xcviii MEMOIR 



captain, without waiting to sound, began to make an effort to 

 put the ship over what was supposed to be a sandbank ; but by 

 the time soundings were made, this was found to be impossible, 

 and he had only been jamming the poor Elba faster on a rock. 

 Now every effort was made to get her astern, an anchor taken 

 out, a rope brought to a winch I had for the cable, and the 

 engines backed ; but all in vain. A small Turkish Government 

 steamer, which is to be our consort, came to our assistance but 

 of course very slowly, and much time was occupied before we 

 could get a hawser to her. I could do no good after having 

 made a chart of the soundings round the ship, and went at 

 last on to the bridge to sketch the scene. But at that moment 

 the strain from the winch and a jerk from the Turkish steamer 

 got off the boat, after we had been some hours aground. The 

 carpenter reported that she had made only two inches of water 

 in one compartment ; the cable was still uninjured astern, and 

 our spirits rose ; when, will you believe it ? after going a short 

 distance astern, the pilot ran us once more fast aground on 

 what seemed to me nearly the same spot. The very same 

 scene was gone through as on the first occasion, and dark came 

 on whilst the wind shifted, and we were still aground. Dinner 

 was served up but poor Mr. Liddell could eat very little ; and 

 bump, bump, grind, grind, went the ship fifteen or sixteen 

 times as we sat at dinner. The slight sea however did enable 

 us to bump off, This morning we appear not to have suffered 

 in any way ; but a sea is rolling in, which a few hours ago would 

 have settled the poor old Elba. 



4 June . 



' The Alexandria cable has again failed ; after paying out 

 two thirds of the distance successfully, an unlucky touch in 

 deep water snapped the line. Luckily the accident occurred in 

 Mr. Liddell's watch. Though personally it may not really concern 

 me, the accident weighs like a personal misfortune. Still I am 

 glad I was present : a failure is probably more instructive than 

 a success ; and this experience may enable us to avoid misfortune 

 in still greater undertakings. 



