Spithead is so called because it is at the end of a spit or point of sand which runs off from the mainland.  We passed close over the spot where the Royal George, with nine hundred gallant men on board, foundered in August, 1782.  She was the flag-ship of Admiral Kempenfeldt.  He was at the time writing in his cabin, where he was last seen by the captain of the ship, who managed to leap out of a stern port and was saved, as was the late Sir Philip Durham, port-admiral of Portsmouth, then one of the junior lieutenants.  The accident happened from the gross negligence and obstinacy of one of the lieutenants.  In order to get at a water-cock on the starboard side, the ship had been heeled down on her larboard side, by running her guns over until the lower deck port-sills were just level with the water.  Some casks of rum were being hoisted on board from a lighter, bringing the ship still more over.  The carpenter, seeing the danger, reported it to the lieutenant of the watch, who at first obstinately refused to listen to him.  A second time he went to the officer, who, when too late, turned the hands up to right ship, intending to run the guns back into their former places.  The weight of five or six hundred men, however, going over to the larboard side completely turned the hitherto critically balanced scale; and the ship went right over, with her masts in the water.  The sea rushing through her ports quickly filled her, when she righted and went down, those who had clambered through the ports on her starboard side being swept off.  Two hundred out of nine hundred alone were saved. Among these was a midshipman only nine years old, and a little child found fastened on to the back of a sheep swimming from the wreck.  He could not tell the names of his parents, who must have perished, and only knew that his name was Jack, so he was called John Lamb.  None of his relatives could be found, and a subscription was raised and people took care of him, and having received a liberal education, he entered an honourable profession.