BIOGRAPHY OF THE VICTORY'S CREW. 



CXXXlll 



active, as well as the most powerful man in the ship : he was one of those who volunteered 

 to proceed to the westward, on the first journey with Commander Ross. I had no hesita- 

 tion in recommending him strongly to the Admiralty, and he was accordingly promoted 

 to his Majesty's ship Seringapatam, as a reward for his meritorious services. 



MR. GEORGE TAYLOR, Thikd Mate. 

 Mii. Taylor was born at Lancaster in the year 1800; is five feet four inches and a 

 half high ; has blue eyes, brown hair, and a good complexion. He served his apjjren- 

 ticeship of five years to the trade of a ship carpenter, at Ulverston, in Lancashire, in the 

 building-yard of James Hart, Esq. A short period after his time was served, he entered 

 as carpenter of a merchant vessel, and served three years as second mate and carpenter of 

 the Six Sisters, of Liverpool, employed in the timber trade, and subsequently in another 

 ship belonging to Hull, before he joined the Victory steam-vessel, where I found him 

 doing duty as master when I purchased her at Liverpool. He volunteered m the first 

 instance to carry the vessel to London, where he was employed while the vessel was 

 fitting out, and behaved himself so well that I made him third mate. In 1830, while on 

 a journey with Commander Ross, he got his right foot frostbitten ; and being in the first 

 instance neglected, ended in the amputation of his foot, two inches above the toes, since 

 which he was unable to do any active duty, but was nevertheless very usefiil. He could 

 walk very little during the remaining three years, and he had often to be carried on the 

 sledge on our march from Victoria harbour to Fury beach. In 18;32, on leaving Batty, 

 on the 1st of October, we attempted to carry him on the substitute for a sledge, which we 

 made fi-om the staves of casks ; but being quite unable, we were obliged to leave him 

 twice, and I myself returned with the empty sledge to bring him, for which he was always 

 grateful. He was one of the most trusty I had of the crew, and was the person who 

 detected William Light, the steward, purloining my allowance of provisions. When he 

 returned home I provided for him a situation in the Dock-yard, but he preferred goin<r 

 to Liverpool, where his wife and family were, and had been supported by Sir Felix Booth 

 in his absence. 



MR. CHIMHAM THOMAS, Carpenter. 

 Mk. Thomas was born at Devonport in 1792; was five feet three inches high, blue 

 eyes, and sallow complexion. His father was a caulker in his Majesty's Dock-yard at 



