On the basis of the estimate of Mr. Eschauzier, there would thus remain four hundred and three bars of silver in the wreck of the "Lutine." According to the last estimate of the Dutch salvors, partners of Lloyd's in the “Lutine” -estimate based chiefly on the calculations of Mr. Eschauzier -the total value of the bullion and specie originally on board the wreck was 14,100,000 guilders, or £1,175,000, while the value of the treasure saved was 1,198,727 guilders, or £99,894, thus leaving not less than treasure to the amount of 12,901,273 guilders, or £1,076,107, still within the sand-imbedded timbers of the old frigate. The following table shows more concisely the figures put forward by the salvors, and given as endorsed by Mr. John Mavor Hill, Lloyd's agent at Amsterdam : If these calculations be but approximately correct, any continuation of stiff north-westerly gales, blowing with solidity over the German Ocean into the Zuyder Zee, may waft a princely fortune to Lloyd's. There is little probability that the members of Lloyd's will soon forget the "Lutine," seeing that the eyes of all the visitors to the library must rest daily upon the conspicuous-looking table and chair made out of the rudder, and upon the bell and chain of the unfortunate thirty-twogun frigate. To impress their presence still more upon the memory, there are inscriptions on both table and chair, that on the former running as follows: "H. B. M. Ship La Lutine 32 Gun Frigate Commanded by Captain Lancelot Skynner, R.N. On the morning of the 9th October, 1799, with a large amount of specie on board, And was wrecked off the Island of Vlieland the same night. When all on board were lost except one man. "The rudder of which this table was made and the rudder chain of the bell, which the table supports, were recovered from the wreck of the ill-fated vessel, in the year 1859, together with a part of the specie, which is now in custody of 'The Committee for managing the affairs of Lloyd's.'" The inscription on the arm-chair, high-backed and grand in appearance, fit to be a throne for the doges of the Republic of Lloyd's, is as follows: "This chair is made from the wood of the rudder of Which sailed from Yarmouth Roads, The rudder was recovered from the wreck in 1859, The story of the "Lutine," briefly told in these inscriptions, is one that is remarkable in several respects, not only on account of the many singular incidents in the history of a war-ship, born in France, then employed by England against France, and finally perishing mysteriously in Dutch waters, but more so as to the large questions it opens as regards the permanent claims of underwriters to vessels and their contents for which they paid as total losses. Strewn as is the ocean-bed with wrecks, the “Lutine" as yet is the only "golden wreck" that has come floating into Lloyd's. P T the commencement of the eighteenth century, the position of Lloyd's had become a very singular one, resembling, though only superficially, that of the East India Com pany. Like the body of simple merchants who from their offices in Leadenhall-street ruled an immense empire, so the directors of Lloyd's, humbly styled the "Committee for managing the affairs of the Coffee-house," exerted a far-reaching sway over British commerce, influenced the movement of merchant fleets, and were acknowledged by the government as the heads of a powerful institution. Prime-ministers had to keep on good terms with Lloyd's, were it only to obtain the earliest news of what was going on all over the world, reports of important events usually reaching the Coffee-house in the Royal Exchange some time before getting to Westminster and Whitehall; and in all questions concerning the protection of the kingdom's foreign commerce, whether referring to the convoys assigned to merchantmen in time of war, or to treaties of shipping and navigation with other countries, the Committee of Lloyd's tacitly assumed towards the government the position of a power in the state. It could not be but a matter of just pride and gratification to the body of the members of Lloyd's; but the pride, if it existed, was an ennobling one, engendering the resolution of worthy deeds. Two such, standing forth as singularly notable achievements of Lloyd's, were accomplished within a couple of years, at the commencement of the nineteenth century, the first the institution of life-boats around the coasts of Great Britain, and the second the establishment of the famous Patriotic Fund. In the institution of life-boats the members of Lloyd's took a leading share, owing to a rather curious combination of accidental circumstances. The inventor of life-boats was Henry Greathead, a native of Richmond, in Yorkshire, born January 27th, 1757, the son of an excise officer. Having learned the trade of boat-builder at Shields, he went to sea after the expiration of his apprenticeship, embarking in 1779 as ship's carpenter in a voyage to the West Indies. The vessel in which he sailed, nominally bound for the Island of Granada, had, in reality, a quite different destination-that of being wrecked on the Goodwin Sands. It had become a sort of business at the time to scuttle vessels, or run them wilfully on shore, so as to defraud the underwriters, and it was on this errand that the vessel in which Henry Greathead found himself had left Shields. Being a shrewd man, much given to reflection, he saw the state of affairs at a glance, perceiving that the vessel had but an insignificant cargo, while he knew that she was heavily insured. Communicating his suspicions to some of his shipmates, they kept on their guard, and managed even to keep clear of the Goodwin Sands, but only to incur their destined fate a little further on the road. Seeing himself foiled in his intentions, the captain turned the head of the vessel upon the French coast, succeeding at last to run her upon a sand-bank not more than a couple of miles from Calais Harbour. His next movement was to take, in company with the mate, to the best boat, to get back to England, but before he could accomplish his purpose, the crew, strongly objecting to be drowned for the benefit of other parties, had sent up distress signals. The consequence was that, in the course of half an hour, a number of boats, some of them manned by soldiers, had come from Calais and taken possession of the vessel. England being at war with France, the good people of Calais rejoiced at having got, at very little trouble, another prize. Nothing daunted by his ill success in not getting back to England, the captain under whom Henry Greathead served went before the authorities at Calais, making an affidavit that his vessel had been lost by stress of weather, and calling upon all the crew to sign a document affirming it. A few did so, but Henry Greathead not only absolutely refused, but induced several others not to lend themselves to a false statement intended for a fraud. To prevent it, he moreover put himself in communication with Lloyd's, and the consequence was that the underwriters refused to pay upon the policy, directing the owners to the law courts, an intimation which they were careful not to follow. The honest and manly conduct of Henry Greathead, while it gained for him the gratitude of the underwriters in London, whom he had rendered a welcome service, likewise obtained him respect in France, and while the captain of the stranded ship was retained at Calais, he was allowed to leave in a ransomed vessel for Portsmouth. Having had enough of the sea by this time, Henry Greathead intended to make his way back to Shields, and, if possible, to set up in business as a boatbuilder, but-for the good of the world, if not his own-he was foiled in his object when landing in England. His Majesty's navy being short of hands, the work of impressment went actively on at Portsmouth, and the ship's carpenter of Shields had a narrow escape from entering involuntarily into the royal service, he effecting his safety only by going away overnight in a Scotch brig, the "Aldie," Captain Brown, the canny commander of which managed to evade the vigilance of the impressment officers. However, the escape proved but a reprieve after all. Henry Greathead arrived safely in the "Aldie" at her des |
