Early in the spring of 1799, a large convoy of transports and
merchantmen sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, with troops and stores
for the siege of Seringapatam. The Sceptre, 64 guns, commanded by
Captain Valentine Edwards, was appointed to the sole charge of the
convoy, and to take Sir David Baird and the whole of the 84th regiment
on board. The Sceptre may, perhaps, have been the only king's ship
then at the Cape; it is certain that she had been an unusual length of
time on that station, and had become so weak and leaky as to be hardly
sea-worthy, when she was dispatched on this important service.
Happily, the insecure state of the vessel induced extreme watchfulness
on the part of both officers and men, and all went on well till she
had made about two-thirds of her way, when one night a brisk gale
sprung up, which increased in violence so rapidly, that the officers
of the watch felt some anxiety on account of the unusual strain upon
the ship. Captain Edwards ordered the well to be sounded, and the
result confirming his apprehensions, the pumps were manned in an
incredibly short time, every one on board being aroused to a sense of
danger.
Lieutenant the Honourable Alexander Jones had been relieved from the
first watch, and had retired to his berth about an hour before without
any misgivings. He was suddenly awakened by the alarming cry that the
ship was sinking, and the call of 'all hands,' He sprang up, and in a
few moments joined the group of officers, naval and military,
assembled on the quarter-deck. Anxiety was depicted on every
countenance; for although the pumps were worked incessantly, the
soldiers taking their turn with the sailors, the water was still
gaining on them fast; and even whilst the men relieved each other, it
rose several inches. But when human efforts were unavailing, the hand
of Providence was stretched out to save. The wind fell as suddenly as
it had risen, and after many hours of hard labour, the water was got
under, and the vessel was considered comparatively safe.
Had the Sceptre gone down that night, hundreds and hundreds of
England's best and bravest defenders must have sunk into a watery
grave, and in all probability the enemy's ships, which were hovering
upon the track of the convoy, would have got possession of the
transports and merchantmen; and even the success of our arms in India
might have been seriously affected.
A few weeks after the gale we have mentioned, the Sceptre and her
convoy arrived safely at Bombay. She was there put into dock and
repaired, and was strengthened by having large timbers, technically
termed riders, bolted diagonally on either side, fore and aft.
When again fit for sea, she returned to Table Bay, and anchored there
about the middle of October.
On the 1st of November, the captain and officers gave a ball to the
inhabitants of Cape Town, and on that night the ship presented an
appearance of unusual gaiety; mirth and music resounded on all sides;
in place of the stern voice of command, the laugh, the jest, and the
soft tones of woman's voice were heard; whilst many a light footstep
glided over the decks of the old ship.
The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men;
A thousand hearts beat happily; and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell,
Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again,
And all went merry as a marriage bell.