cxii 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



pieces, and driven overboard by the shock. The 

 Pollux instantly became a wreck, with her parts 

 amid-ships stove in ; and it was evident that she 

 had but a very little time to float. 



I found my family all around me ; and 

 having slipped on and inflated my life-preserver, 

 I entreated them to be cool and temperate, and 

 they all obeyed me most implicitly. My little 

 boy had gone down on his knees, and was 

 praying fervently to the blessed Virgin to take 

 us under her protection, whilst Miss Edmon- 

 stone kept crying out in a tone of deep anxiety, 

 " Oh, save the poor boy, and never mind me ! " 



Sad and woeful was the scene around us. 

 The rush to get into the Monjibello, which, 

 thanks to Charles Bonaparte (Prince Canino) 

 was still alongside of us, caused unutterable 

 confusion. Some were pulled up on deck by the 

 passengers and crew of the Monjibello ; others 

 managed to get on board of her without help ; 

 and others ran to and fro, bereft of all self- 

 command ; whilst our damaged vessel herself 

 was sinking deeper and deeper every minute 

 into her watery grave. 



Confiding in my valuable life-preserver, I 

 remained on board the Pollux till nearly all 



