Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/137

 recommended her being sold. Captain Hope, however, only considering the great expence that would be incurred in transporting her officers, men, and stores to England, resolved to make an effort for her preservation, and accordingly requested Lord Amelius Beauclerk to send him a frigate’s anchor and two cables. This being complied with, the ship, after much labour and very extraordinary exertions, was, on the 17th March, hove bodily round, and got through a sandy passage, not much exceeding her own breadth, with only eight feet water at the highest spring-tide. During this operation, the casks which had been frapped to her bottom, by means of 3½-inch rope and bolts driven into her bends, were all stove and washed away by the surf, and when fairly afloat she made eight feet water an hour. On the following day she was run on shore in the harbour of Villa-nova-de-mille-fuentes, where the principal leaks were stopped, and the ship put into a condition to return home without escort, the whole expence incurred not exceeding one hundred pounds. From Lisbon she conveyed to Plymouth a number of Portuguese refugee noblemen, flying from the vengeance of Don Miguel.

On his arrival at the latter port. Captain Hope was sent for by the Lord High Admiral, then on a visit of inspection there, who presented him with an appointment to the Meteor bomb, intended to supply the place of the Terror, and was most graciously pleased to say, that he trusted he should soon be able to grant him the promotion which by his services he so well merited. The senior lieutenant and midshipman were immediately promoted for their exertions under his command.

On the 13th Sept. 1828, the Meteor sailed from Plymouth, accompanied by the Orestes and Britomart sloops, for the purpose of demanding the restoration of two merchant vessels captured by Barbary cruisers. This was at first refused; but on the port of Tangier being put in a state of blockade, the demand was complied with, and demurrage for their 