MEMOIR OF HER MAJESTY'S STEAM SHIP THE MEDEA. ' 91 



The ships now proceeded towards Vourla, where they arrived on the 14th of February, 

 the steam not being used on board the Medea during the passage, she having sailed 

 186 miles in one day, for 19 hours of which a straight course was made within 6 points from 

 the wind. 



It is worthy of observation, that on the crew becoming expert in " working " the ship, and 

 as the various modifications incidental to her new character as a sailing ship were adopted by 

 the skill of the commander and officers, she improved in all points ; and thus we find, on this, 

 her second passage of any length with the sailing ships, it was not found necessary to light 

 the fires at all, although they met with every variety of weather from a calm to near a gale, 

 and contrary as well as fair winds were experienced. 



During the return voyage with the admiral to Malta, which occupied from the 7th to the 

 20th of March, an attempt was made to navigate the ship with the lower paddles removed, 

 without unconnecting the shaft; and in light winds some advantage was perceptible. They were, 

 however, re-attached before the end of the passage, and the wheels allowed to revolve as 

 heretofore. 



On the 12th of May the fleet again left Malta and proceeded to Salamis. During the light 

 winds that occurred on this route, the Medea was not able to keep up with the sailing ships, 

 and at times lost sight of them, the "way " of the vessel being insufficient in several instances, 

 from the faintness of the wind, to cause the revolution of the wheels. On this occasion, as also 

 on many others, she went to sea with her full complement of coals and stores on board, and 

 was consequently much immersed in the water, which would considerably influence her 

 sailing qualities, particularly in light winds. It appears that her best sailing trim was, (as in 

 the trial of the 6th July, 1837, to which we shall afterwards refer,) when about 100 tons 

 short ; and if we consider how easily this or even a much larger quantity of coals would, 

 without inconvenience, be carried in bags distributed among the large ships of a squadron, it 

 will hardly be said she is unable to accompany a fleet on distant service without using steam. 

 Thus, for instance, she certainly might have attended Lord Nelson on his celebrated chase to 



that epidemic appearing on board. Immediately on the arrival of the ship being known, she was ordered by the 

 authorities to proceed to the lazaretto either at Standgate Creek or Milford, it being contrary to law, for any vessel 

 having a malignant disease on board, to remain in a port unprovided with such an establishment. The wind was 

 blowing so strong from the south-west, and causing such a high sea, that it was impossible for the ship to " beat" out 

 of the Sound for the purpose of proceeding to either of the above-mentioned places ; but the inhabitants of the town 

 and neighbourhood were so much alarmed that the port-admiral was requested to afford a steamer, in order that, if 

 possible, she might be towed to sea, though the force of the wind and waves rendered the experiment extremely 

 doubtful. The only government steam-vessel at that time in Plymouth harbour was the Firebrand, a new Medi- 

 terranean packet ; and although this vessel was at the time undergoing some refitment at the dock -yard, the case was 

 considered of such importance, that she was immediately prepared for service, the fires were lighted, and in a very short 

 time she was anchored in the Sound about half a cables' length a-head of the transport's buoy, the sea at that time 

 making a fair breach over the bows of the latter vessel. The steamer having been veered tolerably near to the ship, 

 proper ropes were attached, and the paddles being set in motion, she was thus assisted up to her anchor; both vessels 

 weighed at the same time, and though the progress was at first so slow that near an hour elapsed before the breakwater 

 was passed, yet in little more than four hours the ship was towed a sufficient distance from the land to enable her to 

 prosecute her voyage under sail alone, and the steamer returned into port. It is proper to state that the Firebrand is 

 a vessel of 550 tons, and had at that time engines of only 140 horse power, constructed by the Butterly Company, 

 and was then fitted with the old radial wheel, which is certainly not so well adapted for towing ships as the verti- 

 cally-acting paddle invented by Mr. Morgan. 



