HMS Lutine (1779) 1858. The bell was found entangled in the chains originally running from the ship's wheel to the rudder, and was originally left in this state before being separated and re-hung from the rostrum of the Underwriting Room at Lloyd's. It weighs and is in diameter. It remains a mystery why the name on the bell does not correspond with that of the ship. The bell was traditionally struck when news of an overdue ship arrived - once for the loss of a ship (i.e. bad news), and twice for her return (i.e. good news). The bell was sounded to ensure
HMS Alcmene (1794) to board her before her captain could throw overboard any dispatches she was carrying for Napoleon Bonaparte, then in Egypt. Hope was unsuccessful, but two seamen from "Alcmene"s crew jumped overboard and were able to retrieve the dispatches before they sank. One of "Alcemene"s boats was able to rescue the intrepid seamen. The Royal Navy took the gunboat into service as HMS "Legere". In 1799, "Alcmene" helped Horatio Nelson to evacuate the Neapolitan Royal family from Naples ahead of the advancing French armies. She then returned to the Lisbon station. "Alcmene" captured the privateer on 26 June 1799. "Courageaux" had