“Soon after three o’clock, as the captain was going to dinner, he looked out of the quarter gallery, from whence he saw the breakers close to us, and the land along distance ahead. The ship wore instantly, and Captain Lydiard’s mind made up to come to an anchor, for had we kept under weigh the ship must have struck upon the rocks in a few hours. The top-gallant masts were got upon deck, and she rode very well until four o’clock on Tuesday morning, when the cable parted. The other anchor immediately let go, and the lower yards and top-masts struck. At day-light the other cable parted, and we were then so close to the land that we had no alternative but to go on shore, when Captain Lydiard desired the master to run the ship into the best situation for saving the lives of the people, and fortunately a fine beach presented, upon which the ship was run. Shortly after she struck the mainmast went, but hurt no one.
“Captains Lydiard and Sullivan, with the first lieutenant, were resolved to remain with the ship as long as possible; many people were killed on board; the first lieutenant, and a number of others, washed overboard. It was the captain’s great wish to save the lives of the ship’s company, and he was employed in directing them the whole of the time. He had placed himself by the wheel, holding by the spokes, where he was exposed to the violence of the sea, which broke tremendously over him, and from continuing in this situation too long, waiting to see the people out of the ship, he became so weak that upon attempting to leave the ship himself, and being impeded by a boy who was in the way, and whom he endeavoured to assist, he was washed away and drowned.”
Such is the steward’s account of this melancholy accident. Another correspondent furnishes us with the following particulars.
“His Majesty’s Frigate Anson, of 40 guns, after completing her stores of all kinds, for a four-months cruise, sailed from Falmouth on the 24th of December, 1807, to resume her station off Brest. As it blew very hard from the S.W.S. we were never able to get so far to the westward; however, Captain Lydiard persevered in his endeavours until the 28th.
“On the morning of that day we made the Isle of Bas, on the French coast, which they had seen the preceding evening. There being now every appearance of bad weather, Captain Lydiard determined to return to port, and accordingly shaped a course for the Lizard, the gale still increasing, and it coming on very heavy. About three o’clock P.M. the land was seen about five miles west of the Lizard, but at the time not exactly known, as many opinions were expressed, as to what land was then in sight; the ship was wore to stand of at sea, but had not long been on that tack before the land was again descried right a-head.