CRUISE WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON. 347 



the opinion on bonrd is, that she will, in another week or so, beat 

 all opponents. The day was fine, and the sight beautiful, as we 

 cruised along the white cliffs of Dover, and then well over towards 

 the French coast. At sunset we returned before the wind to the 

 Downs, and the squadron (' Vernon,' ' Snake,' ' Pantaloon,' and 

 ' Clown') cast anchor off Deal, surrounded by a great number of 

 vessels. 



" Tuesday, the *lih. — The squadron left their anchorage before 

 Deal about twelve o'clock, with a strong breeze ; the ' Clown' and 

 'Pantaloon' being to windward of the ' Vernon,' and the ' Snake' 

 rather to leeward. This position was retained for nearly two hours, 

 when the ' Snake' dropped considerably astern, and the ' Vernon' 

 weathered the 'Pantaloon,' the ' Clown' still keeping to windward 

 and crossing our bows. At this juncture it blew hard, and I went 

 down with Collier and Symonds to dinner in their cabin. The ' Ver- 

 non' was now left in charge of the first lieutenant, and in tacking 

 missed stays. The 'Snake' and 'Pantaloon' immediately w r ent to 

 windward, and we were last of all. It still blew very fresh, and in 

 about two hours we again headed the squadron, all but the ' Clown,' 

 who continued first all along. Towards sunset the wind came off 

 the land, where the ' Snake' and ' Pantaloon' wei*e, and brought 

 them to windward of us about two miles, and so ended the day's 

 trial, with alternate success. The 'Snake' and 'Pantaloon' then 

 came down by signal under the ' Vernon's' stern, and we continued 

 all night in company under easy sail, the wind having slackened, 

 and the moon beings clear and bright. 



" Wednesday, 8th. — At seven o'clock found ourselves ofi" Beachy 

 Head, with the ' Clown' a long way to leeward, the ' Snake' to wind- 

 ward, aud the ' Pantaloon' in our wake. The wind had shifted 

 during the night, and we had the advantage of it. But towards 

 morning it had fallen, and we made but two knots an hour. The 

 calm continued during the day, and we made but little way. Early 

 in the afternoon a miserable accident occurred. The crew were up 

 aloft lowering the main top-gallant yard. It is a spar about seventy 

 feet long, and about sixty feet above the deck. As it was coming 

 down, a man slid along it to release a rope from a block, when, by 

 some mistake, the men above cut the rope he was holding by, and 

 in sight of us all he descended with great velocity, clinging to the 

 spar till he came to the end of it, and then with outstretched arms 



