by John Marshall

“ Early on the following morning, we fell in with a Danish brig, and put two officers and some seamen into her, to beat to windward, to endeavour to save as many of the people as might be still clinging to the wreck – but without effect. We afterwards continued our course to Maretima, and arrived there on the 21st. The next day we started for Trapani, in Sicily; where, finding a small vessel bound to Malta, we embarked, and arrived at Valetta on the 25th, after encountering all the horrors of a shipwreck, as dreadful, perhaps, in its consequences, as was ever experienced. ”

“ On the 28th, Lieutenant Little, and his officers and crew, were tried by court-martial, and all fully acquitted. In the course of the evidence it appeared, that the schooner was anchored in clear ground, and partly sheltered by the Breakwater; that when she struck, the staysail was hoisted, which laid her broadside to the rocks: and by good management on the part of Lieutenant Little, the crew were all saved except one man, William Kells, who was crushed to death by the side of the vessel in getting on shore ”

“ During Napoleon’s 100 days’ war, he carried despatches to various places; and, after the battle of Waterloo, having removed into the Telegraph schooner, received the thanks of his commander-in-chief for his successful exertions in raising men at Bristol, for the fleet going against Algiers. On paying off the Whiting, he was presented with a service of plate by her officers and crew. On the morning of Jan. 20th, 1817, the Telegraph was wrecked under the Eastern Hoe, Plymouth, in the same violent gale of wind which proved fatal to the Jasper sloop and Princess Mary packet [8] . ”

“ I accordingly, at the moment the launch (full of people) was bearing up before the wind, leapt into the sea, and succeeded in gaining the boat, and providentially escaped the unhappy catastrophe of the remaining officers and crew, 347 in number, who, I lament to say, most probably perished that night, as the wind continued to increase after she first struck, and the next day it blew stronger. ”

“ There was a compass; and for sails the officers displayed their shirts, and the seamen their frocks. One of the officers put on board the Danish brig was Lieutenant Little, whoso attempt to save more of his shipmates was unhappily frustrated by violent and adverse winds. In Jan. 1807, Lieutenant Little was appointed first of the Revenge 74, Captain Sir John Gore, under whom he served “as an able, zealous, and meritorious officer,” until Aug. ”

“ At this time, ll-30 p.m., there being but little hope of the ship holding together till the morning, I urged Captain Raynsford to save himself by swimming to the launch, but in vain – he declaring to me that he was perfectly resigned to his fate, and determined not to quit his post whilst a man remained ”