68 THE SEA. 



examples of this are to be found, than in the story of the loss of the Kent, which we 

 are now about to relate. The disaster of the Medusa, which we shall record later, in which, 

 complete anarchy and disregard of discipline, aggravated a hundredfold the horrors o 

 the situation, only teaches the same lesson from the opposite point of view. Though the- 

 most independent people on the earth, all Englishmen worthy of the name appreciate the 

 value of proper subordination and obedience to those who have rightful authority to com- 

 mand. This was almost the only gratifying feature connected with the loss of the- 

 Vanguard, and the safe and rapid transference of the crew to the Iron Duke was. 

 due to it. But the circumstances of the case were as nought to some that have preceded 

 it, where the difficulties and risks were infinitely greater and the reward much less certain. 

 The Kent was a fine troop-ship, of 1,530 tons, bound from England for Bengal and China:. 

 She had on board 344 soldiers, forty-three women, and sixty-six children. The officers, private 

 passengers, and crew brought the total number on board to 640. After leaving the Downs,, 

 on the 19th of February, 1825, she encountered terrible weather, culminating in a gale on 

 the 1st of March, which obliged them almost to sail under bare poles. The narrative * 

 by Sir Duncan MacGregor, one of the passengers, created an immense sensation at its 

 first appearance, and was translated into almost every language of the civilised world. He 

 states that the rolling of the ship, which was vastly increased by a dead weight of some 

 hundred tons of shot and shells that formed a part of its lading, became so great about 

 half -past eleven or twelve o'clock at night, that the main-chains were thrown by every 

 lurch considerably under water; and the best cleated articles of furniture in the cabin and 

 the cuddy were dashed about in all directions. 



It was a little before this period that one of the officers of the ship, with the well-meant 

 intention of ascertaining that all was fast below, descended with a lantern. He discovered 

 one of the spirit-casks adrift, and sent two or three sailors for some billets of wood to secure' 

 it. While they were absent, he unfortunately dropped the lamp, and letting go his hold 

 of the cask in his eagerness to recover it, the former suddenly stove, and the spirits 

 communicating with the light, the whole deck at that part was speedily in a blaze. The 

 fire spread rapidly, and all their efforts at extinguishing it were vain, although bucket 

 after bucket of water, wet sails and hammocks, were immediately applied. The smoke began, 

 to ascend the hatchway, and although every effort was made to keep the passengers in., 

 ignorance, the terrible news soon spread that the ship was on fire. As long as the devouring 

 element appeared to be confined to the spot where the fire originated, and which they were 

 assured was surrounded on all sides with water-casks, there was some hope that it might 

 be subdued; but soon the light-blue vapour that at first arose was succeeded by volumes,- 

 of thick, dingy smoke, which ascended through all the hatchways and rolled over the ship. 

 A thorough panic took possession of most on board. 



The deck was covered with six hundred men, women, and children, many almost frantic 

 with excitement wives seeking their husbands, children their mothers ; strong men appearing 

 as though their reason was overthrown, weak men maudlin and weeping; many good people 

 on their knees in earnest prayer. Some of the older and more stout-hearted soldiers and 



* "The loss of the Kent, East Indiaman," by Lieut.-General Sir Duncan MacGregor, K.C.B. 



