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maintained to be functional.
    Instead D’Auvergne turned his attention to the wreck of the bomb-vessel. With the islanders willingly providing most of the manpower, he set about salvaging all that might prove useful. First the Explosion ’s fearsome 13-inch heavy mortars were brought ashore, as were her 68-pound cannon. Hauled aloft via the public oak staircase to Artillery Park they were duly installed at D’Auvergne Battery. Then, with great ingenuity, the islanders extracted the wreck’s towering top foremast and floated it over to Falkland Town; here, they hauled it up to the windswept plateau atop the 200ft-high red cliffs and raised it as an improvised signal staff, complete with yardarm. Ironically, at noon on 22 September 1807, it was there that the British flag was raised in commemoration of the coronation of King George III, with the Heligolanders loyally in attendance as the guns fired a twenty-one gun royal salute. 17
    Evidently an inspired choice for the role of governor, D’Auvergne was quickly winning the approval of all the islanders. By his conspicuous zeal, excellent judgement and suavity of manner, he managed, to a considerable degree, to reconcile the inhabitants to the changes which they were experiencing. 18 One obscure incident helped to win him their affection. A few days after the surrender of Heligoland he was informed, on the authority of the magistrates, that there were forty families who had nothing to eat, not even bread, and no means of affording relief. D’Auvergne ordered the purser of the Majestic to deliver forty bags of bread to the island and directed him to see it impartially issued to the most needy families. On 16 September he wrote to Russell that virtually all the islanders were ‘destitute of almost every species of provisions except fish’, and to get them through the approaching winter he requested a shipment of 110 tons of rye, potatoes, flour and beef from England. 19 Aware that all supplies from Denmark had been cut off, Russell readily agreed to the request (and remarked that in view of the Explosion ’s demise he would take a pilot from the island with him to ensure the supplies arrived safely).
    D’Auvergne’s kindness towards the islanders was in many other respects supported, indeed encouraged, by Russell. On appointing him Acting Governor on 5 September the admiral’s written instructions had emphasised the need to treat the islanders with respect: ‘You are to see that the inhabitants are treated with the greatest kindness; to conciliate their affections; and secure their attachment to our Government; as I hope it will never be given up.’ 20 Two days later Russell wrote to the Governor, movingly expressing his heartfelt good wishes to the Heligolanders:
    Sir,
Being on a point of sailing for England I am to request that you will acquaint the civil magistrates of your Government that I am so sorry that untoward circumstances have prevented my having the pleasure of being personally known to them.
    Assure them that I shall do the utmost of my ability to represent them as a people worthy of the attention of our Government; and worthy of the privilege of a British Colony.
    We have all noticed with joy the prompt, cheerful and effectual assistance given by your Inhabitants yesterday to HM ships the Explosion and Wanderer when aground, for which I pray Sir, that you will publicly advertise my thanks to them.
    I commit you and them to God’s Holy care, and am with great respect.
    Signed
Admiral, Sir Thomas Russell
    The content of that moving letter was never made public by the Foreign Office, nor was the grateful letter of thanks sent a few weeks later to Governor D’Auvergne, and signed by every member of the Heligoland government: 21
    By these victuallings is the danger of famine decreased, which lay very heavy upon the breast of every inhabitant. Your Excellency has, while you procured us these benefits, given us a practicable proof of the gentle affectionate