296 REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO AND FROM CHINA. 
At sunset on the 4th, the greater part of the fleet were in sight, 
proceeding up the channel with a fine top-gallant-sail breeze, with 
thick cloudy weather and light drizzling rain. At the second hour of 
the middle watch (two o’clock in the morning), the officer and men 
who had the “ look-out ” on the forecastle cried, “ A sail on the lar¬ 
board bowand in an instant afterward the same voice cried, “ A sail 
on the starboard bow; ” and in the next instant a dreadful shock was 
felt. All was consternation and dismay. Two-thirds of the crew and 
officers were asleep—all was darkness and uncertainty. The thunder¬ 
ing noise of the best bower cable running out—the noise of the officers 
of both ships giving orders—the calls of our own officers to sound the 
well, and fire signals of distress—the rubbing and crashing of the two 
ships against each other’s sides—was altogether a scene for half an hour 
'which cannot be described. At last our ship was brought up in forty- 
seven fathoms water, which brought us head to wind; and after 
much destruction of the rigging of both ships, the stranger fell off, 
leaving part of her rigging on our deck. We then found that we had 
been run foul of by the Latonci frigate belonging to the grand fleet, 
then beating down the channel on a cruize, after repairing the damage 
sustained in the glorious action of the previous 1st of June. 
When it was found that the ship made no water, orders were given 
that the fore-tackles be got to the night-heads to secure the fore-mast, 
now deprived of its fore-stays (as the Latona had carried away the 
bowsprit, figure-head, both cat-heads, and one anchor which brought us 
up). Before, however, the foremast could be secured, or the cable 
could be cut to get the ship again before the wind—the ship riding 
heavily—the foremast went by the board, falling directly back on the 
mainmast. The fall of the whole now appeared inevitable. . The men 
on the main and mizzen tops were desired to come down, and every one 
on deck were loudly called upon to take care of themselves. At last 
the mainmast also went by the board, carrying with it the mizzen¬ 
mast and every particle of standing rigging abaft. The thundering 
noise of such a weight of masts, yards, rigging, and sails, (which were 
clewed up, but not furled,) all falling in-board, was most appalling. A 
deep silence of a few seconds only succeeded, but neither groans of the 
dying, nor cries of the wounded were heard; for although the deck was 
crowded with people not an instant before the fall of the masts, not a 
man was hurt, the greater number having rushed into the captain’s 
apartments while the masts were falling. 
Two or three men who lingered in the main-top came down there¬ 
with, but luckily falling between the hen-coops on the poop among the 
cordage, escaped with only very slight bruises. The corner of the 
