to follow them, she had met with some severe misfortune. She had been manned by a part of the Lion’s crew; and their former companions, who knew not then of Great Britain being at war, could not have even the consolation of supposing their friends, though captive, yet alive. The joy of seeing her was very general: she had, in fact, been damaged in the beginning of the voyage, returned into port to repair, and afterwards used every diligence to re-join the ships. She was obliged to stop for refreshments at Madeira, where she arrived a short time after the Lion had left it. She pursued the latter to St. Jago, which she reached, likewise, some days too late. From thence to North Island she did not once come to anchor. She was what navigators call a good sea-boat, being compactly built, and little liable to perish by mere foul weather; but neither did she afford much shelter against the hardships of a rough voyage, or make her way so quickly as larger vessels against violent waves. Her provisions were damaged by salt water; and her crew were reduced to a very scanty pittance when she joined the Lion. Mr. Sanders, who commanded her, got much credit for his conduct throughout the voyage[1].”
On his return to England, in Sept. 1794, Mr. Sanders was recommended for promotion by Lord Macartney; and soon after advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in the Prince George, of 98 guns, which ship formed part of Lord Bridport’s fleet at
- ↑ The Lion, on her passage from Batavia to North Island, struck upon a knoll in three fathoms water, with six or seven fathoms all round it. Had the knoll risen nearer to the surface, the accident might have been attended with serious consequences; and the want of a tender was now much felt, as she might have preceded the ships, and sounded the depth of water in any unknown or suspected place The East India Company’s Commissioners at Canton had destined two small vessels for this purpose; but in their late despatches to Lord Macartney, received by him at Batavia, they expressed their regret that those vessels were still otherwise employed. It appeared, that, even should the Jackall join, another vessel would still be useful; and his Lordship sent back to Batavia to purchase such a one as the service required; to which, as a mark of respect to the Duke of Clarence, H.R.H.’s name was given. The seeds of dangerous diseases had by this time taken root on board the Lion and Hindostan; and the evil consequences of a long voyage in so small a vessel, with a very limited allowance of food, and that not of the most wholesome description, began to shew themselves among the Jackall’s crew immediately after their arrival, although no previous signs of debility had been exhibited by them: their cases, however, soon yielded to the kind treatment they experienced, aided by salutary refreshments; whilst by moving to different parts of the coasts of Java and Sumatra, in order to find out the healthiest and coolest spot, the number of persons on the, sick-lists of the Lion and Hindostan was gradually reduced.
