4-pounders and 50 men[1]. He subsequently commanded the Arab of 22 guns, on the Boulogne and African stations. His conduct in an action with a Dutch flotilla, off Cape Grisnez, July 18, 1805, was handsomely noticed by Commodore Owen as will be seen by reference to p. 131 et seq. of this volume; and it may not be amiss to add, as a circumstance highly flattering to the Arab’s officers and crew, that on the following day, she received three cheers from the Immortalité, after the ceremony of burying their dead.
During this action, a large shell struck the Arab’s mainmast-head, carried away part of the top, and every thing that came in its way, and finally lodged on the gun-deck. A sailor, named Clorento, with the most admirable coolness, instantly endeavoured to extract the fuse, which Mr. Edward M. Mansell, Master’s-Mate, observing, and being more aware of the danger of a moment’s delay, he instantly, with the assistance of Clorento and two other seamen, got it out of a port, and a few seconds after the people quartered in the well and wings were alarmed with the idea of the ship having struck on a rock, so great were the effects and concussion from its explosion in the water. This accident did not for one moment interrupt the fire, not even of the two guns between which the shell fell; nor was any one acquainted with the danger they escaped, by the intrepidity of Mr. Mansell and his assistants, till some time afterwards, except those quartered nearest the spot; as the violent shock the ship received, in her then situation, could be and was imputed to various other causes. We mention this as an instance of the good discipline prevailing among her crew[2].
Captain Maxwell’s next appointment was, about Jan. 1809, to the Nymphen a 36-gun frigate; and in the course of the same year, the Society of Arts, &c. presented him with their gold medal for a valuable communication on telegraphs and telegraphic signals.
The Nymphen formed part of the frigate squadron, under
- ↑ See Captain Nicholas Lockyer, C.B.
- ↑ The Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s voted Mr. Mansell 50l. and the three seamen 30l. each, for their exertions in the affair of the shell: 125l. received from the same source, were afterwards distributed among her wounded men, eight in number.
