'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎159] (178/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
159
Manilla, the 'Medasa ' filled up with wood, there being no coal
available. Crossing the Formosa Channel for Hong Kong, she
encountered a gale of wind, which freshened into a cyclone, and,
as her fuel was expended, Lieutenant Hewett found himself
under the necessity of bearing up for Singapore, and narrowly
escaped losing his ship in the Gulf of Tonquin. The 4 Medusa'
put into Cameran Bay, in Cochin China, for fire-wood, which
was procured from the natives ready cut and dried, in exchange
for sheets and blankets. About midnight, after sailing thence,
she encountered a terrific storm of thunder and lightning
between Great and Little Catwicks, but the following morning
broke fine, and the officers of the * 4 Medusa' were able to take
observations for the first time since bearing up, when they
found that the compasses were no less than three points out in
deviation, although only half a point when proceeding up the
China Sea. On his arrival at Singapore, Lieutenant Hewett
refitted his ship with new bulwarks and had scarcely thoroughly
repaired her when he received orders to proceed to Moulmein,
as a war with Burmah was apprehended. The 'Medusa' re
mained there from January, 1842, to March, when she sailed
for Calcutta, and was employed towing down the river the
transports with reinforcements for China. In April, after being
docked, she proceeded to China, joined the Expedition up the
Yang-tze-Kiang, and was engaged, as already detailed, in the
capture of Woosung, Shanghai, Ching-Kiang-foo, and also in
numerous affairs with forts while serving as pioneer of the
fleet.
After the conclusion of peace, the 'Medusa' was employed
surveying Nimrod's Sound, and the North-East group of the
Chusan Archipelago, and her name and that of her gallant
commander were perpetuated in Chinese waters by the " Medusa
Rock" and "Hewett Channel." On the 21st of November,
1845, the 'Medusa' left Hong Kong for Bombay, where she
arrived on the 27th of December. While employed in China,
Lieutenant Hewett was a universal favourite among all classes,
and, when he returned to Bombay, the merchants of Hong
Kong, who had often enjoyed his hospitality when proceeding
as his guest, on business to the treaty ports, subscribed the sum
of five hundred guineas and presented him with a handsome
gold repeater watch and some plate. Lieutenant Hewett was
remarkable in the Service for his dash and open-handed
generosity, and he possessed, in addition, the scientific acquire
ments of an accomplished surveyor. Writing of this time, Mr.
Adams, his first-lieutenant, says:—" He was a general favourite,
and my heau ideal of a naval officer. He was always ready for
any work, and from him I learnt that was not in the naval
vocabulary," and, we may add, in justice to this officer, he
carried the lesson into practice, and cant was a word which the