1829.] ■ Life and Services of Captain Philip Beaver. 31 



eeneraUy covered with wood, though there are some natural savannahs, 

 and a few clear spaces, affording ample pasturage to innumerable ele- 

 phants, deer, buffaloes, and other wild animals. The soil is ricn and 

 fertile, producing a vegetation so luxuriant, that in the gardens ot the 

 new settlers, various vegetables, sufficient for half a dozen such colonies 

 were speedily produced. From this abundance, and its geographical 

 position, it was inferred that Bulama was well calculated for the growth 

 of cotton, indigo, tobacco, coffee and sugar, of the finest qualities. Ihere 

 can be little doubt that, under circumstances so favourable, it the new 

 settlers had received even very moderate assistance, their enterprise 

 must have been crowned with abundant success. It turned out, how- 

 ever very differently. The ill assorted persons, whom a love ot vanity, 

 or some less excusable motives, had induced to join the expedition, grew 

 diso-usted with the labour and difficulties that presented themselves. 

 Some of them returned home, others fell under the consequences of their 

 own imprudence and want of caution; and, after two years of unremit- 

 ting exertion, and patient endurance of almost every kind ot hardship 

 Captain Beaver found himself obhged to sail for England with the ill 

 news of his failure, and not only without recompense, but with the loss 

 of his half-pay during the whole period of his absence. The good sense 

 and discretion which he had evinced, and the influence those qualities had 

 procured for him over the intractable spirits by which he was surrounded, 

 proved, however, that nothing was wanting on his part to have insureds 

 very different termination to his undertaking. 



On his return to England he was appointed first lieutenant of the 

 Stately, and was at the taking of the Cape in August 179o. In tlie 

 course of the same service he made the acquaintance of hir (x. K. ±.1- 

 phinstone, in consequence of a remarkable display of presence ot mind 

 and seamanship : — 



" Havinff recruited the health of their crews, the Stately, Rattlesnake, and 

 Echo, sailed for the Cape of Good Hope; and on the 10th of August per- 

 ceived the squadron of Sir G. K. Elpbuistone, beating off Agulhas in a hard 

 gale of wind, with a high sea. Two hours after having joined, the Stately 

 beinff on the starboard tack, under close reefed topsails and foresail, was so 

 suddenly and furiously assailed by a violent squall, as to be thrown nearly 

 on her beam ends, with rapid stern way, and all her sails flvnig in ribands. 

 In this dilemma, the admirable conduct of Mr. Beaver, who, from the indis- 

 position of the captain, was carrying on the deck duty, excited the applause 

 of all the squadron. While many of the spectators considered her as lost, 

 she wa3 righted, wore, and rounded to on the other tack, with seatnan-like 

 precision; and was soon after near her station, under anew foresail and 

 balanced mizen. This smart evolution attracted the particular attention of 

 the admiral, who had already noticed our officer's exertions at Muyzenburg. 



In June, 1799, he received his captain's commission, and was appointed 

 to the Dolphin, 44 guns, which vessel he soon afterwards left for the 

 Aurora, and having joined Lord Keith on the Mediterranean station, was 

 appointed assistant captain of the fleet, a post which, considering his 

 years and standing, was a most flattering mark of the admiral s confi- 

 dence, and which was rendered still more gratifying by the un- 

 qualified terms of approbation in which this appointment was signified 

 to him, and to the whole fleet. It was during this service that he distin- 

 guished himself in the attack on Genoa, which was bombarded by the 

 English fleet, and which was then reduced to such a state of famine and 



