VII.— 1836. G 



