THE GEAN SEA, or ARCHIPELAGO, has been divided into DESCRIPTION OF THE VIGNETTES AND PLATES IN THIS VOLUME, ENGRAVED BY J. FITTLER, R.A.S. Marine Engraver to His Majesty; FROM PAINTINGS BY N. POCOCK, ESQ. FIRST VIGNETTE REPRESENTS the BRITANNIA Merchantman as just lanched at DEPTFORD, with a distant view of GREENWICH.-When a Ship is lanched, the Ensign, Jack, and Pendent, are always hoisted; the last being displayed from a Staff erected in the middle of the Ship. Mr. Pocock's design in this View, was to give an exact* Portrait of a Merchant Vessel employed in the Levant Trade when FALCONER wrote. SECOND VIGNETTE. The Ship unmooring by Moonlight, as described in the First Canto, page 41: "All hands unmoor! proclaims a boisterous cry, All hands unmoor! the caverned rocks reply." The Ship is represented with her Fore Topsail loose, and the Sheet hauled home, as a Signal to unmoor. On the right is part of the town of CANDIA, and on the left the island of STANDIA, or DIA. This view is taken from the westward. The Vessels, then trading to the Levant, were not limited as to Burthen, or Guns, except a certain number of about 300 tons, and 18 Guns, that were called Act Ships. FALCONER has described the BRITANNIA more like a Frigate. The following plan of unmooring, as being the most convenient and expeditious, is used by Merchant Ships; when, as is represented, a Windlass is made use of in preference to a Capstern. The Leeward Anchor is first raised from the ground by the Buoy Rope, which is taken in at the Bow, or Stern of the Long Boat, over a roller: having tackles attached to it, the Boat's Crew are enabled to drag the Anchor from its hold, and to lift it so far from the ground, that, when those on board heave on the Cable at the Windlass, the Boat is drawn with the Anchor to the Ship: she is then unmoored, and said to ride at single anchor. Men of War, on the contrary, get up their Anchor by veering out one Cable, and heaving upon the other. Having men enough to attend to both Cables, and by using the Capstern, they are enabled to do this with celerity: this is called Veering, and Heaving. When the Ship is veered so far as to be immediately over the Anchor, it is hove up; they then again heave a head upon the Cable the Ship still rides by, until, as is termed, She is short a peak, or a stay peak (i. e. when the Cable makes an angle in a direction with the Ship's stays:) the Topsails are then sheeted home, hoisted, and braced; in order to cast clear of any Ship that may be requisite, before the Anchor is weighed, and the Ship is loosed from her hold; and this is termed getting under weigh. THIRD VIGNETTE. The WATER SPOUT; as described in the Second Canto, (page 53:) "When on the larboard Quarter they descry A liquid Column towering shoot on high." FALCONER, whose experience was as great, as his observations were keen and accurate, declares that the water ascends; and Seamen, who alone see Water Spouts as they really are, unaffected by any proximity of land, agree as to the truth of this opinion. FOURTH VIGNETTE. The Island of FALCONERA," with rocks and breakers bound," as seen from the Ship, (Canto the Third, p. 103:) "When FALCONERA's rugged cliffs they view, High o'er its summit, through the gloom of Night, The glimmering Watch-Tower cast a mournful light:" This gives a representation of the Ship, when, having cut away her Mizen Mast, and scudding before the wind under bare Poles, she rapidly drove close by the rocky shore of FALCONERA; not being able in the least to deviate from the Course, which the furious Tempest, and following Sea, obliged the crazy Vessel to pursue. This View of FALCONERA is taken from a Drawing, that was lately made by Mr. GELL during his Travels in Greece. FIFTH VIGNETTE. The Gale, and Sea having in some degree subsided, CAPE COLONNA opens in distance; whilst ARION is seen standing in silent agony over his dead friend PALEMON, (Canto the Third, page 138:) "As thus defaced in death PALEMON lay, While down his cheek the silent drops distilled :" |