EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
481 
foundered in the gale, and the Lightning had the misfortune to run on shore, but was 
got off with the loss of part of her keel and gripe; notwithstanding, she made the 
voyage in safety, continued at sea for two months after the accident, and did not 
leak in any part, was taken into dock, her keels and gripe replaced, and damages 
made good. 
In the month of December following the Lightning sailed from Falmouth on the 
same day as her Majesty’s steamer Columbia; in the course of the day she passed 
her, the wind blew very hard and increased to one of the most tempestuous gales 
that had been known for several seasons; so severe was the wind that the Columbia 
was obliged to put back, and from the situation in which she left the Lightning, 
considered the latter had foundered; but the Lightning proceeded on till she arrived 
at Corunna, and from thence to Lisbon. On her way to the latter place, when 
about forty miles distant from it, she discovered a vessel in distress under the rock 
firing guns, being on a lee shore; the Lightning immediately went to her assistance, 
and found her to be H. M. brig Plover, of ten guns, which had sailed from Fal 
mouth eight days before the Lightning ; she towed her off from the land, and leaving 
her with a good offing continued on for Lisbon, there delivered her dispatches to the 
admiral, and returning to the Plover, again took her in tow and conducted her 
safely into port. 
In October, 1834, the Lightning ran over the Coal Rock, near Elsinore, going 
between eight and nine knots ; this had about a foot less water over it than her 
draught, but she was brought up against and hung by the middle upon another 
rock, where she remained ten hours, dropping and rising head and stern succes 
sively. The consequence was that her gripe, part of the fore piece of keel, and 
midship piece, by which she was hung on the rocks, were carried away, the whole 
of her keel all fore and aft about two or three inches from the under side against the 
rocks; after getting off in this injured state, she experienced a heavy gale of wind, 
which lasted four days, and from which she sought shelter at Heligoland, but there 
she parted both her cables and was driven to sea; although the sea was running 
as high as her funnel, she shipped nothing but spray; at the same time the Superb, 
a common built steamer, was lost. It was observed by those on board the Light 
ning, that while on the rocks and in the gale she did not work or strain in any 
part; not a seam or a butt opened, nor was even the pitch broken in any place; no 
sign whatever of altering her form but remained perfectly tight. On repairing the 
keel it was found, on removing the damaged part, that it was quite dry within, 
and no water had penetrated into the hull of the vessel; the calking of the seams 
and wood ends, notwithstanding the heavy shock in dislodging the gripe and keel, 
was hard and sound and not started in the least, thus proving the strength of the 
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