448 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



insufficient: Carteret's discoveries were of the highest interest 

 in a geographical point of view. He was a worthy predecessor 

 of Cook ; and his achievements with a crazy ship and a disabled 

 crew prepared the public mind for the researches which his 

 already distinguished successor would be enabled to make 

 with the carefully equipped expedition which had lately started 

 under his command. 



A harrowing incident which occurred at sea about this time 

 produced a painful sensation throughout Europe. The French 

 man-of-war Le Prince, being on her way from Lorient to Pon- 

 dicherry by way of Cape Horn, was discovered to be on fire. 

 Smoke was noticed ascending almost imperceptibly from one 

 of the hatchways. The usual measures were promptly taken, 

 eighty marines being placed on duty with loaded muskets to 

 enforce obedience from the crew. The pumps and buckets were 

 totally inadequate to master the now raging flames; while the 

 fresh water, set running from the casks, was of equally little 

 service. The yawl, by the captain's orders, had been lowered: 

 seven men seized it and rowed rapidly away. Of the other 

 boats, two were burned, and one was swamped as it touched the 

 water. The consternation now became general ; and the despair- 

 ing shrieks of the dying, mingled with the cries !>f the affrighted 

 animals on board, rendered the scene one of terrible confusion. 

 The chaplain "went about, granting a general absolution, and 

 extending the remission of their sins even to those who, to 

 avoid death by fire, committed suicide by leaping into the sea. 

 There were six women on board, two of them the cousins of the 

 captain. They were lowered into the water upon hen-coops, the 

 captain bidding them an eternal farewell, as it was his duty and 

 his determination to perish with the ship. 



The water was now alive with human beings, clinging to 

 spars, oars, barrels, and other floating materials. Upon one spar 

 were nine men, who had escaped the fury of one element, and 

 were calmly awaiting the fate which they were expecting from 



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