MEMOIR OF HER MAJESTY'S STEAM SHIP THE MEDEA. 93 



her remaining with the fleet did not prevent her outsailing them in the night, and the next 

 morning they were out of sight. The vessel now prosecuted her voyage alone, and reached 

 Malta on the 14th, two days before the rest of the ships. We have said that the wind was 

 strong and contrary during a considerable part of the route : the fact is therefore extraordinary 

 that a steamer should thus, under sail, with paddles revolving loosely in the water, beat a 

 fleet of good sailing ships of war two days out of a passage of only six, over a distance of little 

 more than 300 miles ; and although from her light draught of water the former had a slight 

 advantage in being able to "tack" closer into the Italian shore than the large vessels would 

 venture, yet in the open sea, on which the greater part of the voyage was made, this was 

 against her; and the performance is altogether so extraordinary that nothing short of the 

 testimony before us would give it the character of truth. Nor can the success of the Medea 

 be attributed to her having got into a different vein of wind than that encountered by the 

 squadron, as we find, on the first day, the steamer shortened sail to keep company, and only 

 lost sight of the ships by her superior sailing on a dark night. It is fair to add, that on this 

 occasion she had not above 150 tons of coal on board, which, however, was sufficient to work 

 the engine for eight days, and might have carried her over 1600 miles of a steaming 

 voyage. 



We now proceed to give an account of the most interesting cruize performed by this ship 

 during her services in the Mediterranean. 



The king of Bavaria, having contemplated a visit to his son Otho, who occupied the throne 

 of Greece, and had recently removed the seat of government from Nauplia de Romania to 

 Athens, requested fit means of transport on board an English vessel of war from Ancona to the 

 shores of Attica. In order to show as much honour as possible to the father of the young 

 sovereign, whom the British power had been so mainly instrumental in raising to his eminent 

 yet difficult position, the Portland, of 52 guns, was directed to proceed to the coast of 

 Italy to receive the King on board, and the Medea was ordered to the same destination to 

 attend the frigate in the performance of this service. 



The Portland, being at Corfu, received the directions of the Admiralty, by an over-land 

 despatch, sufficiently early to enable her to leave that island two days before the Medea could 

 proceed from Malta, to which place her orders were conveyed by steam-packet from England, 

 yet, although the voyage was of double length, she reached Ancona three days before the 

 frigate, having steamed the whole distance against a continued contrary wind at the rate of 

 eight miles an hour. The King of Bavaria at once determined on making the passage in the 

 steamer ; but being aware that the Portland had been despatched on purpose to receive him, 

 awaited her arrival, and on the evening of the 3rd of December embarked on board that ship, 

 thus affording a better opportunity for a display of the pomp and ceremony usual on such 

 occasions. The Medea, having taken the frigate in tow, proceeded out of the harbour, and 

 immediately both ships were clear of the land the King removed into the steamer, which then 

 prosecuted her voyage alone. 



The mild autumnal weather which so frequently prevails in the Levant, then shed its 

 influence over the whole of that region, and scarce a ripple disturbed the surface of the 

 Adriatic or jEgean seas. 



The first and second night, and also the intermediate day, were passed on the broad waters 



