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Untitled Article
and sustained , or resting , on the ridges of the dense and massy vapours alone . The ensigns are partially enveloped in the clouds ; so much of them as is visible shivering in the multiplied concussions , as though they fluttered in the anticipation of victory , or trembled in the expectation of defeat . And ever and anon , amid the breaks of the cannons' peal , the shrieks and cries
of the wounded , mingling with the deep roar of the out-poured and constantly reiterated * hurra ! hurra ! hurra !* a chorus of cataracts , sweep over the rippled smiles of the patient , passionless , and unconscious sea . Sulphur and fire , agony , death , and horror , are riding and revelling on its bosom ; yet how gently , brightly playful is its face ! To see and hear this ! what a maddening of
the brain it causes ! yet it is a delirium of joy ; a very fury of delight ! And that loud exulting shout again , which now beginning at once in each , is echoed and reduplicated from ship to ship , announces more destruction , more human slaughter : yes , two other of the gun-boats are gone down ; many men with them sink to death in the whirlpools : and the poor wretches them sink to death in the whirlpools ; and the poor wretches
who are scattered on the waste of waters , amidst descending missiles , are swimming for their comrades' vessels , in the agony of fading hope ; some scramble onboard safely ; others , too distant , are struggling for life . ' Lower the quarter boats ; cutters and yawlers away , and pick as many up as you can ; ' and in a few minutes our boats are among the poor fellows . Fifteen are thus saved , and brought on board ; yet to be prisoners . ' Hurra ,
hurra ! ' another rattling cheer rings upon the air , and rolls through the welkin . They are off—scudding for the shore , to get under the batteries of Rota . After them we go , ploughing the fore air with fire and iron , whenever a gun can be brought to bear . In a few minutes the storm bursts anew ,, and with increased fury and force , for the gun-boats have formed in line under the land , and Rota opens upon us . Attend to the leadsman in the chains : hechaunts out in a clear high tone , ( and a half three , ' twentyone feet of water ! and the ship draws nineteen ! if w T e stand on a
minute longer we shall be hard and fast , and they may do what they please with us—so , ' Ready , about , down with the helm ! let them have the broadside while she ' s in stays ! ' So said , so done : and now , wheeled round on the starboard tack , let her fall off , to lie beam on to the land , with her nose snuffing Cadiz harbour : here we continue oouriii ^ it after them as loner as a shot can reach : here we continue pouring it after them as long as a shot can reach
; till having retreated to the edge of the surf , the gun-boats are directl y under the shelter of the batteries , which the guns of the A- cannot reach : but Grasshopper and Mercury , being of less draught , close in , and receive to themselves our share of the good things which are there distributed , and we cannot avail ourselves of the bounty . But now , out boats—man them , and away to pick ll p as many as possible of the dispersed vessels , which are endeavouring to escape under the smoke into the harbour . While we
Untitled Article
Autobiography of Pel . Verjuice . 221
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1834, page 221, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2631/page/65/
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