EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 481 



foundered in the gale, and the Lightning had the misfortune to run on shore, but was 

 got off with the loss of part of her keel and gripe ; notwithstanding, she made the 

 voyage in safety, continued at sea for two months after the accident, and did not 

 leak in any part, was taken into dock, her keels and gripe replaced, and damages 

 made good. 



In the month of December following the Lightning sailed from Falmouth on the 

 same day as her Majesty's steamer Columbia ; in the course of the day she passed 

 her, the wind blew very hard and increased to one of the most tempestuous gales 

 that had been known for several seasons ; so severe was the wind that the Columbia 

 was obliged to put back, and from the situation in which she left the Lightning, 

 considered the latter had foundered ; but the Lightning proceeded on till she arrived 

 at Corunna, and from thence to Lisbon. On her way to the latter place, when 

 about forty miles distant from it, she discovered a vessel in distress under the rock 

 firing guns, being on a lee shore ; the Lightning immediately went to her assistance, 

 and found her to be H. M. brig Plover, of ten guns, which had sailed from Fal- 

 mouth eight days before the Lightning ; she towed her off from the land, and leaving 

 her with a good offing continued on for Lisbon, there delivered her dispatches to the 

 admiral, and returning to the Plover, again took her in tow and conducted her 

 safely into port. 



In October, 1834, the Lightning ran over the Coal Rock, near Elsinore, going 

 between eight and nine knots ; this had about a foot less water over it than her 

 draught, but she was brought up against and hung by the middle upon another 

 rock, where she remained ten hours, dropping and rising head and stern succes- 

 sively. The consequence was that her gripe, part of the fore piece of keel, and 

 midship piece, by which she was hung on the rocks, were carried away, the whole 

 of her keel all fore and aft about two or three inches from the under side against the 

 rocks ; after getting off in this injured state, she experienced a heavy gale of wind, 

 which lasted four days, and from which she sought shelter at Heligoland, but there 

 she parted both her cables and was driven to sea ; although the sea was running 

 as high as her funnel, she shipped nothing but spray ; at the same time the Superb, 

 a common built steamer, was lost. It was observed by those on board the Light- 

 ning, that while on the rocks and in the gale she did not work or strain in any 

 part ; not a seam or a butt opened, nor was even the pitch broken in any place ; no 

 sign whatever of altering her form but remained perfectly tight. On repairing the 

 keel it was found, on removing the damaged part, that it was quite dry within, 

 and no water had penetrated into the hull of the vessel ; the calking of the seams 

 and wood ends, notwithstanding the heavy shock in dislodging the gripe and keel, 

 was hard and sound and not started in the least, thus proving the strength of the 



3 P 



