196 ST. BRANDON'S SHOALS. [1846. 



be one of the defective ships, what would the new class 

 be doing ? The late Admiral Hayes, one of the best 

 seamen, and probably the best builder that we had, ob- 

 served to me on taking the command of the ' Etna ', in 

 1830, " My dear sir, never mind her mould ; you can get 

 the best out of a washing-tub, and no more ; 1 will tell 

 you what that ship can do; 10 off the wind, 8. 6 close 

 hauled." He was correct ; nor could we effect more in 

 the ' Sulphur ' with similar lines and tonnage. A great 

 deal may be said, and written, about the qualities of diffe- 

 rent ships, but I perfectly coincide with the opinion of 

 Admiral Hayes, that where vessels differ but slightly in 

 their forms they may easily be made sea-worthy, and 

 their best sailing elicited, either by the placing, or raking, 

 of the masts, ballast, or general stowage. So much did 

 he reckon upon this assertion, that he offered to take the 

 losing ship where their capabilities at all approached 

 anything like equality, and make her hold her own, or 

 conquer her opponent. 



On the 5th of August, under strong breezes, and with 

 an unpleasant sea, we entered upon the limits assigned 

 to St. Brandon's Shoals, varying, by different authorities, 

 between 120 and 150 miles easterly from the main body 

 of the Cargados Garajos. Officers aloft, and the look-out 

 men at the mast-heads were unable to trace any appear- 

 ance of reefs, or discoloured water, nor were we able to 

 obtain soundings with 150 fathoms, in the space between 

 us and the Cargados. 



Our visit to this region, in order to examine this group 

 was directed in consequence of the wreck of the ship 

 ' Letitia ', which had run upon Frigate Island, owing to 



