Perceiving this, and that the boats were likely to be kept waiting until others were sent from the fleet, he solicited, and with much difficulty obtained permission to land a gun from the Maida’s launch, by the following method, which the captain of the beach considered impracticable.
The grapling was thrown over in deep water, with a spring to keep the broadside of the launch on with the beach. The tompion and vent being well secured, a hawser was made fast to the breeching ring of the gun, from the shore. The gun was lying fore-and-aft on the thwarts, a-midships. Two bars were placed projecting over the gunwale of the boat and under the side of the gun, resting on two of the thwarts. Two ropes were brought under the gun, with both ends on shore as a parbuckle. All being ready, and the oars, masts, and sails secured in the boat, the crew were directed to sit firm a-midships, inclining their bodies to the motion of the boat. The order to “pull away” was then given; the gun rolled over the gunwale, bringing it under water, and was quickly dragged on shore. When freed from this heavy weight, the launch righted with a tremendous weather roll, threw up the spray, and all was well again. In this manner every boat landed her gun.
Another difficulty now presented itself. Only one transporting gun-carriage could be obtained, and the seamen employed in dragging the guns were, on rounding the main road, exposed to the enemy’s fire. On this occasion. Lieutenant Tayler’s fertile genius produced a substitute, “by the adoption of which,” said the late Vice-Admiral Billy Douglas, “many brave fellows would have been saved at the Cape of Good Hope.” Sir Charles Hamilton and the late Sir Joseph Yorke likewise, when Lieutenant Tayler submitted his plan to the Admiralty, strongly recommended it, but to no purpose – “it was not the establishment!”
In 1808, when serving on board the Spencer 74, this officer invented a transparent compass, to avoid shewing the light on deck, with a pendulum, hung horizontally, and floated in water to lessen oscillation occasioned by the concussion of the guns or other causes.
