The Merry Past 



enemy's shot may be distributed in the same propor- 

 tion as the prize-money — the greatest part among the 

 officers." 



Whilst the great admirals and captains received a 

 full measure of praise, many humble heroes who dis- 

 played almost superhuman courage have now passed out 

 of recollection. Such a one was David Bartleman, 

 master of the brig " Alexander and Margaret," of 

 North Shields, who on the 31st day of January, 178 1, 

 on the Norfolk coast, with only three 3-pounders and 

 ten men and boys, nobly defended himself against a 

 cutter carrying eighteen 4-pounders and upwards of 

 one hundred men, commanded by the notorious 

 English pirate, " Fall," and fairly beat him off. Two 

 hours afterwards the enemy came down upon him 

 again, when totally disabled. His mate, Daniel 

 M'Auley, expiring with the loss of blood, and himself 

 dangerously wounded, he was obliged to strike and 

 ransom. He brought his shattered vessel into Yar- 

 mouth with more than the honours of a conqueror, 

 and died there in consequence of his wounds on the 

 14th day of February following, in the twenty-fifth 

 year of his age. 



Crowds flocked to see the *' Alexander and Mar- 

 garet " in the harbour, where she lay riddled with 

 shot, a mere wreck, whilst the house in which the 

 gallant Bartleman expired was for some time a local 

 centre of interest. 



This hero was terribly wounded ; his death pro- 

 ceeded from a shot which struck part of his large 

 shoe-buckle into his foot, which gangrened and 



114 



