Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/477

  bears date Oct. 7, 1794, at which period he was appointed to the Cleopatra frigate.

When ready for sea, Captain Penrose was sent to Bermuda, to examine the harbour and channel that had been discovered by Lieutenant Thomas Hurd ; and which is likely hereafter to become of great national importance. For his able report upon the nature of the anchorage, and the safety of the passage leading into it, Captain Penrose received the thanks of the Admiralty; and we have reason to believe that the improvements since made there have been in complete accordance with the recommendations given in that report. The Cleopatra being the first ship of war that had ever sailed through the channel, her captain named it after its discoverer; while to the magnificent harbour he gave the name of Murray.

Shortly after the performance of this scientific service. Captain Penrose appears to have had a very narrow escape.

The Cleopatra was crossing the Gulph Stream, under a reefed fore-sail and mizen-stay-sail, in a night rendered dark by a deep and jet black thunder cloud, which had totally obscured the moon. After very vivid lightning and a loud explosion, the wind shifted in a heavy squall, so as to bring the ship up several points, with her head to a very high and much agitated sea; giving her at the same time fresher way through the water. Her first plunge put the whole of the forecastle deep under, and the officer of the watch hardly expected to see her rise again. Captain Penrose, who was in his cot, got a severe blow by being dashed violently against the beams. The ship, however, rose, throwing a vast body of water aft, which burst open the cabin bulk-head, breaking loose every thing upon deck but the guns. In this send-aft, the taffrail and after part of the quarter-deck were far under water. Luckily, only part of the after hatchway was open, and no great body of water went below. The fore-sail was hauled up, and the damage found to be only the loss of the jib-boom, spritsail-yard, and bumpkins; the bowsprit and