Page:Account of the bravery and happy death of James Covey.pdf/1



, in the second volume of his Gleanings, relates an affecting anecdote of a sailor on board the Venerable, the ship in which Admiral Duncan commanded the fleet in the action against the Dutch, off Camperdown. He received the account from Dr Duncan, Lord Duncan's chaplain and relative, who, in the action, assisted the surgeon and his mate in binding up the wounds, and amputating the limbs, of the unfortunate sufferers. "A mariner," says the doctor, "of the name of Covey, was brought down to the surgery deprived of both his legs; and it was necessary, some hours after, to amputate still higher. 'I suppose,' said Covey, with an oath, 'those scissars will finish the business of the ball, master mate?' 'Indeed, my brave fellow,' cried the surgeon, 'there is some fear of it.' 'Well, never mind,' said Covey, I have lost my legs, to be sure, and mayhap may lose my life; but, 'continued he, with a dreadful oath, 'we have beat the Dutch!—we have beat the Dutch!—so I'll even have another cheer for it: Huzza! huzza!'"

This anecdote is rendered more interesting still, by some prior and subsequent circumstances attending this poor sailor. Covey was a good seaman, and was noticed among his shipmates for his intrepidity, but he was pre-eminent in sin as well as in courageous actions. About a fortnight before the English fell in with the Dutch fleet, he dreamed that they were in an engagement, in which both his legs were shot off, and that he was out of his mind. The dream made this courageous seaman tremble, and sometimes attempt to pray; but, not liking to retain God in his thoughts,