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ROYAL ^— ^ '5

NAVAL BIOGRAPHY;

oa,

iHemoirief of tf^t fecrbiceier

OF ALL THE

FLAG-OFFICERS,

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS,

RETIRED-CAPTAINS,

POST-CAPTAINS,
AND COMMANDERS,

WhoK Names appeared od the Admiralty List of Sea-Officers at the commeace-
ment of the year 1823, or who have since been promoted ;

inuiumted by • Series of

HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES,

Which will be found to contaio an Account of all the

NAVAL ACTIONS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS,

FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE LATE REION, IN l/GO,
TO THE PRK8BNT PERIOD.

WITH COPIOUS ADDENDA.

Bv JOHN MARSHALL (b),

LIEUTENANT IN THE ROTAL NAVT.

" Failures, howerer frequent, may admit of extenuation and apology. To have attempted
** much is alway* laudable, eren wben the enterprise i« abore tlie strength that undertakes it.
*' To deliberate whenever I doubted, to enquire whenever I was ignorant, would have protracted
•• the undertaliing without end, and perhaps without improrement. I saw that one enquiry only
*' gave occasion to another, that book referred to book, that to search was not always to And, and
** to find was not always to be informed ; and that thus to purtue perfection, was, like the first
«* tahnhitintr of Arcadia, to chase the sun, which, when they had reached the bill where be
**iMaHi to rest, was still beheld at the same distance fVom them." Jokuon.

SUPPLEMENT.— PART II.

HotUion :

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, REES, ORME. BROWN AND GREEN,
TATERNOSTER ROW.

1828.

DA

VV. I'oplc, I'riiutr,
fi7, Chancery Lane.

CONTENTS OF SUPPLEMENT.— PART II.

POSTCAPTAINSy

(Continued) .

Pace

A'Court, Edward Henry - 345

Abdy, Anthony - - 270

Andrews, George - - 49

Arthur, Richard - - 64

Austen, Charles John - 74

Baily, Edward Seymour - 52

Baker, John - - 267

Hartholootew, Charles - 52

Baiigh, Thomas Folliott - £66

Beaufort, Francu - - 82

Bell, George - - 32

Blarney, Geon^ William - 272

Bourcbier, Henry - - 435

Bowkcr, John - - 429

Bradby, Matthew Barton - 106

Browne, Philip - - 95

Buchanan, William • 50

Buck, Richard - - 350

Burton, Thomas - 294

Byam, William Henry 311

Cadman, George - - 52

Campbell, Donald - • 399

Clement, Benjamin - 391

Clephane, Robert - - 314

Coe, Thomas - - 346

Coghlan, Jeremiah - 298

Collins, James - - 206

Colquitt, Samuel Martin - 268

Coode, John - - 276

Crispo, John - - 206

D'Auvergne, Corbet James - 414

Davie, John - - 46

Dawson, Hon. Henry - 398

Dix, Edward - - 55

Dixon, Mauley Hall - 381

Dolling, William Brooking - 384

Douglas, Francis - - 217

Douglas, Peter John - 447

Doyle, Sir Bentinck Cavendish 346

EUiot, William - - 197

Pit«e

Grant, Robert . - 237

Fabian, Charles Montague - 268

Fellowex, Sir Thomas • 317

Ferris, Abel - - 360

Festingj Robert Worgan George 446

Fisher, William - . 359

Flint, William - - 316

Foote, William WUUams - 213

Forrest, Thomas . • 29

Fowler, Robert Merrick 366

Goate, WilUam - - 35

Gordon, Hod. William - 70

Graves, Thomas - - 111

Greene, Pitt Bomaby - 335

GrowCt, Walter - - 234

Guion, Gardiner Henry - 444

Hamilton, Gawen WiUiam - 447

Hart, Henry - - 413

Harvey, Edward - - 361

Harward, Richard - - 32

Henderson, Gcoi^e - 415

HoUiu worth, John - - 349

Hoare, Edward Wallis • 195

Hornby, Phipps - - 70

Hudson, John . . 220

HuskissoD, Thomas - 338

Innes, Alexander - - 267

Innes, Tliomas - - 213

James, Joseph - • 39

Janvrin, Richard Gaire - 271

Jones, Hon. Alexander - 390

Keen, Robert - - 207

Kittoe, Edward - • 63

Lambom, John - - 267

Lapenotiere, John Richards - 384

Lawson, John - - 208

Lillicrap, James • - 221
Mainwaring, Thomas Francis

Charies - - - 310

Marklaud, John Duff - 351

CONTENTfl.

Marshall, John Willoughby -
Maxwell, John
Monkc, George Paris
Moriarty, Edmund Joshua -
Mounsey, William -
Napier, Charles
Nevill, Viscount
Nott, Francis John -
O'Connor, Richard James Law-
rence - - -
Owen, William Fitzwilllam -
Packwood, Joseph -
Pasco, John
Paterson, William
Pearse, Henry Whitmarsh
Fechell, Samuel George »
Peyton, John Strutt -
Prescott, Henry
Purvis, John Brett -
Richards, John
Sanders, George
Saycr, George (i)
Scobell, Edward
Shephcard, Lewis

Page Page

270 ShirreflF, William Henry 52

94 Simpson, John - - 54

65 Slade, James - - 213

51 Sneyd, Clement - - 349

20 Spence, Henry Hume - 48

1 Stanfell, Francis - - 71

316 Stopford, Edward - - 453

236 Stupart Gustavus - - 268

Sturt, Henry Evelyn Pitfield 270

214 Swaine, Spelman ^ - 17

378 Thompson, John (a) - 237

314 Thrush, Tbomas - - 20

348 Tom, Robert Brown - 220

106 Townshend, Lord James - 18
60 Tucker, Thomas Tudor - 419
74 Waldegravc, Hon. WUliam - 338

438 Walker, Benjamin - - 94

107 Watson, Christopher - 208
49 White, Tbomas (a) - 111

9 White, Thomas (6) - 208

1? Williams, John - - 316

208 Willoughby, Sir Nisbet Josiah lU

351 Worth, James Andrew - 210

237

ADDENDA.

Penrose, Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Vinicombe
Gore, Vice-Admiral Sir John

455
466

ERRATA.

1». 65, line 11, /or rAmiable Nelly recdrAimable Nelly.
147, — — 8 from the bottom, far obtain rea</ attain.

, 4 -',for 10 read9>.

169, first line of the note, /or Sinus read la Nereide.
181, last line of the text, /or proclamation read proclamations.
187, last line, /or a read as.

235, line 8, for Early in 1797 read In Dec. 1796.
,— — 3 from the bottom, for Mar. read June.
271, — — 9, fur mortar read Sicilian gun.

276, 15, dele the comma that precedes the parcnthesS.

296, 19, /or in her accompanied read in her he accompanied.

316, — - 1,/or Neville r«a/NEViLL.
358, — 8, dek baring first.

ROYAL NAVAL BIOGRAPHY.

POST-CAPTx^lNS OF 1809, continued.

CHARLES NAPIER, Esq.

A Companion of the Mott Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

This officer was made a Lieuten.int Nov. 30, 1805 ; and pro-
moted to the rank of Commander Nov. 30, 1807. Ch» the
l/th July, 1808, we find him assisting in cutting out a Spanish
merchant schooner, from under two batteries at the N. E.
end of Porto Rico ; which service was conducted by Lieute-
nant James Robertson, of the Fawn sloop *, Captain Napier,
then commanding the Pultusk brig, merely accompanying
him in order to acquire a knowledge of the coast, and agree-
ing that whatever was done should be attributed to that gen-
tleman. After capturing the schooner, they both landed,
spiked the guns in one of the batteries, and rendered the
carriages unserviceable.

Captain Napier was shortly afterwards appointed to the
Recruit brig, of 18 guns ; in which vessel he fought a smart
action with the Diligente French corvette, of 22 guns and 140
men, Sept. 6, 1808. On this occasion, tlie Recruit had her
main-mast shot away, many of her carronades dismounted,
one man killed, and several persons, including her commander,
wounded. The extent of the loss sustained by the enemy's
ship has not been made public, but we must suppose it to
have been very heavy, to excuse her captain for having fled
from the field of battle after he had so effectually crippled his
antagonist. Her stern-boat, filled with small- arm men, was
cut away by the Recruit's last fire.

* Now Commander James R. Walker.

SUPPL. PART II. B

2 POST-CAHTAINS OF 1809.

In the following year, Captain Napier assisted zrt the reduc-
tion of Martinique ; and behaved with extraordinary gallantry
during the pursuit of le d'Hautpoult and two other French
seventy-fours, which had been sent from Europe expressly for
the relief of that colony * . His conduct on this occasion is
thus officially noticed by Sir Alexander Cochrane :

" The superiority of the enemy's sailing, left little chance for the Nep-
tune getting up, unless some of the ships were disabled ; and if any accident
had happened to the Pomp^e's masts, they must inevitably have all escaped :
I therefore directed Captain Fahie to endeavour to cripple the sternmost
ship, without bringing on the collected fire of the three, then in line
a-breast. In this attempt he was most gallantly supported by Captain
Napier, of H. M. sloop Recruit, who kept close up, although fired at from
all their stem-chace guns, and did every thing that was possible to be done
to cut away the enemy's masts and rigging, and continued on this service
during the whole chase •••*♦». Until their Lordships' pleasure is
known, I have commissioned the prize, and appointed Captain Napier to
the command of her, as a reward for his spirited conduct."

Captain Napier's post commission was confirmed May 22,
1809, the very day on which Sir Alexander Cochrane's letter
arrived at the Admiralty. During the remainder of the war
with France, he successively commanded the Jason, Thames,
andEuryalus frigates; the former at the Leeward Islands, and
the two latter on the Mediterranean station. A very hand-
some service performed by the Thames, in conjunction with
the Cephalus brig, is thus described by Captain Napier, in a
letter addressed to the senior officer at Palermo :

" H. M. S. Thames, of Porto del Infrischi, Jnfy 21, 1«11.
" Sir, — Captain Clifford, of the Cephalus, having the look-out off Pali-
niuo, on the 2Uth instant, informed me by a Sicilian privateer, of a convoy
of 26 sail attempting to gain that port, which he, with his usual activity,
prevented them from doing, and compelled them to take shelter in Porto
del Infrischi, off which place we arrived at 5 this evening. I immediately
desired Captain Clifford to lead in and anchor, which service he performed
in a most handsome style, and was closely followed by this ship, wh(» soon
silenced eleven gun-boats, and an armed felucca, carrying six long 18-
pounders, two 12-pounder carronades, three brass and two iron 6-pounders,
and" (upwards of) " 280 men, moored across for the protectiou of fourteen

•See Vol. I, p. 717.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 3

mercbaat vessels " (Lulen with oil, potash, &c. •), "and 36 dpars for the line-
of-battle ship and frigate at Naples, and under cover of a round tower ; and
the adjacent hills lined with musketeers from the merchantmen and
peasantry. Tlie marines were then landed under their Lieutenant, M<=
Adams, and got possession of the tower, performing the light infantry
manoeuvres in a very pretty style, taking an officer and 80 men prisoners,
and driving the rest before them ; the boats, at the same time, under Cap-
tain Clifford, took possession of the convoy, together with all the spars, ex-
cept two which could not be got off : all of which were alongside, and the
ship under weigh in less than two hours, without the loss of a man, and
only the boatswain " (of the Cephalus) " and another man badly, and three
of the brig's men, slightly, wounded : on entering the bay her sails and
rigg?fig were a good deal cut up. I hope it will not be thought presump-
tuous in me begging you will recommend Captain Clifford, and my first
Lieutenant, Whitcway " (who accompanied the marines to the heights, and
afterwards assisted in launching the merchant vessels) " to the commander-
in-chief, particularly as this is the third convoy the former has discovered
and contributed to destroy since his appointment to the Cepbalusf ; the
latter has been likewise at the taking of two and destroying one since his
joining the Thames. The whole ef the officers and ship's company behaved
in the most steady manner ; which will ever reflect the greatest credit on
my predecessor. Captain Waldegrave X, for the exL*ellent discipline on
board. Captain ('lifford likewise speaks in the highest terras of his first
Lieutenant, Richardson, officers, and crew. I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) " Charles Napikr."

Rear-x\dniiral Charles Boyles, in his letter to Sir Edward
Pellew, reporting the above exploit, expressed himself as
follows : —

" The complete success of the above-mentioned instantaneous and l)ril-
liant attack on the enemy's convoy by the Thames and Cephalus, reflects
much honor on the conduct and gallantry of Captains Napier and Clifford,
their officers, and crews."

In Sept. 1811, the Thames was placed under the orders of
Captain the Hon. Henry Duncan, then commanding the
Imperieuse frigate, and whose successful proceedings on the
coast of Calabria, in Oct. and Nov. following, have been fully
detailed at p. 993 et seq, of Vol. 11. Part II. The following is
an extract of an official letter written by Major Edward Dar-

* The armed felucca also had a cargo of oil.
t See Captain Augustus William James Clifford, C. B.
J Now Lord Radstock.
b2

4 POST-CAPTAfNS OF 1809.

ley, of the 62d regiment, reporting the military operations at
Palinuro, on the 1st and 2d of the latter month :

" Thames, at Sea, Nov. 8, 1811.
" It would be presumptuous on my part. Sir, in attempting to pass en-
comiums on the very superior judgment and heroic gallantry of the com-
mandant. Captain Duncan, of H. M. S. Imperieuse, as also in the gallant
manner of laying his ship alongside a strong battery and fortified tower,
flanked by several gun-boats, which were shortly silenced by a powerful and
well-directed fire, in conjunction with Captain Napier, of H. M. S. Thames,
whereby the commandant was left in possession of the enemy's flotilla, con-
voy, battery, and tower. I have also much gratification in stating, that
Captain Napier, who did me the honor to accompany me on shore with a
party of seamen and marines, contributed materially by his cool, judicious,
and actively intrepid conduct, ably seconded by the gallantry of Lieutenant
Travers, of H. M. S. Imperieuse, to surmount all diflicullies in gaining the.
heights — in the face of an opposing and strongly posted numerous enemy,
whom we had afterwards the satisfaction of dislodging and obliging to re-
treat, leaving us in full possession of the heights and telegraph tower."
*' To Major-General Heron, Sfc. ^c. ffc, Melazzo."
Sir Edward Pellew's opinion of the exploit at Palinuro will
be seen by reference to p. 995 of Vol. II. Part II.

In the spring of 1812, we find Captain Napier employed as
senior officer on the coast of Calabria, and making the follow-
ing report to Rear-Admiral Freemantle, whose reply we shall
subjoin :

" I this day (May 14), in company with the Pilot, attacked the port of
Sapri, defended by a strong battery and tower, mounting two 32-pounders,
with an officer and 3S men, which surrendered at discretion, after being
battered for two hours within pistol-shot ; but in consetjuence of their gal-
lant defence, I allowed them to march out with the honors of war. We
fotud 28 large vessels on the beach, loaded with oil, some of them nearly
a quarter of a mile in the country, all of which were launched, and the l»at-
tery in ruins before sun-set. ' I owe much to the support I received from
Captain" (John Toup) " Nicolas, who flanked the battery in a most judicious
manner, and afterwards commanded the launching, assisted by my first
Lieutenant, Alexander Campbell, an officer of six years' standing, as well as
Mr." (Roger) "Langlands, acting master of the Pilot, who, by his able dis-
position of the marines, placed under his comniand (there being no officer
of that corps on board) ; kept upwards of 20() armed peasantry in check,
and had only one man wounded. The firing of both ships' companies was
superior to any thing I ever saw, and their conduct on shore was no less
praise-worthy. Neither ship lost a man on board : our bowsprit wounded
in three places is the only material injury we have suffered.

(Signed) " Ch.\rles Nafier."

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 6

" H. M. S. AfU/ord, Palermo Bay, Mmi 27, 1812.
" Sir, — In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the I4th inst., re-
lative to the capture of the 28 vessels at Sapri, I have much pleasure iu
conveyinfr my sentiments of the zeal by whi<*h yourself and Captain Ni.
colas have been actuated, as well as the officers and men itelonging to the
Thames and Pilot. I am, &c.

(Signed) " T. F. FREEMA?nxE.»»

" 7(» CnpKxm Napier, H. M. S. T/iames."

The capture of the island of Ponza, executed in a most
masterly manner under the direction of Captain Napier, as-
sisted by Captiiin William Mounsey, of the Furieuse frigate,
is thus described by him, in a letter to Sir Robert Laurie,
13art., dated Feb. 27, 1813:

" Agreeable to your directions, I embarked Lieutenant-Colonel Coffin*,
and the second battalion of the 10th regiment, on the 16th instant, and
arrived off Ponza on the 23r(I, the harbour of which is ai>out a quarter of
a mile wide, with a mole at the extreme end of it, defended by four batte-
ries and a tower, mounting ten 24 and 18-poundors, two 12-pounders, and
two 9-inch mortars.

" Colonel Coffin and myself agreed, that the shortest and the surest
road to success was, by running both ships into the mole, and carrying
the place by assault ; but the weather was unfavourable for such an at-
tack until the morning of the 26th, when the ships bore up in close order
with a fine breeze. The enemy were prepared for our reception, and
opened their fire nearly half an hour before our guns could bear : the bat-
teries were, however, passed with little injury, the ships engaging on both
sides, and the Thames was anchored across the molc-bead, the Furieuse
bringing up a little astern of her. Colonel Coffin and the troops landed
the same instant, and pushed for the height near a strong tower, into
which the enemy had retreated, and their appearance, together with the
severe fire from the ships, induced the governor to hoist a flag of truce, and
agree to the proposed capitulation. I have much pleasure in informing
you, that this service has been performed without the loss of a man in
either profession : our being hulled three times, and the Furieuse twice,
with sails and rigging a good deal cut, is the only damage sustained. The
most perfect cordiality has subsisted between the two services j and I am
much indebted to Captain Mounsey for the excellent support he gave, and
Lis quickness in following my motions. If the resistance had been greater.

• Lieutenant-Colonel Francis William Cashell commanded the 2d batt.
of the 10th regt. ; but was placed under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel
John Pine Coffin, Deputy Quarter-Master-General of the British forces in
Sicily.

6 ■ POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809.

I have little doubt that we should have succeeded, particularly with such a
storming party as Colonel Cashell's regiment, and such a leader as Colonel
Coffin.

(Signed) " Charles Napier/*

We must here add, that the approach of the Thames and
Furieuse was known at Ponza some time before their arrival ;
that six privateers and several merchant-vessels had conse-
quently sailed previous to the attack ; and that every prepa-
ration was made by the capitaine-commandant, Jean Bap-
tiste Dumont, whose garrison consisted of full as many
troops as the force under Lieutenant- Colonel CoflSn. A
more beautifid marine subject never presented itself to the
imagination of a Pocock than the advance of the British to
the attack : the troops being ordered below, both ships ra-
pidly closed the mole, shortened sail, and anchored, with the
coolness of a common manoeuvre : the boats pulled so closely
under the cliffs on which the batteries were constructed, as to
elude their fire ; and the battalion having landed in a small
sandy bay, soon gained the heights in the rear of and above
the enemy, who being then placed between two fires, imme-
diately surrendered. The small but excellent harbour of
Ponza had hitherto afforded a safe retreat to those marauders
who annoyed the Sicilian trade, and was subsequently of
great service to the British cruisers employed watching the
enemy's increasing force at Naples.

The particulars of a successful service, in which Captain
Napier was engaged shortly after his joining the Euryalus, are
detailed in a public letter from Captain Edward Brace, of the
Berwick 74, to Sir Edward Pellew, dated ofiF Cavalacie, May
16, 1813. The following is a copy thereof :

" I beg leave to acquaint you, that through the judicious management
of Captain Napier, the enemy's coasting trade to and from Toulon to the
eastward, was, between the 10th and 15th instant, collected in Cavalacie
road, to the number of upwards of 20 sail : judging that a proper object for
attack, I made the necessary arrangements to carry the place ; but the surf
proved too great for the people to land until this morning, when the plan
was carried into execution by the boats, commanded by Lieutenant" (Henry
Johnston) " Sweedland, first of this ship, and the royal marines under Cai>-
tain" (William T. J .) " Matthews, of that corps. Allow me to observe ou th«

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 7

prompt manDcr in which this service was accomplished ; for scarce tn^nty
minutes elapsed from their reaching the beach until the batteries were
taken, and a fire opened from them on the retreating enemy. The French
national xel)cc la Fortune, carrying 10 long 9-ponnder« and 4 swivels, with
a crew of 95 men, tried to effect her escape ; but the Eur\'alus pushing
close in, cut her off, and the enemy abandoned her, leaving her at anchor
with a spring on the cable, under the fire of the frigate, forts, and a divi-
sion of the boats, under Lieutenant" (Mark) " While, who boarded her in
time to preserve her from blowing up or sinking, as the crew had fired a
shut through her bottom, and left a train to the magazine. We found in
the harbour twenty-two vessels of different descriptions'' (chiefly laden with
oil, com, lemons, &c.), " which were either taken or destroyed ; those scut-
tled by the enemy were cleared by the Eoryalus, which ship took an an-
chorage to protect the working party ; and through the great exertions of
Captain Napier, tlic uthccrs and men employed on that service, erery thing
was brought away worthy of notice.

" Having related my proceeding, permit me to call your attention to the
officers and men who conducted this affair ; and if, in your judgment, any
merit is attached to the transaction, I entreat you to bestow it on Captain
Napier, the officers, seamen, and marines of both ships, whose united ex-
ertions so fully accomplished my wishes, that I hurc only to regret the loss
of one man killed, and one missing. I shall only |)articularise Lieutenant
Sweedland and Captain Matthetvs ; Lieutenant " (Alexander) " Sandilands,
first of the Euryalus ; together with two young men, Mr. John Alonk, of
the Berwick, and Mr. Crawford, of the frigate.

(Signed) " E. Brace."

During the winter of 1813, the Eurj'alus was employed
watching Toulon, under the orders of Captain Thomas Us-
sher, whose heroic services we have recently described. Be-
ing blown to the eastward of the Hieres islands, in company
witii the Undaunted, Captain Napier discovered two ships
and a schooner, standing towards Corsica, whereupon he
made the signal for an enemy, and instantly crowded sail in
pursuit. At sun-set the high land over Calvi was seen, and
no doubt remained that the strangers were endeavouring to
gain that port ; Captain Ussher, however, not feeling justified
in continuing the chase any longer, made the signal of recall ;
but the haziness of the weather preventing Captain Napier
from seeing it, the latter kept on, drove one of the fugitives
ashore, and compelled the others to seek refuge under the
hind batteries : the former bilged on the rocks, and was af-
terwards ascertained to be the Balaine, French store ship, of

3 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

22 guns and 120 men, from Toulon bound to Ajaccio. Her
companions were a gaberre of 30 guns and 150 men, laden
with stores; and a national schooner of the largest class.
Captain Napier's subsequent visit to Marseilles, in company
with Captain Ussher, is noticed at ^.356 et seq. of Supp.
Part I.

In June, 1814, the Euryalus sailed from Gibraltar for Ber-
muda, in company with a squadron under the orders of Cap-
tain Andrew King, and a fleet of transports having on board
part of the troops recently employed against Genoa. On her
arrival at Bermuda, she was placed under the orders of Sir
Alexander Cochrane, whom she shortly afterwards accompa-
nied to the mouth of the Potowmac river. The laborious
naval operations against Alexandria, in which she bore a very
active part, are noticed at considerable length under the head
of Sir James Alexander Gordon, who commanded the squa-
dron employed on that brilliant service, and in whose ofl&cial
report we find the following mention made of her skilful and
gallant commander :

** To Captain Napier I owe more obligations than I have words to ex-
press. The Euryalus lost her bowsprit, the head of her foremast, and the
heads of ail her top-masts, in a tornado which she encountered on the 25th
(Aug.)> just as her sails were clewed up, whilst we were passing the flats
of Maryland point ; and yet, after twelve hours work on her refittal, she
was again under weigh, and advanced up the river."

During the subsequent operations against Baltimore, we
find Captain Napier commanding a division of boats sent up
the Ferry branch of the Patapsco river, for the purpose of
causing a diversion favourable to the intended assault upon
the enemy's entrenched camp at the opposite side of the city.
The rain poured in torrents, and the night was so extremely
dark that eleven out of twenty boats pulled, by mistake, di-
rectly for the harbour. Fortunately, the lights on shore dis-
covered to the crews their perilous situation in time for them
to retreat. The remainder, containing 128 officers, seamen,
and marines, led by Captain Napier, passed up the Ferry
branch to a considerable distance above fort M'Henry, and
opened a heavy fire of rockets and shot upon the shore, at

posT-cAPrAixs OF 1809. 9

several parts of which they could have landed with case, had
the whole of their force been together. After having drawn
down a considerable number of American troops, and thereby
effected his object. Captain Napier returned to the squadron
with the loss of only one man, who was mortally wounded
when repassing fort M 'Henry*, the position of the boats being
pointed out to the enemy by a rocket, which one of the offi-
cers imprudently caused to be fired. It is worthy of remark,
that the British troops commenced their retreat from before
Baltimore whilst Captain Napier was thus paving the way for
the meditated attack.

Captain Napier was nominated a C. B. June 4, 1815 ; and
the Euryalus paid off by him about the same period. He
married the widow of Lieutenant Edward Elers, R. N.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

JOHN RICHARDS, Esq.

A Knight of the Ottoman Order of the Cretcent.

Entered the navy in Oct. 1/75, under the patronage of
Captain (afterwards Sir Charles) Thompson j and was a mid-
shipman on board the Alcide 74, commanded by that gallant
officer, in the different actions with the Count de Grasse, off
Martinique, the Chesapeake, and St. Kitt's; in 1781, and
Jan. 1782 f. He also assisted at the defeat and capture of
the same celebrated French Admiral, on the memorable 12th
April, 1782 1.

ITie Alcide returned to England in June, 1783 ; and on the
15th of the following month Mr. Richards joined the Triumph
74, commanded by Captain Philip Affleck, and stationed as a
guard-ship at Portsmouth, where he remained under that

• Fort M 'Henry is a strong work, defending the water approach to
Baltimore, and situated about two miles from the city, upon the point of
the peninsula that forms the south side of the harbour, which, at its eu<
trance, is scarcely a quarter of a mile in width.

t See Vol. II. Part I. p. 62 j and the notes at pp. 63—66.
I See Vol. I. p. 35 et teq.

10 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

officer and his successor. Captain Jonathan Faulknor, until
Feb. 28, 1/86. During the Spanish armament we find him
a^ain serving with Captain Thompson, in the Elephant 74.
His commission as a Lieutenant bears date Nov. 15, 1/90.

On the 2d April, 1791, Lieutenant Richards was appointed
to the Barfleur 98, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Faulk-
nor ; and after the breaking up of the fleet which had been
equipped in consequence of the dispute with Russia, he ap-
pears to have successively joined the Falcon sloop, and As-
surance 44 ; commanded by Captains James Bissett and V.
C. Berkeley.

Under these officers, Lieutenant Richards was principally
employed at the Leeward Islands, from whence he returned
home first of the Asia 64, Captain John Brown, in the sum-
mer of 1794. During the previous operations against Mar-
tinique he served on shore, in the seamen's battery, with 100
of her crew under his command. The hardships which he
suffered, in common with the other ofl&cers of the naval de-
tachment, have been noticed in our memoir of Sir Charles
Ogle — vol. 1, part I, note at p. 711. His subsequent appoint-
ments were to the Fury sloop, emploj^ed on Channel service ;
and. May 15, 1795, to the Alfred 74, fitting for a foreign
station.

The Alfred formed part of the fleet that sailed from St.
Helen's, under Rear-Admiral Christian, in Nov. J 795 ; and
she was twice obliged to put back through stress of weather*;
the latter time dismasted. After refitting at Plymouth we find
her placed under the orders of Vice-Admiral Coriiwallis, with
whom she finally took her departure for the West Indies, Feb.
29, 1796.

Early in the following month, the Alfred captured la Fa-
vorite French national ship, of 22 guns ; and retook two of
the convoy, which had been dispersed by a heavy gale in tlie
latitude of Cape Finisterre f.

• See p. 296 et seq. of Suppl. Part 1.
t Vice-Admiral Cornwallis returned to Spithead on the 14tli Mar., in
consequence of his flag-ship havmg sustained much damage by running foul
of the Belisarius transport.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809. 11

On her arrival at Barbadoes, the Alfred joined the expedi-
tion then about to sail against St. Lucia : and after assisting
at the reduction of that island *, she proceeded to Jamaica,
capturing, on her way thither, la Renommee French frigate,
of 44 guns and 320 men. The high opinion then entertained
of Lieutenant Richards by his Captain, is thus expressed in a
letter from the latter to Commodore Duckworth, dated Port
Royal, July 19, 1796:

" Sir, — Having, as senior officer at this port, given an order for the pur-
chase of la Renoinra^e frigate, prize to H. M. ship under my command, I
have thought proper to appoint uiy first Lieutenant, Mr. John Richards, hs
acting Captain in her for the present : and I cannot, in ju:itice to that gen-
tleman, omit recommending him to your notice, as I have always found
him a worthy, attentive, good officer. His conduct while on board the cor-
vette la Favorite, vaptured by the Alfred on the 5th March last, was such
as to enable Captain Bon'cn, of H. M. S. Canada, whom he fell in with ou
his passage to Barl)adoe8, to recommend him to the attention of the Admi-
ralty. 1 have likewise strenuously recommended him to their Lordships
on this secondary business ; and have to hope, as la Renommde constitutes
an appointment for a Post-Captain, that you will have the goodness to ap-
])oint Lieutenant Richards to the ?acant rank of Commaader. I have the
honor to be, Ac.

(Signed) " Thomas Drdrt."

In his letter to the Admiralty, reporting the capture of la
Renommee, Captain Drury says :

" In justice to the officers and company of H. M. ship under my com-
mand, particularly my first Lieutenant, Mr. John Richards, I cannot
help expressing my entire approbation of their steady behaviour, which I
am confident would have been very conspicuous had she been a ship of
equal force.**

Notwithstanding the above strong recommendation. Lieu-
tenant Richards was ordered by Commodore Duckworth to
resume his former station on board the Alfred, in which ship
he continued, under the command of Captain Drury, and that
officer's successor, the late Rear- Admiral Totty, until Aug. 27,
1798, acting as Captain of her during the absence of the
former officer, in June, 1796; assisting at the reduction of
Trinidad, in Feb. 1797 j and again commanding her, whilst

• See Vol. 1. note t at p. 134.

12 POST- CAPTAINS OP 1809.

the latter officer was employed on shore at Porto Rico, in the
month of April following*.

On the 16th Feb. 1798, Lieutenant Richards volunteered
to head the Alfred's boats in an attack upon a French cor-
vette, which vessel had been sent to reconnoitre the Saintes,
and when chased from thence succeeded in getting within
range of the batteries at Basseterre, Guadaloupe, leaving the
British ship becalmed some distance in the offing. His offer
being accepted by Captain Totty, and observing that the
greater part of the enemy's crew were employed towing.
Lieutenant Richards instantly shoved off in a fast-rowing
gig, dashed alongside, and boarded her without waiting for
any support. Fortunately, perhaps, for him, the Frenchmen
who remained on board were so surprised at his audacity,
and intimidated by the approach of the other boats, that they
ran below, and were secured under hatches, without making
any resistance. The prize proved to be le Scipio, of 20
guns I

We next find Lieutenant Richards joining the Queen Char-
lotte, a first rate, bearing the flag of his early patron. Sir
Charles Thompson ; after whose demise (Mar. 17, 1799), he
proceeded with Rear- Admiral Whitshed to the Mediterranean
station, and was there promoted into la Courageuse sloop,
stationed as a receiving ship at Port Mahon. This appoint-
ment was confirmed by the Admiralty, Dec. 26, 1799.

On the 20th June, 1800, Captain Rich{u*ds received an order
to act as captain of the CuUoden 74, which ship he brought
home in a very leaky condition. His next appointment was
to la Victorieuse of 12 guns, and in that vessel he went back
to the Mediterranean with despatches for the commander-in-
chief, whom he rejoined in Marmorice bay, Jan. 7, 1801.

During the Egyptian campaign, la Victorieuse was princi-
pally employed blockading Alexandria, off which port she
captured several vessels laden with supplies for the French
army. Captain Richards likewise assisted at the reduction of
Marabout castle, situated about seven or eight miles from that
place^ and protecting one of the entrances to the western

* See Vol. I. note at p. 112 etseq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 13

harbour. For his gallantry on this occasion, he was pre-
sented with a gold snuff box and shawl by the Capitan Pacha ;
and several other articles of value by different Turkish com-
manders.

About the same period, the Peterel sloop and la Victorieuse
drove a French transport brig on shore, and sent their boats
to save the enemy from being murdered by the Arabs. A gale
of wind suddenly came on, and the' land being dead to lee-
ward, only one boat, a gig, belonging to Captain Richards,
could pull off; the remainder were stove, and their crews
consequently exposed to very great danger. At this trying
moment the commander of la Victorieuse ordered two spare
top masts to be battened together, and boats' masts stepped
in the fid-holes ; by which means the raft, having one man on
it, was sailed on shore, and every person, both English and
French, rescued from destruction.

On the 2l8t Aug. 1801, the western bogaze having been
discovered and accurately surveyed *, la Victorieuse entered
the port of Alexandria in company with three other British
and the same number of Ottoman sloops, for the purpose
of supporting the left flank of the troops under Major-
General Coote, in an attack upon the French posts. On this
occasion the combined squadron was led by Captain Rich-
ards, under the immediate orders of Captain the Hon. Alex-
ander Cochrane, then on board la Victorieuse.

At the conclusion of the campaign, Captain Richards was
presented with the Turkish gold medal, in common with
his brother oflicers. He afterwards visited Cyprus, Smyrna,
and Constantinople, where he was invested with a pelisse
by order of the Grand Seignor. We subsequently find him
proceeding to Athens, Zante, Malta, Palermo, Cagliara, Mar-
seilles, Barcelona, Lisbon, Ceuta, and Tangiers.

In Nov. 1802, la Victorieuse made a second trip to the
Bosphorus, for the purpose of landing Mirza Aboo Talib
Khan, a distinguished Persian traveller, who had long been
resident in London. Shortly after his arrival in that strait,

• See Suppl., Part I, p. 479.

14 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1809.

Captain Richards received a letter from the British Am-
bassador at Constantinople, a copy of which we shall hiy
before our readers, for the purpose of shewing that the " Ml-
gin Marbles" &c. were not so cheaply procured by the
noble collector as many persons are disposed to believe :

" Constantinople, Oct. 2b, 1802.
" Sir, — As I understand that Major Brace left you at the Dardanelles,
I l»eg leave to address the bearer to you, in case he should be so fortunate
as to meet you. I send hira to Cerigo, where I am assured that a brig
belonging to me foundered about a month ago. I have no direct intelli-
gence, either of the accident, or of the means or hopes of recovering the
vessel, or the cargo. A merchant-captain, who travelled with Major
Brace to Constantinople, declares he was on the island at the time ; and
that Mr. Hamilton, an English gentleman, attached to my embassy (who
was on board), had engaged two large merchantmen to raise the brig,
which, he adds, they expected to be able to accomplish. This merchant-
captain further says, he heard you intended not proceeding to Constanti-
nople, in case the northerly wind should continue. This probability makes
me venture to say, that if it does suit your plans to call at Cerigo, and
examine, direct, or even assist in recovering my brig (the same for which
you obligingly took an interest last year), you will confer the highest favor
upon me. The vessel, in itself, is of consequence, as she is not insured ;
but her cargo is infinitely more so. She had on board a number of cases
of acquisitions, which I had collected with immense trouble, and expense,
at Athens, and which are, in their way, invaluable. I venture to say, that,
altho' the ship and cargo are my property, and cannot therefore justify my
asking your interference, publicly, yet the assistance I have experienced
from Lord Keith and Sir Richard Biekerton, on the subject of these acqui-
sitions, gives me confidence in saying, that, in as far as they, or the com-
manding officer under whose orders you may now be, are to judge, they
will not pass an unfavorable opinion, on your making as much exertion,
for the recovery of tliis vessel and cargo, as for any other merchantman :
in saying this, I beg you to be assured, that I feel the decision on your
part to rest solely with yourself, and that ray obligation will of course be
entirely to you. At all events, I am confident you will understand the
anxiety I must have on this occasion, and that you will give the bearer any
directions or aid which you may think useful for him. I have the honor
to rem{un. Sir, with much respect, your faithful, humble servant,

(Signed) " Elgin."

In consequence of this communication, Captain Richards
immediately proceeded to Port St. Nicolo, where he used
every means in his power to recover the Ambassador's valu-

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 15

able property ; but was obliged to abandon the attempt after
eleven days* most strenuous exertions, the whole of his
purchases having given way, and there being no possibility
of replacing them.

Shortly alter the renewal of hostilities (1803), Captain
Richards was stationed between Capes Spartel and Trafalgar,
where he fell in with and engaged two French armed vessels,
but was unable to close with them in consequence of their
sweeping over to the African coast, leaving la Victorieuse
nearly becalmed in the offing. On the 22d of the same
month (July) he sailed from Gibraltar, with Lord Nelson'9
despatches for the Admiralty ; and at the latter end of Sep-
tember following, he had the mortification to be put out of
commission ; although bis sloop was then refitted, and had
been ordered to prepare for the reception of the gentleman
who was at that time appointed his Majesty's representative
at Washington. While on half- pay he received a letter from
his Persian friend, of which the following is an exact trans-
lation :

•* Calcutta, 29 Oct. 1803.

" Dear Sir, — I hare the pleasure to inform you that I arrived here a few
months ago. I have since used my best endeavours to procure a white
shawl for your friend, but have not been fortunate enough to find one to
my wish. In the mean time I avail myself of the opportunity of a ^ntle-.
roan returning to England, to forward yon a green shuwl, the best I could
get here, addressed to you in Beruers Street. Ulien I go up to my native
city of Lucknow, I am certain of procuring a white one there of the finest
quality, which I shall take care to send you by the first occasimi. I have
have had the pleasure of meeting with, and presenting your respects to
Captain Thomhill and his daughter. In requesting you to accept of my
most grateful acknowledgements for the uuiform kindness and attention
which I received on board your ship, I remain. Dear Sir, your most
obedient faithful senrant,

(Signed) " Anott Talib Khan."

The writer of the above letter was well known in England,
under the title of the " Persian Prince." A narrative of his
travels, written by himself, and translated by the Hon. East
India Company's Professor of Oriental Languages, was pub-
lished by Longman and Co. in 1810. Speaking of his voyage
in la Victorieuse, he says :

16 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

" As soon as I had an opportunity of shewing to Captain Richards the
etters of his Majesty's Ministers to the English Consuls and Ambassadors
at tlie different courts, and he was thereby convinced of niy attachment to,
and connexion with the British nation, he conducted himself to me with
brotherly affection, and anticipated every wish of my heart. This voyage
was therefore one of the pleasantest I had ever undertaken."

Captain Richards's next appointment was, July 1, 1804, to
the Broderscarp sloop, stationed as a guard-ship inWhitstable
bay, where he continued until Oct. 1805. Whilst command-
ing that vessel he detained and made prize of a neutral ship,
with a valuable cargo of hemp and tallow, bound to a French
port.

On the 18th Sept. 1806, Captain Richards commissioned
the Forester, a new brig of the largest class, in which he
was employed escorting the trade to and from the Baltic,
and occasionally cruising on the coast of Holland, where he
recaptured an English ship laden with timber, feathers, and
wheat, and prevented many neutrals from entering the
blockaded ports of the enemy. He also captured the Hiram,
a celebrated smuggling cutter ; and burnt the wreck of H. M.
late frigate Flora, in order to prevent the Dutch from ob-
taining any of her materials *.

In June 1808, Captain Richards was entrusted with the
command of a small squadron * stationed off Goree ; and in
the following month he received orders to fit for foreign
service.

The Forester sailed from Spithead, with 500,000 dollars on
board for the use of the Spanish patriots, and seven sail of
transports under her convoy ; two, laden with ordnance
stores, bound to Corunna ; and the others with provisions for
the West India garrisons.

After a stay of eight days at Corunna, Captain Richards
proceeded to Barbadoes, and there joined Sir Alexander
Cochrane, by whom he was successively employed in the
blockade of Martinique and Guadaloupe.

♦ The Flora 36, Captain Loftus Otway Bland, was wrecked Jan. 19,
1808 ; and in the same gale every vessel of the Heligoland squadron,
except the Forester, was likewise driven on shore.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1909. J7

On theSIstMay, 1809 (about four months after the surren-
der of the former vahiable colony), the boats of a small squad-
ron, under the orders of Captain Richards, captured a French
brig letter of marque, and a schooner, lying in Port du Mo-
las, where they were protected by 4 long 8-pounders and 300
soldiers. This service was conducted by Lieutenant Robert
Carr, of the Attentive gun-brig, who after securing his prizes,
landed, spiked the enemy's guns, and blew up their magazine.

A few days afterwards, the subject of this memoir removed
to the Abercrorabie 74, at Antigua, of which ship he continu-
ed to act as Captain until Aug. 31 following, when he left her
in consequence of his having been promoted by the Admi-
ralty, and appointed to the Cyclops 28 ^^for rank." His post
commission bears date June 2, 1809.

Captain Richards returned home, via Halifax, and was
allowed the expenses of his passage from thence to England
in a packet.

Agent. — J. Hinxman, Esq.

GEORGE SANDERS, Esqi

This officer was made a Commander April 29, 1802 ) and
appointed to the Falcon of 14 guns, about Mar. 1804. On
the lOth June, in the following year, we find him engaged
with a division of the Havre flotilla, and the batteries be-
tween that place and Fecamp ; on which occasion his sloop
suffered considerably in her sails and rigging, but had not a
man slain, and only four persons wounded.

The Falcon was subsequently employed affording protec-
tion to the Baltic trade, and co-operating with the garrison of
Dantzic, during the siege of that city by the French army
under Marshal Lefebvre. The only correct account of the
exertions made by the British naval force to succour the
brave Prussians that has ever been published, will be found at
pp. 228—233 of Suppl. Part I.

Captain Sanders was next appointed to the Bellette of 18

SUPPL. PART II. C

18 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

guns, in which brig he captured the following amied vessels,
on the Leeward Islands station :

Jalouse French privateer, of 4 guns and 75 men ; Confiance privateer,
pierced for 16 guns, but mounting only 7, with a complement of 70 men ;
and the Revanche letter of marque, of 6 guns and 44 men, laden with
provisions, from Bourdeaux bound to Guadaloupe. This latter vessel,
pierced for 18 guns, had been a very successful privateer all the war,
and was intended to be again fully armed and manned, as soon as her car-
go was discharged.

Captain Sanders obtained post rank June 2, 1809.
Agents, — Messrs Stilwell.

RIGHT HON. LORD JAMES TOWNSHEND.

Youngest son of George, the first Marquis Townshend, by
his second lady, Anne, daughter of Sir William Montgomery,
Bart.

This officer was bom Sept. 11, 1/85 ; and he appears, by
Mr. James's account, to have been first Lieutenant of the
Atlas 74, in Sir J. T. Duckworth's action, off St. Domingo,
Feb. 6, 1806 *. His promotion to the rank of Commander
took place Nov. 14 following.

On the 15th Aug. 180/, Lord James Townshend addressed
an official letter to Vice-Admiral Berkeley, commander-in-
chief at Halifax, of which the following is a copy :

" Sir, — I beg leave to represent to you, that the five men named in the
margin -f, belonging to H. M. sloop Halifax, under my command ; when
sent with a petty officer in the jolly-boat, in Hampton roads, on the 7th
March last, to weigh a kedge-anchor, which had previously been dropped
for the purpose of swinging the ship by, taking advantage of the dusk of the
evening, mutinied upon the petty officer, some of them threatening to mur-
der him ; but the rest interfering they desisted. However, taking the boat
under their own command, they succeeded in deserting, by landing at

• See Nav. Hist. Vol. IV. p. 282 j and Royal Nqv. Biog. Vol. I,
Part I. note at p. 262.

t Richard Hubert, Henry Saunders, Jenkin Radford, George Nortli, and
WilUamlliU

POST-CAPTAINS OV 1809. 19

Sewell's point. The whole of the above-mentioned deserters, I have since
been informed, entered on board the U. S. frigate Chesapeake, and were
seen by me and several of my officers parading the streets of Norfolk in
triumph, under the American flag. A few days after their desertion, I
accosted one of these men, Henry Saunders, asking the reason of his de-
serting, and received for answer, that he did not intend any thing of the
kind, but was compelled by the rest to assist, and would embrace the first
opportunity of returning. At that moment Jenkin Radford, one of the
said deserters, coming up, took the arm of the said Henry Saunders, de-
claring with an oath, that neither he, nor any of the rest of the deserters,
should return to this ship ; and with a contemptuous gesture told me that
he was in the land of liberty, and instantly dragged the said Henry Saunders
away.

" Finding that my expostulating any longer would not only be useless in
obtaining the deserters, but in all probability have collected a mob of Ame-
ricans, who no doubt would have proceeded to steps of violence, I instantly
repaired to the house of Colonel Hamilton, the British Consul there, and re-
lated every circumstance which occurred, and applied to him, as also to
Lieutenant Sinclair, of the rendezvous for the United States' service, to re-
cover the said deserters, but without effect.

" Being since informed that Jenkin Radford has been recovered in
action on board the U. S. frigate Chesapeake, with H. B. M. ship Leo-
pard *, and is now a prisoner on board H. M. S. Bellona, I have to re-
quest that you will be pleased to direct a court-martial may be assembled
for the purpose of trying the said Jenkin Radford, for the within-mentioned
charges of mutiny, desertion, and contempt. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " J. Townshend."

From the minutes of the court-martial it appears that
Jenkin Radford (a native of the British metropolis), was found
in the Chesapeake's coal-hole ; and that, being seen by the
Purser of the Leopard, he was immediately recognized by him
as a man who had been discharged horn her to the Halifax.
When called upon for his defence, he stated, that the evi-
dence brought against him was so strong, there was but little
left for him to say ; that the reason of his hiding himself in
the coal-hole was for fear of the Americans making him
fight against his country, which he declared he would not do
on any account : that he, with all the men who deserted from
the Halifax, were persuaded by the boatswain of the Chesa-
peake to enter for her, which they did. Lieutenant Sinclair

• See Vol. H. Part H. pp. 892—697.
c 2

iA

20 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

asking them ij they had not a second name. That about 30
men went in the first draft with him to the Chesapeake,
when Captain Gordon mustered them ; and that they were
mustered again in Hamptmi roads by Commodore Barron!'*
The Court being of opinion that the charges preferred by Lord
James Townshend were proved, adjudged the prisoner to suf-
fer death, which sentence was carried into effect at the fore-
yard-arm of the Halifax, Aug. 31, 180/.

Lord James Townshend's post commission bears date
June 2, 1809; and we subsequently find him commanding
the vEolus 32, in which frigate he encountered a* violent hur-
ricane while cruizing off New York, with a small squadron
under his orders, Sept. 30, 1811 *. In Feb. and Mar. 1813,
he had the good fortune to capture^ six American ships,
laden with cotton, logwood, rice, corn, molasses, &c. ; and
one neutral with a cargo of btead and flour.

His Lordship married. May 8, 1813, Elizabeth, daughter
of Mr. P. Wallis, Government Cooper, at Halifax.

Agent* — John Chippendale, Esq.

THOMAS THRUSH, Esq.

Served as a Lieutenant of the Sans Pareil 80, under Lord
Hugh Seymour ; obtained the rank of Commander April 29,
1802; was appointed to the Avon sloop, in Sept. 1806;
and made a Post-Captain June 8, 1809. He resigned his
commission, Jan. 14, 1825, "on the ground of the unlawful-
ness of war." His "Letter to the King" published at that
period, has been ably answered by Mr. William Anderson^
Master Painter of H. M. Dock Yard, Portsmouth.

WILLIAM MOUNSEY, Esq.

A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
Fifth son of the late George Mounsey, of Carlisle, co.

• See Captain Fredsrick MARRyAxr, C. B.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 21

Cumberland, Esq. ; and grandson of the late Rev. Robert
Mounsey, Vicar of Ravenstonedale, in Westmoreland *.

This distinguished ofi&cer commenced his . naval career
Feb. 23, 1780, at the age of thirteen years, as a midshipman
on board the Royal Oak 74, Captain Sir Digby Dent, which
ship formed part of a squadron sent out, in MayJfoUowing,
to reinforce Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, on the North Ameri-
can station ; it being known that M. de Ternay and the Count
de Rochambeau had recently sailed from Brest with a for-
midable naval and military force, bound to Rhode Island. In
the course of his first voyage across the Atlantic, Mr. Moun-
sey witnessed the capture of a valuable French East In-
diaman.

The Royal Oak and her consorts arrived off Sandy Hook
on the 13th July, only two days after the French commanders
had reached the anchorage to which they were destined^and
where they secured themselves so completely as to put it
out of the power of the British to make an^attack ^vith any
other prospect than that of discomfiture.

From the Royal Oak, Mr. Mounsey removed with Sir
Digby Dent to the Raisonable 64 j the commander-in-chief
having selected the former ship to bear his flag.

Returning home with despatches, the Raisonable encoun-
tered the tail of a hurricane, and was so much shattered that
it became necessar\' to frap her sides together ; she was con-
sequently paid off immediately after her arrival.

We next find Mr. Mounsey serving under Sir Digby Dent
in the Repulse, a new 64, forming part of the squadron de-
tached from Vice-Admiral Darby's fleet to cover the landing
of provisions and stores at Gibraltar, in April 1781. While
on that service she was frequently engaged with the Spanish
flotilla, and previous to her departure from the bay the
greater part of the besieged town was totally destroyed by
the enemy's land batteries f.

Towards the close of the same year, Mr. Mounsey foUow-

• George Mounsey, Esq. had fourteeu children, twelve of whom were
still living in Dec. 1827.

t See Vol, J, Part I. p. 4, and note : at p. 33.

22 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

ed Sir Digby Dent into the Cumberland 74, which ship was
shortly afterwards placed under the command of Captain
William Allen, to whom he was strongly recommended by
his early and constant patron, whose ill health had obliged
him to retire from active service.

On the 6th Feb. 1782, the Cumberland sailed for India, in
company with a squadron under Commodore Sir Richard
Bickerton (to whose favorable notice Mr. Mounsey was like-
wise recommended), and she appears to have sustained a loss
of 2 men killed and 1 1 wounded in the last battle between
Sir Edward Hughes and M. de Suffirein, fought oflF Cudda-
lore, June 20, 1783 *.

Mr. Mounsey returned to England in May, 1784; and
served the remainder of his time as midshipman on board the
Orestes sloop, Captain Manley Dixon. After passing the
usual examination, he successively joined the Arethusa frigate,
Captain John Stanhope ; Victory of 100 guns, bearing the
flag of Lord Hood during the Spanish and Russian arma-
ments ; Duke 98, flag-ship of the same noble veteran in
1792 ; and Juno frigate, Captain Samuel Hood.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
Mr. Moimsey was again received on board the Victory, in
which ship Lord Hood was then about to sail for the Medi-
terranean. His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took
place May 22, 1793, on which occasion he was appointed by
his Lordship to the Ardent 64, Captain Robert Manners
Sutton.

Mr. Mounsey was now about to enter into a series of very
active and hazardous services. On the arrival of the fleet
under Lord Hood at Gibraltar, he received an appointment
to the Lowestoffe frigate, Captain William Wolseley, under
whose command he assisted at the occupation of Toulon ; the
attack upon Fornelli, in Corsica ; and the reduction of St,
Fiorenzo, Bastia, and Calvi. During the blockade of Bas-
tia, he volunteered his services to cut out a vessel from under
a battery on the island of Capraja, and the protection of nu-

• See Vol. I, Part I, note at p. 425.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 23

nierous troops, who, together \rith her crew, kept up a con-
tinual fire as the Lowestoffe's boats advanced. This vessel
was laden with powder, and her capture greatly accelerated
the fall of Bastia.

Lieutenant Mounsey returned home in the Imperieuse fri-
gate, and was afterwards appointed in succession to the Tri-
dent 64, Impregnable 98, Duke of similar force, Defiance 74,
and Clyde 38 ; the latter ship commanded by that excellent
officer. Captain (now Commissioner) Cunningham, with whom
he continued until^his promotion, April 29, 1802.

On the 6th July, 1801, the boats of the Clyde and her con-
sorts *, under the directions of Lieutenant Mounsey, set fire
to, and totally destroyed the wreck of the Jason frigate ; a
service most gallantly executed, under a heavy fire from two
French batteries, and in the presence of two large frigates, a
corvette, and eight gun-vessels, then lying at St. Maloes f .

From May 1/, 1802, until the autumn of 1S08, Captain
Mounsey commanded the Rosario sloop ; and was succes-
sively employed protecting the revenue, carrying despatches
to the Mediterranean, cruising on the Irish, Boulogne, and
Havre stations, reconnoitring the enemy's ports in the north
of Spain, assisting at the capture of the Danish West India
islands X, and escorting a fleet of merchantmen from the
Leeward Islands to England. During the above period he
captured two Dutch ships from Surinam and Berbice, laden
with colonial produce, and ten other of the enemies' mer-
chant vessels : he also assisted at the capture of I'Atalante,
French ship privateer, of 22 guns and 120 men.

Captain Mounsey 's next appointment was, April 18, 1809,
to the Bonne Citoyenne, a flush-decked ship, mounting 18
thirty-two-pounder carronades and 2 long nines, with a com-
plement of 120 officers, men and boys. In that sloop he
first proceeded to Lisbon, with despatches for Earl St. Vin-
cent ; and subsequently sailed from England in company with
the trade bound to Quebec. On his way thither he fell in

• Weazle sloop, two ^un-brigs, and two luggers.

t See Vol. II, Part I, p. 80.

: See Vol. I, Part I, last par. at p. 263.

24 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809.

withj pursued, and after a sanguinary battle of nearly seven
hours, captured la Furieuse French frigate, armed en flute ;
an event which added fresh lustre to his Majesty's arms, and
fully entitled him to the marks of royal and official favor
which he afterwards received. The following is a copy of
his public letter to Sir John B. Warren, Bart, dated at Hali-
fax, Aug. 1, 1809, reporting that brilliant occurrence :

'* Sir, — I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of my
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, having sailed from Spithead,
on the 18th June, in company vvithH. M. S. Inflexible and the Quebec
trade, on the 2d July, in lat. 44* N. long. 27° W., I had the misfortune
to lose sight of the convoy when reconnoitring a strange suspicious sail
astern, and by traversing between the parallels of 43° and 44° N., edging
to the westward in proportion to the distance I supposed they would sail
with such winds, in order to regain the fleet, I had the good fortune on
the 5th, at 3 P. M., in lat. 43" 41' N., and long. 34° W., to fall in with a
French frigate in the act of taking possession of a large English merchant
ship, which they relinquished on our approach, steering to the northward
under a press of sail. Finding they did not answer the private signal, I
immediately bore up in pursuit, and, after a chase of 18 hours, at 9-25
A. M. on the 6th, had the satisfaction to lay H. M. sloop alongside within
pistol-shot of the enemy, who had brought to, to engage us.

" A brisk cuimonade with round and grape immediately commenced, and
the combat continued with unabated fury, gradually closing until 4-16
P. M., when our powder being nearly expended I determined to carry her by
boarding with all hands ; and at the instant of laying her aboard for that pur-
pose, they called out they had surrendered, and struck their colours to H. M.
sloop. Thus ended a conflict obstinately maintained for six hours and
fifty minutes, during which the enemy fired away more than /O broadsides,
whilst H. M. sloop, not less sparing, discharged 129 destructive broad-
sides, alternately from the starboard and larboard sides, as circumstances
would permit me to change her position with advantage, so as to avoid the
necessity of slackening our fire from the guns being over-heated ; three of
which were dismounted and rendered useless early in the action.

*' She Iproved to be la Furieuse, a French frigate of the largest class,
that escaped from the Saintes on the 1st April, pierced for 48 guns, but
having only 12 forty-two-pounder carronades and 2 long twenty-four
pounders on the main deck, with 6 of smaller calibre," (James says 8-
pounders) ; "40 soldiers at small arms, her full proportion of officers, and
a complement of 200 men, besides the Colonel, 2 Lieutenants, and a de-
tachment of the 66th regiment of the line ; partly loaded with sugar and
coffee ; last from Basse Terre, bound to France j she is seven years old,
and sails very fast.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 26

** After a hard contested action, a most arduous duty still remained to be
performed. On taking possession, wc found the frigate in a most perilous
state, with 14 shot-holes between wind aud water, and 5 feet water in her
hold. Her top-masls, and all her yards (except the cross-jack and sprit-
sail) shot away, and ber lower-masts so badly wounded as to render i t
almost impossible to prevent them from falling; with more tban /'> men
killed and wounded : whilst H. M. sloop was reduce<l to a mere wreck,
having all her lower-masts badly wounded in several places, the top-masts
shut away, and nearly all the standing, and every part of the running rig-
ging, sails, boats, &c. cut to pieces. After securing the prisoners, the
weather being very favourable during the night, by the exertions of Mr
(Williams) Random, setond Lieutenant, and Mr. Atwater, the carpenter,
several of the most dangerous shot-holes were stopped, so as to enable
them to keep the ship free: but all their efforts to save her masts proved
ineffectual, as the main and mizen went overboaru the next oay, leaving
the bare fore-mast standing, wounded in three places.

" The indefatigable exertions of every officer and man in the Bonne
Citoyenne, in fishing and securing her roasts, so as to be able to take the
frigate in tow, and surmounting every other difficulty, merits my wannest
praise and admiration ; and 1 feel highly gratified in reporting to thdr
lordships, that nothing could exceed the animated zeal and unwearied intre-
pidity of the officers, seamen, and royal marines, whom I have the honor
to command, in a contest with an enemy apparently of so great a supe-
riority of force : and I beg particularly to mention the able assistance that
I received from Mr. (Joseph) Symes, the first Lieutenant, Mr. Saodom,
and Mr. (Nathaniel) Williamson, the master, which contributed greatly to
the success of the action j Mr. (John N. C.) Scott, the purser, Mr. John
Black, and Mr. M'Auley, passengers, in the handsomest manner, volun-
teered their s^^rvices, assisted at the guns, and wherever they could make
themselves most useful ; and Mr. Ste>vart, the surgeon, deserves much
praise for his humanity and great attention to our own as well as the
wounded prisoners ; indeed the patience with which all hands have borne
the extreme fatigue and privation of being constantly on deck for 25 days
and nights, docs them infinite credit, and urges me to so long a detail.

" Thus circumstanced, I was induced to make the best of my way to
this port, where I arrived with the prize on the Ist instant. The Bonne
Citoyenne requiring three lower-masts, top-masts, &c. to enable her to
proceed in the execution of their lordships' orders. I have the honor
herewith to enclose a list of the killed and wounded, and I am happy to
say our loss has been inconceivably small, which I can attribute only to
the lo\vness of the Bonne Citoyenne's hull, and being so close under the
enemy's guns *.

• Bonne Citoyenne, 1 killed, 6 wounded. — Furietue, 36 killed, 37
wounded.

26 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

On his return to England, with a convoy from Quebec,
Captain Mounsey received a very flattering private letter
from the First Lord of the Admiralty, of which the following
is a transcript :

" Admiralty, Sept. 20, 1809.

** Sir, — I did not fail this day, to lay before his Majesty the particulars
of your conduct in the attack and capture of the Furieuse, French frigate,
on the 6th July. The enterprising gallantry with which you approached
and attacked a ship bearing such an appearance of a commanding supe-
riority of force, and the skill, courage, and perseverance manifested by
you, and by the oflScers, seamen, and marines under your command,
during an action of such long continuance, and so warmly contested, have
received his Majesty's fullest approbation; and his Majesty has been
graciously pleased to bestow on you a medal, as an honorable memorial
of your very gallant and distinguished conduct on that occasion. It has
^ven me the greatest satisfaction to sign a commission promoting you to
the rank of Post-Captain, and appointing you to the command of the fine
frigate, which you have so nobly added to the naval force of the country ;
I have also great pleasure in notifying to you the promotion of Lieutenant
Symes, to the rank of Commander, and I have to request that you will
transmit to me the names of the warrant officers of the Boone Citoyenne,
with a view to their promotion in their several ranks ; together with the
name of the mate, or midshipman, whom you shall recommend for the
rank of Lieutenant, and the names of any very meritorious petty officers
severally under the boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, who may be
deserving of promotion, and qualified to receive it. I trust that this
general promotion, through every rank serving in the Bonne Citoyenne,
may be a satisfactory testimony of my estimation of the action which has
been achieved ; and may operate as an incentive to others, to emulate aii
example so worthy of imitation and applause. I have the honor to be.
With the highest esteem, &c.

CSigned) " Mulgrave."*

** To Captain Mounsey.**

The Furieuse requiring a thorough repair, in consequence
of her shattered state, was not got ready for commissioning

• A public letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, dated three days
after the above, informed Captain Mounsey that he was to take post-rank
from the day of the action, and directed him " to signify to Lieutenant
Symes, that it was the intention of their Lordships, as a reward for his
gallant services, to promote him to the rank of Commander, the moment
he should have completed his two years' servitude as a Lieutenant," which
latter rank he did not obtain before March 13, 1808.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 27

before Nov. 1811 ; at which period Captain Mounsey received
orders to take charge of the outward-bound Lisbon and
Mediterranean trade. During the remainder of the war with
France, he was very actively employed under the command
of Sir £dwardPellew, by whom he was, at first, attached to the
Inshore squadron off Toulon* ; secondly, sent on a cruise oif
Corsica, where his boats captured a French tartan loaded
with wheat ; and, thirdly, placed under the orders of the
senior officer on the coasts of Naples and Sicily. In Nov. 1812^
and Jan. 1813, he captured the French privateers Nebrophonus
and Argus, each mounting 4 guns ; the former carrying 54, and
the latter 85 men. His gallant and officer-like conduct at the
capture of Ponza, Feb. 26, 1813, was highly spoken of by
Captain Charles Napier, a copy of whose o£5cial letter, re-
porting the manner in which that island was obtained posses-
sion of, will be found at p. 5 c/ seq.

On the 7th of May following, the boats of the Furieuse,
commanded by Lieutenants Walter Croker and Williams
Sandom, cut out, from under the tower and batteries of
Orbitcllo, a" xebec mounting 2 six-pounders; in the perform-
ance of which service, Mr. Webb midshipman, and three
seamen were wounded, the former dangerously and the others
severely.

The result of an attack made upon a French convoy about
six miles to the eastward of Civita Vecchia is thus described
by Captain Mounsey :

" H. M. S. Furieuse, atiea, Oct. 8, 1813.
" On the 4th Inst., running along the coast to the island of Ponza, at 1 P.M.,
I observed a convoy of nineteen vessels in the harbour of Marinelo,
protected by two g^un-boats, a fort of two long 24-pounders, and a strong
fortified castle and tower ; and it appearing practicable to cut them out, as
the wind was fair for that purpose. Lieutenants Croker and (William)
Lester, with Lieutenants (James) Whylock and (William) Daries, R. M.,
gallantly volunteered to storm the fort on the land side, with the whole
of the marines and boats' crews, whilst the ship anchored before it, which
service was promptly performed ; and after a few broadsides, I had the
satisfaction of seeing the battery carried, and guns spiked, by our gallant

• See Commander Rowland Mainwaring.

28 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809.

party on shore. The enemy retreated, and took the strong positions of
the castle and tower overlooking the harbour, where they kept up a con-
stant fire of musketry through loop-holes, without the possibility of being
dislodged ; although I weighed and moved in, so that the whole fire of the
ship was directed against them. Nothing could damp the ardour of the
party on shore, who, together with Lieutenant Lester in the boats, lost not
a moment in boarding and cutting the cables of 16 vessels, under a most
galling fire.two of which were sunk in the entrance of the harbour, and four-
teen got out. I have to regret the loss of 12 brave men killed and wounded ;
which is less than might have been expected, as more than 500 troops
arrived from Civita Vecchia, but were checked in their advance, and
forced to take a circuitous route, by a well-directed fire from the ship,
which allowed sufficient time for all our men to embark • • • • . The
whole of this service was most successfully accomplished in three hours, and
fourteen vessels deeply laden (with salt, tobacco, marble, and sundries), got
off, which I was obliged to take in tow, as their sails had all been unbent,
and taken on shore, to prevent our getting them out •."

The Furieuse formed part of the squadron under Sir Josias
Rowley, at the capture of Via Reggio and the unsuccessful
attempt upon Leghorn, in Dec. 1813 f. She also assisted at
the occupation of Santa Maria and the other forts, &c. in the
Gulph of Spezzia ; likewise at the reduction of Genoa and its
dependencies, in March and April, 1814 J.

After the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and
France, Captain Mounsey proceeded from Gibraltar to Ber-
muda, in company with a squadron under the orders of
Captain Andrew King. We next find him conveying the 62d
regiment to Halifax ; and he was subsequently employed in aij
expedition up the Penobscot river, where he remained until
the peace with America, in command of a small naval force
left behind by Rear- Admiral Griffith, to assist the troops
under Major-General Gosselin in fortifying and defending the
peninsula of Castine §. The Furieuse was paid off shortly
after the final overthrow of Napoleon Buonaparte, since

• The vessels sunk were the two gun-boats, each mounting a long brasi
24-pounder and 4 swivels. One of the merchantmen was pierced for 12
guns, and had two long sixes mounted.

+ See Vol. II. Part I. pp. 424—428.

X See Id. pp. 428—430.

§ See Vol. I. Part. I. p. 658 : and Vol. II. Part. II. p. 729 et seq.

POST-C\PTAINS OP 1809. 29

which Captain Mounsey's services have not been called
for.

This gallant oflBcer was nominated a C. B. in June, 1815 ;
and as a further testimony of the royal approbation of his
zeal and energy (on the 6th July, 1809), some honorable
distinctions allusive to the capture of the Furieuse, to be
borne in his armorial ensigns, have more recently been
granted and assigned to him by the Kings of Arms, under the
authority of tiie Earl Marshal.

Agent, — Joseph Dufaur, Esq.

THOMAS FORREST, Esq. '

A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

We first find this officer serving as senior Lieutenant of
the Emerald frigate, Captain (now Lord James) O'Bryen, by
whom the following honorable testimony is borne to his gal-
lant conduct when employed on a very hazardous service, in
March 1804 :

" H. M. S. Emerald, off St. Pierre't, Martinique, March 13, 1801.

** Sir, — I have the honor to enclose you a letter I have received from
Lieutenant Forrest, first of H. M. S. under my command, who I this morn-
ing sent, accompanied by 30 volunteers, on board the Fort-Diamond armed
sloop, with directions to work to windward, so as to enable the sloop to
weather the Pearl rock, and to bear down on an armed schooner, which
had (finding it impossible to get into St. Pierre's, this ship being to
leeward), anchored close in shore, under cover of the battery at Seron. I
at the same time sent the boats of this ship in a different direction, in order
to take off the attention of the battery from the manoeuvre in contempla*
tion, to be performed by Lieutenant Forrest.

" It affords me particular satisfaction to bear testimony to the handsome
and gallant manner in which the service vvas executed. Lieutenant Forrest
having laid the enemy's schooner on board, under a heavy fire from h&^
and the battery.

" In the performance of this service great judgment was exhibited, as,
by the mode of doing it, a chun, by which she was fastened to the shore,
was broke, 20 feet of which is now hanging to the schooner's bow. The
crew of this vessel" (consisting of about 60 whites and blacks), " finding
it impossible to withstand British intrepidity, jumped overboard and swam
ashore, which tbey were enabled to do from her being moored close to it.

dd POST-icAPTAlNS OP 1809.

** It affords me particular pleasure to inform you. Sir, that this exploit
was performed without any loss on our part, two men only being slightly
wounded. I have been rather more circumstantial in this detail, than per-
haps the mere capture of a privateer justifies, but I feel I should not do
justice to the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Forrest, the judgment he ex-
hibited, and the brave and cool conduct of the petty officers and men un-
der his command, whicli he speaks of in high terms, had I neglected
relating every circumstance that took place, which has excited admiration
and emulation in the breasts of the spectators ; and 1 must beg to add, that
the general conduct of this officer, ever since he has been under my com-
mand, has been such as to entitle him to my approbation. The captured
schooner, whose name I can only guess at from a letter found on board,
the only paper left, is the Mosambique, pierced for 14 guns, with 10
eighteen-pounder carronades mounted ; she is from Guadaloupe, and fitted
for a three months' cruise, to all appearance perfectly new, copper-bot-
tomed and fastened, sails apparently well, and seems calculated for the
King's service.

(Signed) " Jambs O'Brybn."

" To Commodore Hood."

The subject of this memoir was made a Commander Jan.
22, 1806 ; and in the following year we find him regulating
the Impress, and acting as agent for prisoners of war, at
North Yarmouth. His next appointment was to the Prome-
theus sloop of war.

The capture of three Russian gun-vessels, each mounting
2 long 18- pounders, and an armed transport, by a detachment
of boats under the orders of Captain Forrest, at Fredericsham,
in the Gulph of Finland, is thus officially described by the
senior officer of the squadron to which the Prometheus was
at that time attached.

"H. M. S. Princett Carolinu, Aspo, July 26, 1809.
*' Having been informed that the enemy had at this place several gun-
boats to protect their coasting trade, which is of the greatest consequence
in supplying their army, &c. in all parts of Finlan<l, and it having beeft
represented to me by Captain Forrest the probability of their being des-
troyed, himself having offered in the most handsome manner to command
the expedition, wliich I immediately accepted, and having directed the
boats of H. M. ships Princess CaroUna, Minotaur, Cerberus, and Prome-
theus (in all 17), armed in the best possible way, to put themseves under
the command of Captain Forrest, and to assemble alongside the Prome-
theus at six o'clock yesterday evening, I have now the happiness to inform
you of a successful attack he made last night about half-past ten, on four

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809. '3^1

gon-boats, three of which he has captured, and also a new briff laden with
provisions : the captured gun-boats had on board 137 men, besides 23 in
the brig. They are very complete and well found. Were it possible for
ine to say any thing which could add to the meritorious conduct of so gal-
lant and good an officer as Captain Forrest, I should most willingly do it ;
but I trust the success of this brilliant action will do more justice to the
intrepidity of every officer and man employed on this service, than any
language I can possibly use.

(Signed) "Charles Dudlbt Patkr."

The prizes taken on this occasion were very dearly pur-
chased, no less than 70 of the British being killed and wound-
ed, including among the latter Captain Forrest, who in his
own ofl&cial letter says :

" Our loss is severe indeed, as might be expected from the nature of
the force, and the extreme obstinacy with which the enemy defended their
charge ; the crew of one gun-boat being to a man killed or dangerously
wounded. I cannot find words to expreu the zeal and intrepidity exhibiu
ed upon this occasion by all, and the manifest superiority of our seamen
when it came to the cutlass."

The enemy's total loss amounted to 87 killed and wounded.
Sir James Saumarez, when reporting the sanguinary affair to
the Admiralty, informed their lordships that " the undaunted
bravery displayed by Captain Forrest^ the officers and men
employed under his orders^ was beyond all praise *."

For his gallantry in the above action, Captain Forrest was
immediately advanced to post rank, and his commission
dated back to July 25, 1809. On the 9th Feb. 1812, we find
him appointed to the Cyane 22, in which ship he accompa-
nied Rear-Admiral Durham to the Leeward Islands at the
commencement of 1814. ** His meritorious conduct, not
only in assiduously keeping sight of, but repeatedly offer-
ing battle to the Iphigenia, a French frigate of the largest
class," during her flight from the Venerable 74, was duly
acknowledged by that officer, in his public letter reporting
the subsequent capture of the enemy's ship f.

• A lieutenant and 2 men of the Prometheus had been killed, and 4
men wounded, in a previous boat attack, which will be noticed in our mfr*
moir of Captain Frederick E. V. Vernon.

t See Captain James Andrew Worth.

32 <»OST-CAPTAINS OP 1809.

In Mar. 1814, Captain Forrest was removed to the Sybille
frigate ; and since the peace he has commanded the Ister of
42 guns, on the Mediterranean station ; and Isis 50, bearing
the flag of Sir Lawrence W. Halsted, at Jamaica. He ob-
tained the insignia of a C. B. in 1815.

Agent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney.

RICHARD HARWARD, Esq.

Commanded the Netley schooner, at Antigua, in June,
1805 ; and was a Lieutenant of the Northumberland 74, in
Sir John T. Duckworth's action, ofif St. Domingo, Feb. 6,
1806. He obtained the rank of Commander, April 2, 1806 j
was appointed to the Delphinen brig, of 18 guns, about April
1808 ; and had the misfortune to lose that vessel, near the
coast of Holland, on the 4th Aug. following.

Captain Harward's next appointment was to the Parthian
of 10 guns, in which sloop he captured la Nouvelle Gironde,
a celebrated privateer belonging to Bourdeaux, mounting 4
twelve and 10 four-pounders, with a complement of 86 men,
but only 58 on board, the remainder being absent in prizes.
This scourge to the trade was taken after a chace, in light
winds, of 36 hours, during which period, the Parthian's offi-
cers and crew were almost constantly at the sweeps.

This officer was made post July 31, 1809; and we subse-
quently find him commanding the flag- ships of his father-in-
law, Sir Edward Pellew, now Viscount Exmouth, on the
North Sea and Mediterranean stations.

GEORGE BELL, Esq.

Was born at Falmouth, co. Cornwall, July 1, 1768. His
name appears on the books of the Hebe frigate. Captain Ed-
ward Thornbrough, in 1781 and the two following years.
We subsequently find him serving as Midshipman, Master's-

IKIST- CAPTAINS OF 1809. 33

toate, acting Master, and Lieutenant ; on board the Hyaena
of 24 guns, Captain John Aylmer ; Orion 74, Captain John
T. Duckworth ; and la Nymphe, Arethusa, and Indefatigable
frigates, commanded by his friend and patron, the present
Viscount Exmouth. An account of the numerous and im-
portant services performed by the last three ships, between
June, 1793, and the spring of 1799, will be found at pp. 212—
219 of our first volume. Lieutenant Bell afterwards^assisted
at the capture of la Venus French frigate, and several priva-
teers *.

From the conclusion of the war in 1801 (at which period the
Indefatigable was commanded by Captain Matthew Henry
Scott), we find no mention of Lieutenant Bell until the sum-
mer of 1804, when he proceeded to India, as first of Sir Ed-
ward Pellew's flag-ship, the Culloden J4.

Shortly after his arrival on that station, the subject of this
memoir was appointed to command the Victor sloop, and
sent to the Persian Gulph, where he captured les Amis Re-
unis French privateer, May J, 1805. The following extract
of a letter from Captain Bell to the commander-in-chief,
dated at Port Cornwallis, May 22, 1807, contains an account
of a most singular and bloody conflict, in which he was unex-
pectedly engaged on the 15th of the preceding month :

" Your Excellency has undoubtedly ere now received one of my letters
respecting the capture of four brigs out of Batavia roads.

" Off Cheribon (a little to the eastward of Batavia), on the 15th April,
we chased, and brought to, three proas, under Dutch colours. At five
P. M., on its falling calm, we anchored, hoisted out our boats, and sent
them armed to bring the proas alongside ; two were brought to the lar-
board-side, the other hung on the quarter : got the prisoners out of the
two alongside (amounting to near 120), and placed a strong guard orer
them, under the direction of Lieutenant Wemyss t, as I intended sending
them away, after overhauling Ihcir cargoes.

Lieutenant (Robert White) Parsons j had been on board the proa on the
quarter, but returned with his people on finding it impracticable to get

• See Vol. L Part L p. 427, and note at ditto.
+ The present Captjun James Wemyss, M. P. then acting as Lieatenaot
of the Victor.

♦ A Commander of 1816.

8UPPL. PART II. I>

34 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

the crew from below : I inatantly ordered her to be hauled close up un-
der the quarter, fired a carronade into her and musketry, which they re-
turned by throwins( spears and firing pistols, &c. I then got a gun out of
the stem-port and fired into her, the sparks of which most unfortunately
reached some powder (which must hare been carelessly handed out of
some of the proas abaft), and blew the after-part of the ship up : at this
alarming moment the guard over the prisoners dropped their arms, and
ran to extinguish the fire. The prisoners instantly seized their arras, and
picked up several spears and knives which had been thrown ou board, and
attacked the ship ; by this time (eight P. M.) the fire, most providentially,
by the great exertions of officers and men, was got under, proas cut adrift,
and the attention of all hands directed to the defence of the ship, which
was admirably performed, for in little more than half an hour eighty of
them lay dead in a most mangled state, the rest driven overboard ; but
sorry am I to add, not without a severe loss on our side, including those
blown overboard and those who have since died of their wounds, a list of
which I herewith enclose for your Excellency's satisfaction."

On this occasion, the Victor's first Lieutenant (H. Blaxton)
and 5 of her crew were killed outright ; her commander, gun-
ner, and 24 men, either wounded by the weapons of the Ma-
lays, or dreadfully injured by the explosion : Captain Bell
himself was so much burnt that he was obliged to be taken
below ; and most of the wounded men died after the Victor's
arrival at Penang,

Captain Bell's commission as a Commander was confirmed
by the Admiralty, Oct. 12, 1807; and he subsequently had the
gratification of reading a letter from their Lordships' secre-
tary, wherein the thanks of the Board were conveyed to him
and his surviving officers and men, for their determined cou-
rage in the above sanguinary contest.

We next find Captain Bell commanding^ the CuUoden, and
assisting at the destruction of two Dutch 70-gun ships, a cut-
down two-decker, fitted as a sheer-hulk, an Indiaman of 1000
tons burthen, and a large transport, lying at Griessee ; which
service completed the entire destruction of the naval force of
Holland in the eastern hemisphere *. His post commission
bears date July 31, 1809.

Captain Bell married, Dec. 23, 1822, Lucy Martha, daughter
of the late T. Michael M'Donogh, Esq. formerly commander

• See Suppl., Part I, p. 404.

rbs^-CAtTAlNS OF 18091 jiff

of a Falmouth packet. One of his brothers, Stephen BelL
Esq. died in command of the Francis Freeling, a vessel of si-.
milar description, on the same station. Another brother was
blown up in the Amphion frigate, Sept. 22, 1796 *.
Agent, — J. Copland, Esq.

WILLIAM GbATE, Esq.

Son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Goate, of the West
Suffolk militia.

This officer received his first commission in Nov. 1790 ;
and at the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
we find him serving as junior Lieutenant of the Orpheus
a 32 gim frigate. Captain Henry Newcome, on the African
station, where he assisted at the capture of several mer-
chant vessels, in April, 1793+.

Proceeding to Sierra Leone, in charge of four prize-brigs,
with Mr. Willoughby and two other midshipmen under his'
orders. Lieutenant Goate struck on a shoal off Rio Grande,
to the southward of the river Gambia, and in less than a
quarter of an hour his vessel went to pieces, as did likewise
Mr. Willoughby's very soon afterwards. The perilous situ-
ation of the whole, owing to their ignorance of the coast, and
having neither charts nor pilots on board, is thus described
by one of the prize-masters :

" We parted company with our frigate on the 25th of April, and on
the 27th or 28th, when running along the coast of Blssaos, with a strong

• See Vol. I, Part II, p. 455 et seq.

t On the 22d April, 1793, the barge and cutter of the Orpheus cap-
tured two French brigs in Senegal roads. One of these vessels was
boarded by Lieutenant Richard St. Lo Nicholson and Air. Nisbet J. Wil-
loughby, midshipman, who found a party of officers from the shore assem-
bled at supper in her cabin, totally tmconsdous of an enemy being so near.

On the 24th of the same month, the launch, barge, and cutter, com-
manded by Lieutenants Nicholson, John Broughton, and Goate, cut out
two brigs and a schooner, under a heavy but ill-directed fire from tb< fort
on Goree ifland.

d2

36 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809.

breeze, at about 4-30 A. M., the moon then shining very bright, but at
times obscured by a heavy scud, two of the brigs struck almost at the
same moment, and were soon dashed to pieces ; their crews, however,
were fortunately enabled each to save a boat, and thereby reach the other
vessels.

'* At this critical period. Lieutenant Goate displayed great judgment
and self-possession, in adopting the only measure by which himself and hi»
companions could possibly be saved ; destruction still appearing almost
inevitable.

" The two brigs which had not struck were both very light, and a heavy
swell was setting them towards the shoal : to beat off was impossible ; and
to anchor, was quite out of the question. The only chance of escape was
to run over the shoal, if a passage could be found, and this desperate man-
cBUvre he immediately decided upon.

" At day-light, nothing could be seen to leeward but high foaming
breakers ; both vessels, however, bore up, keeping as close together as
circumstances would allow. From the moment we entered the reef, the
sight was indescribably grand and sublime; a hollow deceitful swell rearing
its head as high as our tops, the spray dashing over us, and sheets uf
foaming water, in the midst of which black rocks were occasionally visible.
The lead was useless ; every thing depended upon a good eye and quick
helm : how many times we scraped the bottom it is impossible to say ; but
certain I am that every one on board then considered death inevitable, and
prepared himself accordingly. No person who has ever seen the shoals of
Rio Grande will say that it was possible for us to have gone through,
unless we had been specially protected by the Almighty. Had the remain-
ing brigs been wrecked no boat could have lived ; and even if Providence
had allowed us to reach the shore in them, we knew that slavery would
have been our lot. Our escape from either death or a horrible captivity,
may justly be pronounced miraculous."

In Oct. 1793, the Orpheus, then under the orders of Rear-
Admiral Macbride, co-operated with a detachment of the
British army, commanded by Sir Charles Grey, in repelling
an attempt made upon the town of Nieuport, and compelling
the enemy to retire along the road to Dunkirk.

On her return from this service, the Orpheus was ordered
to the East India station, where she captured le Duguay-
Trouin, a French frigate of 34 guns, May 5, 1794. Tlie fol-
lowing is an extract of the official letter written by Captain
Newcome on this occasion :

" On the 6th of May, Captain Osborne, of the Centurion, made the
signal for a sail, and Captain Pakenham, of the Resistance, for seeing two ^

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 37

Round Island, bearing S. W. by W., six or seven leases. I lay-to till the
strangers ran down so near to us that we could lay up for tbcni, and then
uiade the sij^nal to chase. At 1 1-45, I got near enough to fire a shot at
the ship ; at 1 1-55, I brought her to action ; and by a little after 12, I got
close upon her starboard quarter, where we kept till 1-5 P. M., so ?ery
close, that at times I expected to be on board. The enemy then struck, at
which time the Centurion and Resistance were about three miles astern,
coming up under a great press of sail. She proves to be a French frigate,
le Duguay-Trouin, formerly the Princess Royal, East Indiaman, fitted out
at the Isle of France ; mounting 26 eighteen-poundtn, 2 nines, and 6 fours,
and having on board 403 men. I cannot say too much in praise of the
8tea<ly, cool, and brave conduct of the oflScers, seamen, and marines of
H. Rl. S. Orpheus. Our loss is very inconsiderable, considering the supe-
rior force of the enemy : Mr. Singletou, midshipman, killed ; Mr. Staine's
niaster's-mate, badly wounded in the left hand ; and 8 seamen slightly.
The enemy had 21 killed and 60 wounded.

" I must beg leave to recommend to their lordships' notice Lieutenants
Broughtou and Goate ; also Mr. Staines, who commanded a division of
guB8 in the absence of Lieutenant Hodgskin, who was unfortunately on
board a Danish ship, with one mate, one midshipman, and 20 seamen. At
the time le Duguay-Trouin struck, we were about two leagues from the
passage between Flat-island and Coin-au-Mire, and one league from the
shore. The other sail, a small brig, made her escape through the chaimel,
and got safe into Port Louis.'*

The Orpheus, a 12-pounder frigate, went into action with
only 194 ofl&cers, men and boys ; but, on the other hand, le
Duguay-Trouin's crew and passengers were so sickly that
Captain Newcome was obliged to seek the first port where
refreshments were likely to be procured, and the damages of
hb own ship repaired. He accordingly anchored at Mah^,
one of the Seychelle islands, and, finding that the French had
formed a settlement there, summoned it to surrender. This
being agreed to, a party under Lieutenant Goate took posses-
sion of the place. May IJth, captured a merchant brig, and
brought off a quantity of naval and military stores.

In 1/95, and the following year Lieutenant Goate assisted
at the capture of Malacca, Amboyna, and Banda, with their
several dependencies *. His promotion to the rank of Com-
mander took place September 16, 1799 ; and he was af-
terwards successively appointed to the Sylph, Derweat, and
• See Bulletins of 1/96, pp. 50^55, and 314—318.

Jf^ . POST-CAPTAINS QP 1909.

Mosqmto brigs. In the latter vessel he captured the Sol
Fulgen Danish privateer, of 6 guns and 24 men, off Heligoland,
May 25, 1809. The proceedings of a small force under his
orders, in July following, are detailed by him in a letter to
the Admiralty, of which the following is an extract :

** I proceeded up the Elbe with H. M. vessels named in the mar^n*,
and anchored out of gun-shot of the battery at Cuxhaven, on the 7th inst. ;
and as it was too strong to be attacked by water^ I was determined on
landing and taking it by storm, haying previously made the necessary pre',
parations for that purpose.

" At day-light on the morning of the 8th, I disembarked with Capt^
Watts of the Ephira, and the commanding officers, seamen, and marines
of the respective vessels ; the first boats that landed were fired upon by
the enemy*! advanced post, and they then retreated to the battery. We
'marched on to storm, but from our appearance the enemy thought proper
to retreat, about 80 in number, so that we took the battery (which bad
6 guns, 24-pounder8, and surrounded by a ditch) without opposition. His
Majesty's colours were then hoisted on the French flag-staff, and after-
wards those of Hamburgh on the castle of Ritzbuttle. We then dismounted
the guns and put them on board of vessels lying in the harbour, as well as
several other small pieces of cannon, with all the shot and military stores.
The battery was then undennined, and by a variety of explosions, blown up.
' " Two French gun-boats, with 2 guns each, which were lying in the
harbour, were also taken possession of. I afterwards gave the town of Cux*
liaven in trust to the civil governor, and embarked all the seamen and
tai»rines."

This was the prelude to a more important, and equally
successful enterprise, the particulars of which are given at
p. 870 et seg. of Vol. II. Part II. ** The zeal and ability
evinced by Captain Goate" on the latter occasion, was officially
acknowledged by his senior ofi&cer. Lord George Stuart.

Captain Goate's post-commission bears date Aug. 15, 1809}
and his last appointment was May 4, 1813, to the Fortunee
frigate, employed on Channel service.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

• Mosquito 18 guns. Captain Goate ; Briseis 10, Captain Robert Pettet j
Ephira 10, Captain George Edward Watts j five gun-brigs, one armed
scfauyt, and one cutter.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 180ft. 89

JOSEPH JAMES, Esq.

Son of an opulent and respectable tradesman in Somerset-
shire, who dying when he was very young, left him to the
care of an elder brother, by whom he was sent over to
Valogne, in Normandy, for the purpose of learning the French
language ; in which town he continued to reside until Louis
XVI. issued an edict to seize all British ships in the ports of
his kingdom, March 18, 1/78 *.

This officer entered the naval service in May 17/9, as a
midshipman, on board the Stag 32, commanded by Captain
Robert Palliser Cooper f, and then employed on the Irish
station ; but subsequently attached to the Channel fleet,
under the orders of Sir Charles Hardy. Whilst in that
frigate, he assisted at the capture of many vessels, among
which were the Anti-Briton French privateer, mounting 22
long sixes, with a complement of 130 men ; and la Victoire
cutter, of Iftguns and 91 men. The former marauder was
commanded by the notorious Kelly, a native of Rush, near
Dublin, but holding a Lieutenant's commission in the French
marine : 120 of his crew were also subjects of Great Britain.
The capture of that atrocious traitor was a service of very
great importance to the merchants, as he had taken no less
than one hundred and seventy prizes, most of which were either
destroyed, or ransomed for large sums ; the payments being
secured by the detention of sufficient hostages, until the bills
drawn in his favour were honored J.

Mr. James continued in the Stag until she was paid off,
1783 ; when he joined the Griffin cutter. Lieutenant James
Cooke, under whom he served for a period of three years.
During the Spanish armament we find him master's-mate o^^
the Meljttnpus frigate, Captain (now Sir Charles) Morice Pole;

• See Vol. I, Part I. note at p. 235, et teq.

t Superannuated Rear-Admiral R. P. Cooper died at Portsmouth,
Oct. 23, 1805.

X Kelly was originally a smuggler. Daring the latter part of his life he
worked as a commou porter on the quay at Bourdeaux.

40 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

and at the coramenceraent of the French revolutionary war he
appears to have obtained a similar rating on board the Royal
William 80, bearing the flag of Sir Peter Parker, Bart.,
commander-in-chief at Portsmouth ; from which ship he
was made a Lieutenant into the Inspector sloop, Nov.HO,
1793.

In that vessel. Lieutenant James followed the expedition
under Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey to Martinique ;
from whence she was sent with a convoy to Jamaica, and
thereby prevented taking any part in the operations against
the French colonies, previous to the storming of fort Fleur
d'Ep^e, April 12, 1/94 *.

The surrender of Guadaloupe on the 22d of the same
month ; the departure of the squadron, for St. Christopher's ;
the recapture of Grande Terre, by Victor Hugues ; Sir
Charles Grey's second landing in Basse Terre ; and the return
of Sir John Jervis to his former anchorage, off Grozier ; have
been noticed in our memoir of Rear- Admiral John Maitland f.
The storming of fort St. Ann's, about twelve or fourteen
miles from the latter place ; the bombardment of Point a
Pitre and fort Fleur d'Epee, by the British land-batteries and
gun-boats ; an unsuccessful sortie made by the enemy, on
the 26th of June ; the establishment of our advanced post,
on Morne Mascot ; the repeated defeats of the French troops
sent to recover that eminence ; and the disastrous result of
an attempt made by Brigadier-General Symes to gain posses-
sion of the heights near Point k Pitre, preparatory to the
intended assault of fort Fleur d'Ep(ie ; will be found described
at pp. 109—113 of Vol. II. Part I.

During these latter operations. Lieutenant James occa-
sionally commanded a division of gun-boats ; and on the
unfortunate 2d July, he entered the harbour of Point a Pitre
about two hours before day-light in order to support the
detachment under Brigadier-General Symes. From that fatal
period he was employed affording protection to the troop*

• See Vol. I, Part II, note t at p. 71 1 .
Sec Id. note at p. 841.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 41*

left in Basse Terre, until the evacuation of fort Matilda, the
last post held by the British, Dec. 10th, 1794 *.

The Inspector being paid off about Aug. 1795, Lieutenant
James was then appointed to the Alfred 74 ; in which ship
he served under Captains Drury and Totty, until she also was
put out of commission, on her return from the West Indies,
in the autumn of 1798. Whilst in her, he assisted at the
capture of la Favorite, French national ship mounting 22 guns;
la Renommde frigate of 44 guns and 320 men ; and le Scipio
corvette, of 20 guns ; also at the recapture of two British
transports j and at the reduction of St. Lucia and Trinidad.
He likewise bore a part in the unsuccessful attack upon Porto
Rico ; all which will be seen by reference to our memoir of
Captain John Richards, at p. 11 et seq. of this volume.

Lieutenant James's next appointment was (immediately
after leaving the Alfred), to command the Attack gun-brig ;

• After Sir Charles Grey's final departure from Guadaloupe, the repub-
lican troops remained quiet in Grande Terre until they received a consider-
able reinforcement from Europe ; when they proceeded to Basse Terre,
landed at Goyave and Lanr.entin, on the 27tli Sept., and immediately
iBarched to attack the camp at Berville, commanded by Brigadier-General
Graham, who defended that position with the utmost gallantry and spirit,
until the Gth of Oct., when, finding his provisions nearly exhausted, and
that he was cutoff from all communication with the shipping, and without
hopes of relief, he was obliged to surrender; his force being reduced to
125 rank and file fit for duty. By this unfortunate event the whole of
Guadaloupe, except fort Matilda, fell into the hands of the enemy.

The siege of that fort commenced on the 14th Oct., and early in Dec.
the enemy's batteries were increased so ad greatly to exceed the artillery
of the garrison. Their fire on the 6th, dismounted all the guns upon the
most commanding part of the fort ; the curtain from thence to the next
bastion near the town, and the faces an4 flanks of that bastion in many
places threatened to fall into the ditch ; the number of killed and wounded
was proportional to the effect made upon the work, and the place became
no longer tenable. At 10 P. M., (Dec. 10th), the remains of the garrison,
amounting to 621 oflScers and men, were safely embarked, without even
the knowledge of the French, who continued firing as usual imtil 2 or 3 A. M«
on the 11th.

The services rendered by the navy, during this long and painful siege,
were very handsomely acknowledged in the military despatches. Set
Loudon Gazette, Feb. 14, ll^b.

fffi POST-CAPTAINS OF 1B09.

and in that vessel we find him covering the debarkation of
the British troops near the Helder, and witnessing the sur-
render of the Texel squadron *. He was also employed
under the orders of Lord Nelson, during the period that that
officer was invested with the chief command between Beachey
Head and Orfordness, in 1801. His promotion to the rank
of Commander took place April 29, 1802.

In March 1804, Captain James was appointed to the Sea
Fencible service in Ireland j but he had only joined that
corps six weeks before he received an appointment to the
Meteor bomb. The admirable manner in which that vessel
was placed before Havre pier, July 23d and Aug. 1, 1804,
was highly spoken of by his senior officer, copies of whose
reports are given at pp. 1—3 of Suppl. Part 1.

In Oct. 1805, Captain James removed to the Kite brig,
mounting 14 twenty-four pounder earronades, and 2 long sixes,
with a complement of 93 officers, men, and boys. In her, he
made several recaptures, while serving under the orders of
Commodore Owen, on the Dungeness station; and on the
7th Feb. 1807, we find him intercepting le Chasseur French
lugger privateer, of 16 guns and 60 men, 18 of whom were
absent.

It will be seen by reference to p. 239 of Suppl. Part I., that
the Kite formed part of the light squadron engaged with the
Danish praams, gun-boats, floating-batteries, &c. before
Copenhagen, Aug. 22, 1807, and that "the bravery and
energy of her commander, officers, and crew, during so long
and heavy a contest" was highly praised by Admiral Gam-
bier. Unfortunately, however, she then belonged to the
Leith station, and was immediately afterwards ordered to
return thither. Captain James consequently lost his chance
of promotion, && well as the share of prize-money to which
he would otherwise have been entitled. We should here
remark, that the Kite received greater damage than any of
her consorts on the above occasion ; but fortunately sustained
no logs, although she was several times hulled, and in one i»-

• See Voi, I, Part I, note at pp. 414—417.

PO$T>CAPTAlNS OF 1809. 43

Stance by a red-hot shot, which lodged in a case] of hats
stowed very near the magazine.

The Kite subsequently assisted in rescuing the Marquis
de la Romana and his patriotic army * ; on which occasion
Captain James is ofBcially reported to have been " indefatiga-
ble in his exertions in the various duties assigned him."

At 10 P. M., on the 3d Sept. 1808, a few days after Rear-
Admiral Keats had sailed for Gottenburgh, with the Spanish
troops under his protection, the Kite, then at anchor off Sproe
island (Minx gun-brig in company), was attacked by the
whole of the enemy's flotilla, then in the Great Belt, consist-
ing of 22 vessels, each mounting two long 24-pounders, and
manned with from 65 to /O sailors and soldiers ; making a
total of 44 guns, and nearly 1500 well-armed men.

Expecting an attack, as it was then nearly calm. Captain
James had prepared for such an event, by sheeting home the
top-sails, and having every other sail loosed in readiness to
be set at a moment's warning. The cable was immediately
cut ; but, unfortunately, a gun -boat which he had in charge
got under the Kite's bows, and could not be removed for a
considerable time, during which, many of the Danes ap-
proached within musket-shot, keeping up a very heavy fire.
The Kite at length paid off ; but when before the wind, and
with top-gallant-sails set, the breeze was so very light that
she had scarcely steerage way. The Minx likewise cut, but
was unavoidably at too great a distance to render her consort
inuch support, nor was there any possibility of their closing
Hpith each other.

At H o'clock, being then surrounded by the enemy,
and in momentary expectation of their rowing alongside.
Captain James had the satisfaction to see one gun-vessel
sink, and several others collecting round the spot to pick
up her crew. The contents of every gun that could be
brought to bear were immediately discharged among them,
and from that time the Danes contented themselves with a
distant cannonade, until midnight, when they ceased firing
altogether ; leaving the Kite in a very shattered condition*

• See Vol. I, Part I, p. 347.

44 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

nineteen round shot having passed through her hull, near the
water-line, and her main-mast being supported by only two
shrouds and a backstay. The loss she sustained, although
severe, was not so great as might have been expected, from
the nature of the conflict. Of 76 persons, the total numbei
on board, at the commencement of the action, only two, in-
cluding Mr. Thomas Thomas, the purser, were killed outright ;
and thirteen, including Captain James (slightly) wounded :
— most of the latter, however, either died, or underwent
amputation *. During the whole affair the Minx was so little
attended to by the Danes that only two shot struck her,
neither of which injured any one on board.

Whilst refitting at Gottenburgh, the commander, officers,
and crew of the Kite received the thanks of the Admiralty,
conveyed to them through Sir Richard G. Keats, ** for
their bravery and great perseverance in saving his Majesty's
sloop ;" and on his return to the Nore, after being frozen
up in the Belt and Cattegat, for the greater part of the winter.
Captain James obtained the following handsome testimonial
from the respectable officer under whose orders he was serv-
ing at the time of the action :

*' H.M. S. Dictator, Chatham, 13/A Feb. 1809.

" My Dear Sir, — I am favoured with your letter of yesterday's date,
requesting that 1 would give you my opinion of the defence you made, on
the night of the 3rd of Sept. last, when attacked oflF the island of Sproe, iu
the Great Belt, by a number of the enemy's gun-boats — the Kite and Minx
being tlien under my orders. In answer thereto, I have to acquaint you,
that considering the superiority of the enemy's force, the whole of which
appears to have been directed against the Kite, with every advantage which
they could look for, it being nearly calm, the flotilla fresh out of Nyborg,
and yourself and consort at anchor, I have no hesitation in saying that the
judgment and gallantry of yourself, officers, and crew, have not been
exceeded in any of the glorious actions that have graced the annals of the
British navy for so many years back. From the shattered state I found
the Kite in, on the morning of the 4th Sept., I cannot help, even at
this distant time, expressing my astonishment how she could be saved

* The Master of the Kite, and 9 men, were taken prisoners, while in a
boat on detached service, three days before the action : her second Lieu-
tenant and 6 men were absent iu charge of prizes.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809. 45

Cither from capture or s'lDking ; consequently I avail myself of this oppor-
tunity of returning my most cordial thanks to you, your officers, and crew.
I am, my dear Sir, your sincere friend,

(Signed) " Donald Campbell*,"

" To Captain James, H. M. sloop Kite."

Captain James shortly afterwards paid his respects to Lord
Mulgrave, then at the head of naval affairs, who promised to
give him the first post-ship that should become vacant on the
Baltic station. He accordingly returned thither, and, on the
21st Aug. 1809, was promoted into the St. George 98,
bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Pickmore, in the Gulph of
Finland ; where he continued during thp remainder of the
season.

In Jan. 1810, wc find the St. George refitting at Ports-
mouth, where she received the flag of Rear- Admiral Rey-
nolds ; by whose Captain, Daniel Oliver Guion, the subject
of this memoir was superseded, in the month of May follow-
ing. The lamentable fate of those oflBcers has been adverted
to at p. 63 of Suppl. Part I.

Captain James's last appointment was, Aug. 10, 1814, to
the Tanais of 4G guns, fitting for the Jamaica station. In
May 1815, being then at Carthagena, on the Spanish Main,
for the purpose of affording protection to British commerce,,
he visited the celebrated Bolivar, who had encamped before
that city, being refused admittance into it by another chief
Castilto, who had constituted himself governor, and against
whom he had been carrying on a desultory warfare for six
weeks previous to the arrival of the Tanais. Captain James
was received by that patriotic warrior with every demonstra-
tion of friendship, and offered a carte blanche to settle the
differences between him and his rival. The interference of a
British officer could not fail to have some degree of influence
with the contending parties ; and as Bolivar had no cannon,
except a few field-pieces, it was arranged that he should dis-

• The Dictator had gone to complete her wood and water at Rorasoe,.
leaving the two brigs imder Captain James, to afford protection to anf
British merchantmen passing through the Belt.

46 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

band his troops and go to Jamaica, which island he partlcti-
larly wished to visit. He was accordingly received on board
the frigate, with several of his near relations ; and the whole
were soon afterwards conveyed to Port Royal in the Decou-
verte, a schooner under Captain James's orders. The garrison
of Carthagena were subsequently starved into a surrender ;
Castilto and many of his adherents were put to death, by
order of the royalist general, Morillo ; and Bolivar, had he
been there, would doubtless have shared the same fate. The
Tanais was paid off in May, 1816.

Captain James married, in 1803, Bridget Elizabeth, second
daughter of Arthur Raymond', of Lyme, co. Dorset, Esq.

Agents, — Messrs. Maude and Co.

JOHN DAVIE, Esq.

Third son of the late John Davie, of Orleigh, near Bide-
ford, Esq. ; a gentleman of considerable landed property in
Devonshire, and a magistrate for that county.

The subject of this sketch was born at Orleigh, May 8,
1770 ; and he appears to have entered the naval service as a
midshipman on board the Apollo frigate. Captain Charles
Powell Hamilton, in 1782.

We subsequently find him serving in various ships, on the
Mediterranean, West India, Newfoundland, and Channel sta-
tions. His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place
Aug. 28, 1793 ; on which occasion he was appointed to com-
mand a gun-boat employed at Toulon.

From thence Mr. Davie returned home in command of le
Pomp(;e 74 j and on his arrival in England he was directed to
assist Rear- Admiral Christian in making arrangements for the
disposal of her crew, and numerous other French emigrants.
He afterwards joined the Diana, a new 38-gun frigate, and
continued in that ship for a period of three years, principally -^
as first Lieutenant.

POST CAPTAINS OF 1809. 47

In June 1797? Lieutenant Davie removed into the Royal
George, a first rate, bearing the flag of Lord Bridport, under
whom he had served as a midshipman during the Spanish
armament ; and by whose advice he afterwards proceeded to
Jamaica, where he was promoted to the command of the
Tisiphone sloop, in July, 1800.

Captain Davie's subsequent appointments were, May, 1801,
to the Swallow brig ; May, 1803, to the Sea Fencible service
at Harwich ; May, 1804, to the Hermes 16 ; and Dec. fol-
lowing, to the Favorite, an 18-gun ship-sloop.

In Sept. 1805, Captain Davie sailed for the coast of Africa,
where he captured, after an action of 20 minutes, le General
Blanchard French privateer, of 16 guns and 130 men ; of whom
1 1 were killed, and 25 badly wounded : only one person, and
he a passenger, was hurt on board the Favorite.

On the 6th Jan. 1806, nine days after the above affair. Cap-
tain Davie had the misfortune to be taken by a French squad-
ron under Mons. I'Hermite, consisting of one 80-gun ship,
two large frigates, and a brig. Luckily for him, however,
the enemy likewise took an English merchant brig in ballast
about the same time, and the chef iV escadre determined to esta-
blish her as a cartel, in order to get rid of his captives ; Captain
Davie signing an agreement by which a similar number of
Frenchmen, corresponding in rank, were to be exchanged for
them immediatelyafter their arrival in England; and in case the
British government refused to accede to this arrangement, Cap-
tain Davie and his companions in misfortune were bound to
go over to France, and surrender themselves as prisoners.

In Oct. 1806, the exchange being effected and his court-
martial over. Captain Davie was appointed to the Hyacinth
sloop, then on the North Sea station, but subsequently sent
with despatches to Rio de Janeiro, where he removed into the
Foudroyant 80, bearing the flag of Sir W. Sidney Smith ;
which ship he commanded from January until May, 1809.
His post commission bears date Aug. 22, in the same year.

Captain Davie's next appointments were, April 1812, to
the Ardent 64, armed en flute ; and on the 7th of the follow-
ing month, to the Leyden another fourth rate, fitted for the

48 POSt-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

conveyance of troops. In the lattet ship he successively visit-
ed Lisbon, Alicant, Palermo, Zante, Ponza, Santander, Cron-
stadt, and Dantzic. The Leyden was paid off in Dec. 1814.

From this period Captain Davie remained on half-pay until
Nov. 6, 1816, when he was appointed to the Conqueror 74,
fittinnj for the flag of Rear-Admiral Plamplin, with whom he
proceeded to St. Helena, where he contracted an illness which
only ended with his life. He died at Heavitree, near Exeter,
Feb. 13, 1825, after a continued indisposition of more than
six years.

The subject of the foregoing sketch was the author of a
popular little work, entitled " Observations and Lutructions
for the use oj the Commissionedj the Junior, and other
Officers of the Royal Navy, on all the material points of
Professional Duty," with a complete set of forms for Watch,
Station, and Quarter Bills ; published by Steel, in 1804, and
the merit of it erroneously given to Sir Home Popham.

Captain Davie married, Feb. 6, 1815, Miss J. Tappen, of
Charles Street, Haymarket, London ; by whom he has left a
son and a daughter. His eldest brother, Joseph, assumed
the patronymic of Bassett, on succeeding to the estate of
his maternal uncle, Francis Bassett, of H canton Court, near
Barnstaple, Esq. and has long been a very active magistrate
for the county of Devon*. His second brother, Charles, is
one of the Prebendaries of Exeter cathedral.

HENRY HUME SPENCE, Esq.

Nearly related to the late Rear-Admiral Thomas Lenox
Frederick, of whom a memoir is given in the Naval Chronicle,
Vol. 37, pp. 265 et seq. and 353 et seq.

This officer received his first commission in 1797 J 2ind was
senior Lieutenant of the London 98, at the capture of Rear-
Admiral Linoisf. His promotion to the rank of Commander
took place May 28, 1806.

* Francis Bassett, Esq. was the elder branch of Lord de Dunstanvillc's
family.

t See Vol. I., p. 436.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 18Q9. 49

Towards the close of the same year. Captain Speucc was
appointed to the Pandora, a new 18-gun brig, in which vessel
he captured I'Entreprenant, French privateer lugger of 16 guns
and 63 men, under the batteries near Cape Grisnez, Jan. 13,
1808. His post commission bears date Aug. 24, 1809.

Captain Spence married, in 180/, the daughter of Mr.
Charles Lowry, Purser, R. N.

Agent. —

JOHN BRETT PURVIS, Esq.

Son of the late Admiral J. Child Purvis, by a sister of Com-
missioner Henry Garrett.

This officer was made a Lieutenant May 1, 1805 ; and pro-
moted to the rank of Commander Aug. 9, 1808. His post
commission bears date Sept. 16, 1809 ; at which period he
commanded the Delight brig, on the Mediterranean station.

Captain Purvis's next appointment was Oct. 29, 1811, to
the Ganymede 26, in which ship he captured the French
privateer Vauteur, of 7 guns and 47 men, Aug. 18, 1813.
Since the peace he has commanded the Magicienne 42, on
the East India station, where he rendered essential service to
the crew of one of the Hon. Company's ships, wrecked upon
the Cargados Garragos reef*, for which the Court of Directors
presented him with 200 guineas for the purchase of a piece of
plate.

Agents* — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

GEORGE ANDREWS, Esq.

Son of the late George Andrews, Esq. who was descended
from an ancient family in co. Somerset; by Miss Kitty
Coombs, a lady related to the families of Bond and Williams,
in Dorsetshire.

• See Francken's Narrative of the loss of the Cabalva.

SUPPL. PART II. K

50 POST-CATTAINS OP 1809.

He was bom July 26, 1778; and entered the navy, ae a
midshipman on board the Barfleur 98, bearing the flag of his
early and constant patron, the late Earl St. Vincent, m
Aug. 1790. We subsequently find him serving under Captains
James Kinneerand John Thomas Duckworth, in the Daphne
of 20 guns, and Orion 74 ; the latter ship forming part of
Earl Howe's fleet, on the memorable 1st of June, 1794.

At the commencement of the ensuing year, Mr. Andrews
removed with Captain Duckworth into the Leviathan, a third-
rate, then about to sail for Jamaica, under the orders of Rear-
Admiral William Parker. In her he was present at the unsuc-
cessful attack upon Leogane, St. Domingo, March 22, 1796*.
His commissions bear date as follow :— Lieutenant, Mar. 1797 ;
Commander, April 29, 1802 ; and Post-Captain, Sept. 22, 1809

Captain Andrews has a family of four sons and three
daughters. One of his sisters was married to the late Henry
Redhead Yorke, Esq. barristcr-at-law ; another is the wife of
Mr. Highmore, an eminent surgeon, practicing at Sherborne,
in Dorsetshire.

WILLIAM BUCHANAN, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in 1794, and served as second of
the Leviathan, a third rate, bearing the broad pendant of Com-
modore Duckworth, at the capture of Minorca, Nov. 15,
1798 f. The following is an extract of that officer's public
letter to Earl St. Vincent, reporting the surrender of the
island :

" There is high merit due to Lieutenant William Buchanan, whom I
landed as second in command under Captain (James) Dowcn, with more
than 250 seamen : there were likewise the Leviathan's and Centaur's marines
with the army, to the niiinber of 100 ; but other essential service calling
Captain Bowen on board his ship, the command of the seamen devolved
on Lieutenant Buchanan, and, as will appear by thfe strongest accorapany-
injj testimony given him from the commander-in-chief of the troops, he'
performed the services with the army with the greatest ability and exertion.*'

See Captain Donald Campbbli..
t See Vol. I, p. 762.

P08T.CAPTA1NS OP 1909. 51

Copy of Oencral Stuart's testimoniai.

" Sir, — I have the honor to return you, and the gentlemen employed on
shore under your command, my sincere thanks for your activity, «eal, and
assistance, in fonvarding the light artillery of the array ; neither can too
much praise be given to the seamen for their friendly and cheerful exer-
tions under very hard labour ; — exertions that were accompanied with a
propriety of behaviour which I greatly attribute to your management, and
which will ever merit my acknowledgments ; and affords me the satisfaction
of assuring you that I am, with sincere regard, yours, &c.

(Signed) " Chas. Stua»t.»»

** To Lieutenant Buchanan.**

We have alreatly mentioned, that the captors of Minorca
found a brig of \rar on the stocks. This vessel was named
the Port Mahon, and launched Oct. 31, 1/99; on which occa-
sion Lieutenant Buchanan was promoted, and appointed to
command her. In 1800, he captured a French privateer of
inconsiderable force, and several small merchantmen : he was
also employed blockading Malta, previous to the surrender of
that island •.

In the following year, we find Captain Buchanan serving
under the orders of Lord Keith, and receiving the Turkish
gold medal for his services on the coast of Egypt. He returned
home in the Port Mahon, July 26, 1802 ; and was appointed
to the Sea Fencible service, between Dungcness and Sand-
gate, at the renewal of hostilities in 1803. His post com-
mission bears date Oct. 12, 1809 j at which period he com-
manded la Fleche of 16 guns, on the Channel station.

Agent, —

EDMUND JOSHUA MORIARTY, Esq.

Was made a Commander Aug. 11, 1779 ; and promoted to
post rank Oct. 25, 1809, tho day on which our late beloved
monarch entered into the fiftieth year of his reigo. Captain
Moriarty was subsequently employed as Agent for Prisoners
of War, at Perth, N. B.

Agents —

• See Vol. I. note f at p. 281.
B 2

52 POST CAFfAINS OF 1809,

EDWARD SEYMOUR BAILY, Esq.

Was made a Commander March 21, 1782; and posted Oct.
25, 1809. His only daughter married the Rev. John Turner,
of Hatterley House, Gloucestershire,

Agent. —

GEORGE CADMAN, Esq.

This officer's commission as a Commander bears date
April 24, 1782. On the 20th June following, being then in
the Defiance armed ship, he captured the Dutch brig Zeuze,
mounting 16 long 6-poundcrs and one 18 pounder, with a com-
plement of 113 men. The action between these vessels took
place near Portland, and lasted about two hours ; during which
the enemy had 21 men killed, and 17, including the 1st and
2d Captains, wounded, the greater part of them dangerously.
The Defiance was armed with 4-pounders*, and had no more
than 68 persons on board, of whom only one was killed and
another wounded. Captain Cadman obtained post rank Oct.
25, 1809.

CHARLES BARTHOLOMEW, Esq.

Was made a Commander Jan. 15, 1783; and posted Oct.
25, 1809.

WILLIAM HENRY SHIRREFF, Esq.

Son of the late General Shirreff ; was made a Lieutenant
March 3, 1804, and promoted to the command of the Lily
sloop, on the Leeward Islands station, March 3, 1806 ; but
he did not join that vessel until the close of the same year.

• We have not been able to ascertain how many.

posT-cAPTAiwa or 1909. 53

In March 1808, Captain Sbirrcff assisted at the capture of
Deseada, — a service thus described by his senior oflBcer, in a
letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane :

" H. M. S. Cerbrrui, at Deteada, Afarch 30.

" On the 29th instant I weighed from Marie Galante, with the vessels
named in the margin * ; and on the .'JOth, at 3-30 P. M., the boats, under
the command of Captain Shirreff, with a detachment of seamen and
marines from each vessel, under their respective commanden (who gal-
lantly rolunteere<l their services on the occa&ioo), stood towants the shore,
which was defended by a battery of two 9-pounders, completely com-
manding the narrow entrance of the harbour, together with the natioMi
troops and militia, amounting to about 70 men, who opened their fire upon
the boats, when I found it pcccwry to anchor tlie squadron with sprii^ on
the cables, and commence a canoonadbg, which soon silenced them, and
at 4 o'clock the French flag was struck ; the boats landed at 4-30, hoisted
the British flag, and the whole island surrendered without further oppo»>
tioo. I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that this capture has beea
effected ^vithout loss ; the commandant, national officers, and troops, are
made prisoners of war, and the militia have hud down their arms.

" I should not do justice to the merit of Captain Shirreff, were I not
to express in the highest terms my enUre approbation of his conduct,
together with that of Captain (William) Ward, and all the officers and
men employed on this serrice.

(Signed) " W. Sblry f»

llie inhabitanta of Deseada having generally token the oath
of neutrality, and their batteries, containing 3 long 24-pound-
crs, 4 nines, and 2 sixes being destroyed, Sir Alexander Coch-
rane did not leave any force on that island, but stationed the
Lily, Express, and Mosambique there for its protection from
the enemy's cruisers, as well as to prevent the arrival of any
troops from Guadaloupe. On the 21 st of the following
month. Captain Shirreff's little squadron captured le Jean
Jacques, French letter of marque, pierced for 18 guns, but
with only 6 long 9-pounders mounted. This vessel had been
sent from Bourdeaux for the express purpose of cruising in
the Caribbean seas ; and from her superior sailing, she would
most likely have proved a great annoyance to the British mer-

• Cerberus frigate, Lily and Pelican sloops. Express and Swinger gun-
brigs, and Mosambi(|ue schooner.

t The small vessels under Captain Selby's orders were commanded by
Lieutenants \Mlliam Dowers, Thomas Fellewes, and J. Jackson.

54 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1809.

chants, one of whose brigs had been taken by her, but was
recaptured by the boats of the Lily and her consorts.

Captain Shirreff was posted into the Garland 22, on the
Jamaica station, Nov. 15, 1809 ; and appointed to the Bar-
rosa, a new frigate, Oct. 25, 1812. In the following year we
find him serving on the coast of North America *, where he
continued until the conclusion of the war. His last appoint-
ment was, Sept. 10, 181/, to the Andromache 44, in which
ship he returned home from the South American station, Aug.
31, 1821 t.

This officer married, June 29, 1810, Elizabeth, eldest
daughter of the late Honourable David Murray, uncle to the
present Lord Elibank.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

JOHN SIMPSON, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant by Lord Hood, at Toulon, in Dec,
1793 ; and afterwards successively appointed to the Sybille of
40 guns, Windsor Castle 98, Sans Pareil 80, and Pomone 40 j
in which latter ship he assisted at the capture of la Carrere
French frigate, near Elba, Aug. 3, 1801 J. We subsequently
find him acting as Captain of the Kent 74, bearing the flag of
Sh" Richard Bickerton, at Malta ; from whence he returned
to England in command of la Tourterelle 30, about June
1803. His promotion to tlie rank of Commander was con-
firmed by the Admiralty, April 19 in the same year.

Captain Simpson's next appointment was, in 1805, to the
Wasp of 18 guns, then fitting at Plymouth, and intended to
be placed under the orders of Nelson -, but afterwards sent to
join the Channel fleet, commanded by Admiral Cornwallis.

• See Vol. II, Part II, p. 644, and note at the bottom,
t An account of the Andromache's voyage from Valparaiso to New
South Shetland, was published by Mr. Edward Bransfield, Master R. N.,
m 1821.

X See Vol. I. Part I, p. 431.

F06T«CAPTAUfS OF 1809. di

On the 28th and 29th Aug. 1805^ Captain Simpson was
chased by the celebrated Rochefort squadron, consisting of
five two-dickers, two frigates, and two brigs. On the first
day, an 80 gun-ship got near enough to fire a broadside at
him J and on the second, a large frigate and a brig, one on each
quarter, engaged the Wasp for 40 minutes, within range of
grape ; but her constant and well directed fire from the only
() guna which had pot beeo thrown overboard to improve her

huiliut?, £) (1 the enemy that they at length gave up the

attack, ail cd her to escape. For their very great gal-

lantry and persevering exertions on this occasion, Captain
Simpson, his officers, and crew, received the public thanks of
their commander-in-chief, and the high approbation of the
Admiralty was also conveyed to them*

About Oct. 1805, Captain Simpson removed into the Star

sloop, in whick Tcwol he was very activc^ --' ' on the

Downs, Newfiaoadland, and West India sUti .^ftertbe

conquest of Martinique, in 1809, when he returned home with
a strong letter of rccaijiimmdatina firom Sir Alexander Coch-
rane to Lord Mulgrave, who immediately ordered him to
Halifax, ou promotion. In Sept. 1809, he was appointed to
la Furieuse frigate, but his post oommission was not confirm-
ed mitil the V2th Dec. following. He mbaeq^ntly com-
manded the Cociuette of 20 guns, at the Leewtrd Islands.
^^'i7</6.— Messrs. Cooke, Ualford, and Sou.

EDWARD DIX, Esq.

Beeeived the first rudiments of a classical education at the
Kilig's school, Canterbury, in which city his father, a very
respectable clergyman, was then resident ; and entered the
navy in 1790, as a midshipman on board the Monarch 7^y
moder the patronage of Captain (afterwards Admiral) Peter
Rainier. He subsequently joined the Hermione Mgate, and
served in her, on the West India station, for a period of three
years, duiing which he nituessed many of the horrible atro-

56 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

cities perpetrated at St. Domingo, after the revolt of the
black population—acts at which humanity shudders*.

The dreadful mortality which visited our ships and troops
during the years 1793, 1794, and 1795, is still fresh in the
recollection of many persons. Exposed as Mr. Dix invaria-
bly was to the most laborious and severe duties, under the
baleful influence of a tropical sun, it is not to be wondered at
that he shared in the sickness so general. Though blessed
by nature with a very strong constitution, and with a cheer-
ful evenness of temper not easily surmounted by privations or
difficulties, yet these advantages, great as they were, could
not exempt him from the common lot. Three several times
was he attacked by the yellow fever ; and the last of these
visitations had nearly proved fatal, for he was so debilitated
by it, and by a low intermitting fever and ague which suc-
ceeded it, that certain death was pronounced to await him if
not speedily removed to another climate : he accordingly re^
turned to England.

In Aug. 1797> Mr. Dix was made a Lieutenant, and ap-
pointed to the Pomp^e 80, commanded by his friend Captain
James Vashon, under whom he subsequently served in the
Neptune 98, and Princess Royal of similar force j likewise as
flag Lieutenant from the time of that officer's promotion and
appointment to the command at Leith until 1806 ; when,
finding advancement slow and uncertain at home, he again
sailed for the West Indies, with a strong recommendation
from Admiral Rainier to Sir Alexander Cochrane, by whom
he was appointed first of the flag-ship immediately on his
arrival; and afterwards ordered to act as Captain of the
Arab 20.

During the short period of five weeks that Lieutenant Dix
commanded the Arab, every person on board, with the excep-
tion of himself and eight others, was attacked by the yellow
fever : 33 fell victims to its ravages. Being the only officer
who escaped, a more than double duty devolved upon him ;
and the anxiety, distress of mind, and fatigue he endured,
whilst in that most trying situation, beggars all description,
• See Vol. I. Part II, p. 604 et teq. : and Suppl. Part I, note at p. 227.

POST-CAITAINS OF 1909. h^

It is but justice to him, however, to say, that in the midst of
his avocations he still found time and opportunity to alleviate
the sufferings of his officers and men. Every comfort which
the nature of such a situation could admit of, was afforded ;
every refreshment which his slender purse could procure, wa8
obtained ; and he now has the pleasure of reflecting, that to
his humane care and attention, under Divine Providence, the
preservation of many valuable lives was owing.

On the 2Gth Sept. 1807, Lieutenant Dix was promoted by
Sir Alexander Cochrane to the command of the Cygnet sloop
of war, at Tortola ; from whence he sailed for England vrith
nine merchant ships under his convoy, five of which unhap-
pily foundered with all their crews during the passage home.
After undergoing a thorough repair, the Cygnet was cm-
ployed in the North Sea, where she captured the Danish pri-
vateers Christiana and Giengielderen ; the former a brig of
14 guns and 00 men, the latter a sloop mounting 4 guns with
a complement of 25 men. During the same cruise, she was
warmly engaged with some batteries on the coast of Norway ;
on which occasion her commander's hat was struck by a
9-pound shot, himself sustaining no further injury than a good
deal of inflammation on the top of his head, and some defect
in his sight, both of which, however, were removed in a few
days.

About this period. Captain Dix fortunately succeeded in
saving the lives of 6 men, who were discovered clinging to
the miserable wreck of a vessel ; in which perilous situation
they had been several days exposed to the most dreadful wea-
ther, without a particle of food, their fingers and toes frost-
bitten, and bereft of every hope, having seen 9 of their ship-
mates perish before their eyes. At a great risk, one of the
Cygnet's boats was sent to their rescue, and they were brought
on board that sloop, where warm blankets and friction re-
stored the use of their benumbed limbs, whilst soup was ad-
ministered to them in small cjuantities, until their exhausted
and enfeebled stomachs could bear more solid food. Little
did Captain Dix think that he would need himself, in a few
days, the relief he thus a^brded to others.

58 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

Endeavouring to get into the Frith of Forth, ft sudden
change of wind drove the Cygnet close to St. Abb's head ; and
as the gale, which encrcased to a hurricane, blew directly on
the shore, from which she was only a quarter of a mile dis-
tant, the destruction of all on board appeared inevitable.
From the 1 4th to the 16th Oct., 1808, the Cygnet remained
in this hopeless situation : her guns had been thrown over-
board, and her masts cut away to ease her ; the whole of her
officers and crew resigned themselves to their fate, and awaited
in silence the moment when the only cable by which she
rode, should part, and their bodies be cast upon, and lacerated
by, the numerous rocks around them. But when every hope
had long been relinquished, and no human aid could avail,
God mercifully interposed his power to save them, the wind
again suddenly shifted, and a vessel sent by Vice- Admiral
Vashon to their assistance was consequently enabled to tow
them into a place of safety. No sooner was this done than
Captain Dix, his officers and men, walked in procession to
the Episcopal Church at Leith, where they returned public
thanks to the Almighty for their miraculous escape.

After being refitted, the Cygnet was ordered to the West
Indies ; and on the 18th Dec. 1809, we find her assistmg at
the destruction of two French 40-gun frigates, laden with
warlike stores and provisions, moored in Ance la Barque,
Guadaloupe, and defended by several batteries. The particu-
lars of this service will be found detailed in the Addenda to
our memoir of Vice-Admiral Ballard, at p. 878 et seq. of
Vol. I, Part II. The following is an extract of that officer's
public letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane : —

** From Captain Dix I received every assistancj; the natare of the service
required ; who, I trust, standa high in your estimation.''

For his conduct on this occasion. Captain Dix was imme-
diately advanced to post rank, and his commission dated back
to the day of the action.

During the operations against Guadaloupe in Jan. and Feb.
1810, the subject of this memoir acted as captain of the
Sceptre 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Ballard,
then serving on shore with the army.

P06T*CAPTA1N8 OF 1809. W

Captain Dix returned to England about June 1810 ; and in
the foUowing year we find him again commanding the Sceptre,
pro tempore, she being then attached to the Basque roads
squadron. His next appointment was. May 19, 1813, to the
Royal Oak 74, bearing the flag of Lord Amelius Beauclerk,
with whom he proceeded on a cruise between the North Cape
and Iceland, for the purpose of intercepting the American
Commodore Rodgers, whose disgraceful flight from that sta-
tion has been noticed at p. 380 et seg. of Suppl., Part I.

In May 1814, after negociating with the French General
commanding at Rochelle, for a suspension of hostilities. Lord
Amelius Beauclerk struck his flag, and the Royal Oak was
( ' 'to Bourdeaux, from whence she conveyed Rear-Ad-
L . iulcolm to Bermuda and the coast of America.*

Shortly after his arrival on the latter station. Captain Dix
was appointed by Sir Alexander Cochrane to the Menelaua
frigate, in which ship he was very actively employed, under
the immediate orders of Rear-Admirol Cockburn, until the
conclusion of the war between Great Britain and the United
States ; at which period he received the thanks of that officer,
and of the commaudcr-iu-chicf, for his zealous conduct on all
occasions.

Tlve Meuelaus returned to England in May 1816; and
Captain Dix was soon afterwards sent, with the Havannah
frigate under his orders, to cruise ofT the Isle of Bas, where,
with the Rhin 38 in company, he captured and destroyed a
French convoy ; which piece of service, we believe, was the
last of the kind performed by our navy during the usurpation
of Napoleon Buonaparte.

Captain Dix paid off* the Menelaus in Oct. 1815 ; and was
appointed in March 1816, to superintend the ships in ordinary
at Chatham, on which service he remained for the established
period of three years. His only daughter is married to Lieu-
tenant-Colonel William Wood, h. p. of the 85th regiment.

^g'en/*,— Messrs. Cooke, Halford and Son.

♦ See Vol I, Part IJ, p. 596.

60 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.

HENRY WHITMARSH PEARSE, Esq.

: A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

This officer received his first commission about Oct., 1796 ;
served as a Lieutenant in the Victory, under Nelson ; and
was promoted by his lordship. May 8, 1804, to the command
of the Halcyon brig, mounting 14 twenty-four-pounder
carronades and 2 long sixes, with a complement of 94 officers,
men, and boys. His subsequent exertions for the protection
of the trade, and destruction of the enemy's armed vessels in
the vicinity of Gibraltar, gained him the warmest approbation
of that illustrious chieftain. On the 20th Sept. 1804, he
captured I'Esperance French privateer, of 10 guns and 54 men.

In Dec. 1806, Captain Pearse fell in with three Spanish
cruisers ; and after an action, highlycreditable to him and his
crew, succeededinobtaining possession of the largest, a polacre
of 14 long twelves and 72 men. The following is a copy of
his official letter to Lord CoUingwood on this occasion : —
" H. M. sloop Halcyon, Gibraltar, Dec. 18, 1806.

*' My Lord, — I beg leave to inform your Lordship, that on the 13th
instant, at 8 A. M., Cape St. Martin's S.S.W. 6 leagues, I perceived three
sail (a ship, a brig, and a xebec) standing out from under the land towards
me ; being on contrary tacks we closed fast. When witliin four or five miles,
I discovered they were vessels of war; and shortly after they steered
directly for me. Seeing they were superior, and five settees coming from
the same quarter, I judged it prudent, as they seemed determined to bring
me to action, to close with them as soon as possible, and decide the con-
test before any assistance could be given by the others. At 10-30, being
nearly within musket-shot, they hoisted Spanish colours, and commenced
action. As soon as I got abreast of the second vessel, I got on the other
tack, and brought them to closer action, which lasted till 12 o'clock, when
their fire slackened. At half-past, being almost a calm, the brig and xebec
hauled away to the southward, assisted by their boats and sweeps ; the
ship, then nearest us, endeavouring to do the same to the northward. We
swept after her, and in an hour got close alongside, when she struck her
colours, and proved to be a polacre privateer, the Neptuno dies de log
Mares, from Denia, going on a cruise between Minorca and the coast of
Africa, with the other two in company ; who, I am sorrj' to say, made their
escape, but not before their fire had been silenced. The five settees, when
within three miles, seeing the ship deserted, returned into the port of Dcnia.

POST-CAPTAII«S OF 1809. 0|

Though extraordinary, I am happy to say we had none killed, and only
three wounded : Lieutenant Brings, my first, by a splinter m the arm,
whom I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's notice ; Lieutenant
Peane, who has been acting three years and a half in this vessel ; and one
MUiMii. The lou of the enemy must be great. Tlic wounded from the
ship, 9 in all, are doing well.

" I give your Lordship the full particulars of .this event, and trust my
attacking so very superior a force, seeing they were resolutely determined
to bring me to action, will meet your approbation. Knomng I could
depend upon my officers and ship's company, whose cool, brave, and
steady conduct on this, as on former occasions, almost insured me success
before the action commenced. They merit my wannest acknowledgments.

" I cannot omit mentioning my having fuur passengers ; Captain Sulli-
van, of the 81 St regiment, who commanded the small-arms; Messrs.
Purvis and Crokat, and a Neapolitan metsenger, were all of great serrice,
as we were 16 short of complement. The enemy's fire was mostly directed
at our masts and rigging, in whkh we have tuffned Tery materially.

" The force opposed to the Halcyon was die Neptono dios de los Mares,
14 twelve>ponnders and 72 men; la Virgine de Solidad, 14 twelve and
oi^ht-pounders, 78 men; el Vives, 12 eight and six-potmders, 65 men. I
tiavc the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) • H. W. Pbarsk."

** I am glad of this opportunity," says the worthy Colling-
wood, when transmitting Captain Pearse's letter to the Ad-
miralty, " of giving to their lordships my testimony of the
spirited and skilful conduct of Captain Pearsc, in all theduUes
on which he is employed. The present instance demonstrates
what his ability is when there is opportunity to exhibit it*." *

At the beginning of Sept. 1808, information having been
received at Messina that a number of the enemy's coasting
vessels, laden with contributions m kind from the two pro-
vinces of Calabria to the Neapolitan government, were
assembled in Diamante bay, near the Gulf of Policastro,
under the protection of several gun-boats and land batteries.
Sir John Stuart, commanding the British troops in Sicily,
detached Lieutenant-Colonel Bryce, of the Royal Engineers,
to co-operate with a small naval force imder Captain Pcarse,
and endeavour to take or destroy them. The successful

■ Mr. James erroneously describes the Neptuno as a Spanish corvette,
and her consorts national vessels : he also says that not a man was injured
on board the Halcyon. See Nac. Hist. Vol. IV., p. 392 et $eq.

(^ POST-CAPTAINS OP 1809.

result of this enterprise is thus described by that gallant and
judicious officer, in a letter to his General, dated Sept. 8 :—

tt sjp I do myself the honor to acquaint you, that tlie detachment yon

were pleased to put under my orders, has successfully executed the service
in view, by capturing, in conjunction with Captain Pearse, R. N., a flotilla
of thirty-eight vessels, of which four are large gun-boats, under the town
of Diamante, where they had been blockaded with much perseverance by
Captain (Hdnry) Prescott, of H. M. brig Weazle;

" We were baffled by calms during five days on the passage from Me-
lazzo, on three of which we must have been distinctly seen from the
enemy's coast. On examining the position taken liere, I found it very
respectable, as the town of Diamante, which covered the vessels, ranged on
the right and left of it, stands on a peninsula neariy inaccessible on three
sides ; the fourth is protected by difficult inclosures, and there is, besides, a
building of considerable strength commanding the whole.

** Under these discouraging circumstances, augmented by the non-
arrival of the Sicilian gun-boats, and the absence of two of the transports,
it required the fullest confidence in the conduct of Major Hammill, and
the troops intended to be landed, to induce me to hazard an attempt on
the town, Avilhout the possession of which, I saw nothing effectual could
be done. After the strong building above-mentioned had been successfully
cannonaded for several hours, by Captains Pearse and Prescott, R. N., and
the Chavalicr de Balsamo, commanding a galliot of H. S. Majesty, who
were indefatigable in their exertions, 250 men of the regiment of Malta,
under Major Hammill, and 100 of the 58th regiment, under Captain
O'Brien, were landed at day-break this morning, about half a mile to the
northward of the town, accompanied by a howitzer and two G-poundcrs,
commanded by Captain Campbell of the royal artillery. The enemy, who
consisted of about 400 men of the civic-guard, with a proportion of French
troops, were gradually forced back, through the underwood, upon the
town, which, however, they did not attempt to defend, but took to the
mountains ; and we were enabled to turn their batteries on the beach to
the southward of the town, without susttuning any loss, when the whole of
the vessels fell into our hands • • • •. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) " Alex. Bryck."

The land ordnance taken on this occasion, consisted of 3
brass howitzers and 4 field-pieces, 1 iron long 12-pounder,
15 carronades, and 2 swivels. The British appear to have
sustained no loss, and that of the enemy has never been
ascertained.

In May 1809, part of the Halcyon's ofl&cers and crew
assisted at the destruction of the enemy's forts on the small
islands of Gianuti and Pianoso ; a service executed with great

POST- CAPTAINS OP 1810. 63

gallantry, under the directions of Lieutenant Bennett, of the
Scahoree frigate. On the 30th Aug. following, Captain Pearse
captured the St. Anna French privateer, of 2 guns and 46
men. His promotion to post rank took place Dec. 23d in
the same year.

Agents. — ^Messrs. Bamett and King.

EDWARD KITTOE, Esq,

Entered the navy, in Dec. 1790, as a midshipman on
board the Bellona 74, Captain (afterwards Sir Richard)
Onslow ; in which ship, and the Standard 64, he served on
the Channel station, until the peace of 1783. During the
next three years we find him in the Grampus 50, on the coast
of Africa. He afterward! tuccessifeiy removed into the
Scout sloop ; Trusty 50, bearmg the flag of Sir John Laforey,
with whom he proceeded to the West Indies; and Royal
George 1 10, flag- ship of Sir Alexander Hood j under which
latter officer he continued until his promotion, and appoint-
ment to the Saturn 74, Feb. 26, 1704.

In thcfoUowiog month. Lieutenant Kittoe joined the Hebe
frigate, Captain Alexander Hood ; and in June 1796, be was
appointed acting Commander of the Pelican sloop, on the
Leeward Islands' station. Th<^ vessel formed part of Rear-
Adniiral Harvey's squadron at the unsuccessful attack of
Porto Rico, April 1797*-

On the 13th Sept., same year. Lieutenant Kittoe, then ccnn-
manding the Bittern of 16 guns, engaged and captured
I'Agrcable French privateer, mounting 18 guns, with a com-
plement of 1 15 men. His ap|X)intmeut to the Bittern was
confirmed by the Admiralty soon after this action. On the
8th Sept. 1/08, he captured Ic Dix Ao(kt privateer, of 12 guns
and 50 men.

Early in 1803 the subject of this sketch was appointed
acting Captain of la Minerve frigate ; and we subsequently

• S«€Vol. I, note at p. 113.

64 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

find him superintending the equipment of the Britannia, a first
rate. In May 1804, he obtained the command of 1' Argus
sloop, from which vessel he removed to the Sabrina of 18
guns, about Oct. 1806 ; the latter he commanded during the
Walcheren expedition, in 1 809.

Captain Kittoe's post commission bears date Jan. 4, 1810.
In July following he was appointed to the Milford 74, flag-
ship of Sir Richard G. Keats, under whom he served at Cadiz,
during the memorable defence of that important place * ; and
afterwards in the Hibernia 110, on the Mediterranean station.
His last appointment was, Dec. 20, 1814, to the Astraea 42,
which frigate he commanded on the coast of France, until
the final termination of hostilities in 1815.

RICHARD ARTHUR, Esq.

Brother of Colonel George Arthur, Lieutenant-Go-
vernor of Van Dieman's Land ; and of the late John Ar-
thur, Esq. Collector of the Customs at Plymouth.

This ofl&cer entered the navy, in 1/90, as a midshipman on
board the Valiant 74; and at the commencement of the
French revolutionary war, we find him proceeding in the
Heroine frigate. Captain (afterwards Lord) Gardner, to the
West Indies ; where he served on board various ships until
confirmed as a Lieutenant, about Feb. 1800. He also obtained
the rank of Commander on the same station, in 1805.

Captain Arthur commanded the Vesuvius bomb, forming
part of the British advanced squadron before Copenhagen,
when repeatedly attacked bythe Danish flotilla, in Aug. 1807 f.
His next appointment was, about April, 1808, to the Cherokee
brig, mounting 8 eighteen-pounder carronades and 2 long
sixes, with a complement of 65 officers, men, and boys. On
the 11th Jan. 1810, he addressed an official letter to the

♦ See Captains Sir Thomas Fellowes, Frederick Jennings Thomas, and
William Henry Smyth.

t See Suppl. Part I., p. 239.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 65

commander-in-chief on the Downs station, of which the fol-
lowini^ is a copy : —

" Sir, — I have the honor to acquaint you, that on reconnoiterin^ Dieppe
yesterday. I perceived seven lugger privateers at anchor close together,
within "■ ■ " >!cr-head under the batteries; and deeming

h, notv\ rs, practicable to capture or destroy some

of them, I this momini^, at one o'clock, the wind being southerly, stood
in and perceived the whole seven at anchor, as when reconnoitred : I im-
mediately ran between two, and laid one on boanl, which, after a fruitless
attempt on the part of the enemy to board the Cherokee, I succeeded in
bringing out, and which proves to be PAmiable Ncily, a new iugi^r,
of 16 guns, 106 tons, and 60 men.

" During the time we were under the batteries, the whole of the priva-
teers kept up a constant fire of musketry ; but, T am happy to state, only
two were wounded, viz. Lieutenant Gabriel, and Mr. James Ralph, boat-
swain, both in tlip hand. Thi- onornv had 2 killpd and S woundfd, 3 dan-
gerously.

" I feel it :i duty I . oUiccr^ and crew to stale, their conduct

deserves my warmest ion, for the cool steadiness they shewed,

both in attacking the enemy, and during the time we were aoder the bat-

tprif'i I n III .^n

(Signed) " R. Arthur."

*' J'o / tce-.'lJmiral Camp/jell."

For his darincj conduct on this occasion, Captain Arthur
was immediately promoted, and his post commission dated
back to the day on which he made the successful attack.
His last naval appointment was, Oct. 16, 1812, to the An-
dromeda of 22 guns.

Agent. —

GEORGE PARIS MONKE, Esq.

Only son of the late Captain Monke, of the Royal Horse
Guards.

This officer entered the navy, in June 1775, as a midship-
man on board the Worcester/64, commanded by Captain Mark
Robinson, and forming part of a small squadron of observa-
tion, then about to proceed on a cruise off Cape Finisterre,
under Commodore Sir Peter Parker.

In Mar. 1777, Mr. Monke was transferred to the Fox of

SUPPL. PART II. W

6(5 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

28 guns, Captain Patrick Fotheringham, in which fiigate he
proceeded to the Newfoundland station.

On the 8th June following, the Fox fell in with two Ameri-
can frigates ; the Hancock 34, commanded hy one Manley, a
native of Torbay, in Devonshire ; and the Boston 30, under
the command of Macreal, another English traitor. Not hav-
ing heard of any ships so large being fitted out by the rebel-
lious colonists, and therefore imagining that they were Bri-
tish men of war, Captain Fotheringham neglected to get his
decks sufficiently clear for action ; nor was he convinced of
his mistake until Manley hoisted the colours adopted by
Congress, and ordered him to " strike instantly." A running
fight then commenced, the Fox endeavouring to gain a little
time in order to prepare for closer battle.

Nearly four hours elapsed before Manley could bring his
ship fairly alongside of the Fox, when a warm action com-
menced between them, during which several of the rebel
crew shewed strong signs of fear j and her desperate com-
mander, sensible of their dismay, ran continually from one
end of the ship to the other, without a coat, his shirt sleeves
tucked up to the shoulders, flourishing and swinging a large
cutlass round his head^ and swearing he would " cut down the
first man who should attempt to leave his quarters." These
threats had the desired effect, and the conflict M'as continued
till Captain Fotheringham, seeing that the Fox was very
much "rippled, thought proper to strike her colours, which
he had hardly done before the Boston came under her stern,
and gave her a broadside, to the great displeasure of Manley,
who inveighed loudly against a proceeding so unfair and un-
necessary. Captain Fotheringham and 50 of his crew were
Jhen taken on board the " Yankee Commodore," and Mr.
Monke with others removed to the Boston.

On the 4th of the following month, just after they had pas-
sed Halifax, on their way to Boston, the Hancock and her
consorts were discovered and chased by the Rainbow 44,
Captain Sir George Collier, who after a pursuit of 41 hours,
and a running fight of 4i, succeeded in obtaining possession
of tlie former. The Fox was likewise secured by Captain

^CILPTAIKS OP 1610i ^

John Brisbane, of the Flora frigate, who had hore in sight
on the second day of the chase ; but unfortunately the Bos-
ton effected her escape *.

After a close confinement of several months at Boston, Mr.
Monke and his fellow pnsonen were exchanged, and rein-
stated in their former stations on board the Fox, which ship
returned to England in Feb. 177B.

We next find the subject of this memoir senring in the
Courageux 74> and acting as aid-de-camp to Captain Lord
M\jl{^rave, in the action off Ushant, between Keppcl and
(i'Orvilliers f, on which oocaMOn that ship had 6 kilkd and
13 wounded J.

The operations of the Channel fleet, to which the Coura-

creux was attached until the autumn of 17B0, were unpro-

hictive of any striking events, owing partly to the cauticms

conduct of Keppel's successors, and partly to the reserve of

the enemy.

In Sept. 17^} being strongly recommended by Lord Mul-
gmve, Mr. Monke was appointed to act as Lieutenant of the
Harpy fire-vessel, in which he continued until Nov. 17H1,
when he received a commission for the Warrior J4, Captain
Sir James Wallace, under whom he senned as fourth of that
ship, in Rodney's battles with de Grasse, April 9 and 12,
17^ ; on which days her total loss amounted to 5 killed and
21 wounded. He also assisted at the capture of two French

• See Aw. Chrom, VoL xxxu, pp. 27^—279.
t See Royal Nmr. Bi9g. Vol. I, p. 16.
% On board the Coarageax was a mio who worked for the officevt as a
tailor, and, as he was a civil steady person, he recmed many marks of
their approbation ; notwithstanding which he fell into a state of despon-
dency, being firmly persoadeid that he should lose his life whenever the
fleets engaged. Lord Mulgrave, observing the melancholy dejection of his
spirits, endeavoured by argument and ridicole, but in vain, to drive the
idea from his mind. On the day of the above action, Jnly 27, 1778, this
poor fellow was ordered to assist in the cockpit, as a place of the greatest
security ; but, impelled by irresistible curiosity to see what was going on,
he ventured up the main-hatchway, and in an instant he was mortaUy
wounded.

f2

68 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

64-gun ships, one frigate, and a corvette, in the Mona Pas-
sage, on the 19th of the same month *.

On the arrival of the victorious fleet at Jamaica, Lieutenant
Monke was appointed first of le Jason 64 1, Captain John
Aylmer, with whom he returned home in the month of Octo-
ber following ; that ship having miraculously weathered the
tremendous hurricane which proved so fatal to the Centaur,
Ramillies, Ville de Paris, Glorieux, and Hector, as well as
to numerous merchant vessels which had sailed for England
under the protection of Rear- Admiral Graves J.

In 1790, Lieutenant Monke was appointed to command
the Speedwell cutter, and employed on various services, under
the orders of Lord Howe. In 1792, while cruising on the
Yorkshire coast, he captured the Hell-afloat, a very fine
smuggling cutter of 14 guns, the exact number mounted by
his own vessel.

A short time previous to the commencement of the French
revolutionary war. Lieutenant Monke proceeded to Ham-
burgh, for the purpose of bringing over a number of British
. sailors, who had recently been wrecked in different vessels
on the coast of Jutland ; and he succeeded in prevailing on
a hundred of them to embark with him in the Speedwell.
During the passage home, a very stormy one, and prolonged
by contrary winds, he found himself obliged to keep the deck,
night and day, in order to secure these men for the navy, it
being known that they intended, if possible, to seize the cut-
ter, run her ashore, and thus avoid impressment. In conse-
quence of the fatigue he endured on this occasion, his health
was so seriously injured as to render it necessary for him to
resign his desirable command, in Aug. 1793.

Lieutenant Monke's subsequent appointments were to the
Maidstone frigate, and Ville de Paris of 110 guns, from
which latter ship he was promoted to the rank of Commander,
in Mar. 1797.

• See Vol. II, Part I, note f at p. 52 ; and Vol. I, Part I, note at pp.
35—39.

t Now the Argonaut hospital-ship, stationed at Chatham.
I See Vol. II, Part I, p. 65 et teg., and the notes at p. 69.

POBT-CAPTTAINS OI^ 1810. 60

Finding himself now possessed of much unwished-for
leisure, Captain Monke compiled and, in 17^9, published,
" A Vocabulary of Sea Phrases and Terms of Art ^ used in
Seamanship and Naval Architecture," Uoping that the ob-
jects which it embraced would be found of real utility to the
maritime world in general, and to British naval officers in
particular. The work to which we allude consists of two
pocket volumes, in English and French, containing all the
orders n( < for working a ship, and carrying on the duty,

as well ai i in port ; by means of which an English

prize-master, however ignorant of the French nautical lan-
guage, may navigate a ship of that nation with part of her
own crew, whenever circumstances, for awhile, prevent a
sufficient number of British seamen from being put on board
for that purpose.

In July 1H08, Captain Monke was appointed to the Cen-
turion 60, armed en jiiite^ and ordered to convey naval stores
to Halifax. We subsequently find him commanding the
Statira frigate, yro tempore, and assisting at the reduction
of Gnadaloupe *. His post commission bears date Jan.
12, 1810.

We now arrive at the unfortunate conclusion of Captain
Monke's professional career. In Oct. 1810, he assumed the
command of the Pallas 32, and proceeded from the Frith of
Forth to cruise for a month on the coast of Norway, where
his boats, under the directions of Lieutenant M*Curdy, cap-
tured, in the Cove of Siveraag, two Danish cutter privateers
of very inconsiderable force. Returning to Leith roads, pur-
suant to his orders, he had the misfortune to be wrecked near
Dunbar, in the night of Dec. 18 ^ his pilots having mistaken
the light issuing from a lime-kiln, on the Scotch coast, for
the light on the Isle of May, and the latter for that on the
Bell Kock. It is not a little singular that, at the very same
time, the Nymph 36, Captain Edward Sneyd Clay, though
not in company with the Pallas, went ashore, under exactly
similar circumstances, and was also totally wrecked within a

• See Vol I, Part I. p. 265.

70 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

short distance of her *. Captain Monke has not since been
employed.

^gent.^-'J. Dufaur, Esq.

PHIPPS HORNBY, Esq.

^ Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

This officer is a son of the late Rev. Geoffrey Hornby,
rector of Winwick, a valuable living in Lancashire, by Miss
Lucy Stanley, sister to the present Earl of Derby. He was
made a Lieutenant, Nov. 16, 1804; Commander, Aug. 15,
1806 ; and Post-Captain, Feb. 16, 1810 : but he does not
appear to have had any opportunity of distinguishing himself
until March 13, 1811 ; on which day he commanded the
Volage a 22 gun ship, and bore a very conspicuouis part in
the action off Lissa, officially described at pp. 472 — 4/6 of
Vol. II. Part If. The Volage, on that occasion, was very
much cut up in her hull, masts, sails, and rigging : her loss
amounted to 13 killed and 33 wounded.

On Captain Hornby's return to his native place, a deputa-
tion of the inhabitants of Winwick waited upon him to offer
their congratulations upon his safety, and to convey tlu
wishes of the parish at large that he would honor with his
presence a public festival, to be celebrated upon the 26th
Aug. 1812, in commemoration of the victory off Lissa, and as
a tribute of their respect for himself and his family J.

Captain Hornby subsequently commanded the Stag 36
and Spartan 38, which latter frigate he paid off about July,
1816. He married, Nov. 22, 1814, a daughter of the late
Lieutenant- General Burgoyne.

.^^ew/«.— Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

HON. WILLIAM GORDON.

Grandson of the late Earl of Aberdeen, and brother to th«
present peer.

• See Nav. Chron. Vol. xxr, pp. 54 — 66.

t See note • at the latter page.

X See Nov. Ckron.yoX. xx?H, pp. 204—212.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. fi

This officer served for a considerable time on the East
India station, which he unfortunately quitted just at the
commencement of a series of very brilliant ojyerations. He
received his first commission July 2, 1804; was made a
Commander, April 24, 180/ ; and promoted to post rank
(shortly after his return to England), March 12, 1810. On
the 17th Jan. 1813, we find him commanding the Magicienne
frigate, and capturing the American schooner privateer
Thrasher, of 14 guns and 80 men. He subsequently assisted
at the reduction of St. Sebastian *.

FRANCIS STANFELL, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant July 31, 17^t and promoted to
the rank of Commander Feb. 4, 1803 ; previous to which
the Turkish gold medal had been presented to him for his
services during the Egyptian campaign.

Early in 1806, Captain Stanfell was appointed to the
Scorpion brig, of 18 guns, then at the Leeward Islands, to
which sUition he proceeded as a passenger on board one o^
the Falmouth packets. On his arrival at Barbadoes, he had
the mortification to find that his brig had been taken to the
coast of America, by Sir John B. Warren ; and after many
months anxious expectation, during which he resided on shore
at a great expense, he received letters from England acquaint-
ing him that she had returned to Europe, and that there was
no probability of his being able to join her unless he likewise
came home.

In consequence of this information. Captain Stanfell
hastened back to England, and assumed the command of the
Scorpion, on the Plymouth station, in the spring of 1807-
On the 21st Nov. in the same year, he captured la Glaneuse,
French ketch privateer, a remarkably fine vessel, of 16 guns
and 80 men.

Availing himself of information obtained from his prisoners
relative to le Glaneur, a celebrated privateer which had been
repeatedly pursued, but always escaped by superiority of sail-

• See Vol II, Part II, p. 531.

72 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

ing, Captain Stanfell immediately went in search of that
vessel, and had the good fortune to capture her, on the 3d
Dec, after a chase of 12 hours. This latter ketch mounted
10 guns, with a complement of 60 men ; and was well known
at Lloyd's to have done more mischief than all the privateers
out of St. Maloes, having run two years with uninterrupted
luck.

We next find Captain Stanfell employed blockading Basse-
terre, Guadaloupe ; near which anchorage, and under the fire
of a land battery, he captured, after an action of two hours,
rOreste French national brig of 16 guns and 130 men, in-
cluding several naval and military passengers. The enemy,
on this occasion, had 2 killed and 10 wounded ; the Scorpion
not a man slain, and only 4 wounded. This gallant sen'icc
was performed in the night of Jan. 11, 1810*.

The following are extracts from Sir Alexander Cochrane's
letter to the Admiralty, announcing the subsequent conquest
of Guadaloupe :

" Captains Stanfell, Elliott, and Flin, with detachments of seamen, were
attached to the second division of the army ; • • • • with all of
whom the General is liighly satisfied f.

" I have entrusted this despatch to Captain Stanfell, wIk) has hecn
actively employed on this service, and will consequently be able to jjivo
such further particulars as their Lordships may reijuire : and I take leave
to mention him as an oAiccr whose zeal and merit entitle him to their
lordships' protection.*'

Captain Stanfell returned home in the Hazard sloop ;
arrived at the Admiralty, March 15, 1810; and was promoted
to post rank on the 19th of the same month. His subsequent
appointments were to the Druid 32, Cossack 22, and Bac-
chante 38 ; in which latter ship he proceeded from the Medi-
terranean to Bermuda and North America, at the close of
the war with France, in 1814.

The Bacchante formed part of the squadron under Rear-
Admiral Griffith (now Colpoys), at the capture of Castine;
and was afterwards sent to take possession of Belfast, a town
on the western side of Penobscot l)ay, through which the

• See Nuv. Chron. Vol. xxiii. p. 429 ; and Vol. xxv. p. 461.
t See Sir George BeckwitU'a General Orders of Feb. 7, 1810 ; at
p. 8/9. of Vol. I. Part II.

FOST-CAPTAfWa OF 1810. ^3

high road from Boston runs, for the purpose of cutting off
all communication with that side of the country ; whilst a
naval and military force, under Captain Uobert Barrie and
Lieutenant-Colonel John, proceeded to attack Hamden ; the
result of which expedition has been stated at pp. 7^9 — 733
of Vol. 11. Part 11.

So soon as accounts were received from Captain Barrie,
tliat the U.S. ship Adams was destroyed, and the force as-
sembled for her protection dispersed, the troops stationed at
Belfast were again embarked by Captain Stanfell, and arrange-
ments made for sending them to take posses»ion of Machias,
the only place between Castine and Passamaquaddy bay, then
occupied by the enemy. This service was performed without
loss, under the directions of Captain Hyde Parker, com-
manding the Tenedos frigate, and Lieutenant-Colonel Pilking-
ton, D.A.G.

Since the peace with America, the subject of this sketch
has commanded the Phaeton frigate, and Conqueror 7A, h\
the former ship he conveyed Sir Hudson Lowe from England
to St. Helena ; in the latter he served as Flag-Captain to
Rear-Admiral Plamplin, during the last two years of that
officer's command at St. Helena.

The Conqueror was paid off Oct. 30, 1820; on which occa-
>ion her officers gave Captain Stanfell an el^ant entertain-
ment, at the Mitre hotel, Chatham, as a mark of their esteem
for him, and an acknowledgment of his constant attention to
their comforts. We very much regret that it is not in our
power to give a fuller account of the services of such a kind-
hearted man, whom we likewise most highly respect.

Captain Stanfell married, Dec. 12, IMO, Elizabeth, second
daughter of Captain (now Vice-Admiral) Robert Barton. One
of his sisters was married to the late James Cobb, Esq. Se-
cretary to the Hon. East India Company, a gentleman emi-
nently distinguished by his literary attainments, as displayed
in the operas of the " Haunted Tower," " The Siege of
Belgrade," &c. &c. &c. *

• See Annual Bwg. aad Obit, for 1819, p. 363 j and Nav, Chron. Vol.
xxxix, p. 498.

74 l»OST-CAPTAmS OF 1810.

SAMUEL GEORGE PECHELL, Esq.

Second son of the late Augustus Pechell, Esq. Receiver-
General of the Customs, by Sarah, third daughter and co-
heiress of Thomas Drake, D.D. rector of Amersham, co.
Bucks.

This officer was made a Lieutenant, Feb. 6, 1806; Com-
mander, April 25, 1809 ; and Post-Captain, April 30, 1810.
He married, Jan. 15, 1817, Caroline, daughter of William
Thoyles, of Southampstead-House, co. Berks, Esq. by whom
he has issue.

Agent, — Isaac Clementson, Esq.

CHARLES JOHN AUSTEN, Esq.

Brother to Captain Francis William Austen, C. B. whose
services are recorded at pp. 274—283 of Vol. II. Part I.

This officer entered the naval academy at Portsmouth in
1791, and embarked in 1794, as a midshipman on board the
Daedalus 32, commanded by Captain (now Sir Thomas) Wil-
liams ; with whom he afterwards served in the Unicorn and
Endymion frigates, continuing with him until the spring of
1801, at which period he had risen to be second Lieutenant of
the latter. His first commission bears date Dec. 10, 1797 *.

At the renewal of hostilities, May 1803, Lieutenant Austen
had the good fortune to be appointed first of the Endymion,
on the application of her Captain, the Hon. Charles Paget,
imderwhom he continued actively and successfully employed
till his promotion to the rank of Commander, Sept. 10, 1804t ;
on which occasion he was appointed to the Indian, an 18-gun
sloop, then building at Bermuda, for the protection of the
islands.

During one of his first cruises. Captain Austen fell in with
and was soon surrounded by four fast-sailing French frigates;

• The very active services of the Unicorn and Endymion are fully noticed
in our first volume, pp. 387 — 389.

t See Id. p. 864 et aeq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. J^

but fortunately it fell calm at the moment when his capture
appeared inevitable, and byusingthe sweeps he was enabled to
push bi'tween them and gain a safe distance before another
breeze sprang up. The Indian was subsequently placed under
the orders of Sir John B. Warren, on the Halifax station,
where Captain Austen captured la Jeune Estelle, French
schooner privateer, of 4 guns and 25 men, with a cargo of
Hour and provisions, bound to St. Domingo; a Spanish letter
of marque, of similar force ; and three merchant vessels.

Cn the 10th May, 1810, Captain Austen was posted into
Sir John B. Warren's flag-ship, the Swiftsure 74 ; and shortly
literwards removed to the Cleopatra 32, in which frigate he
returned home, about the summer of 181 1.

Captain Austen's next appointment was, Nov. 20, 181 1, to
the Namur 74, bearing the flag of his early friend and patron,
Sir Thonas Williams, and employed as a receiving ship at
the Nore.

The duties which Captain Austen bad now to attend to were
of no trifling nature, and attended with considerable respoosi-
bility, he being charged with the regulation of all the men
raised fur the navy in the river Thames and eastern ports, as
also with the detail of manning the ships of war fitted out in
IheThatur ' ^Iedway. That the Lords of the Admiralty

wore full) ;...- ..J with his execution of these duties during a
period of nearly three years, is evident from his having been
appointed to the Phoenix, a 32-gun frigate, inunediately after
Sir Thomas Williams's command expired.

Early in 1815, Captain Austen proceeded to the Mediterra-
nean; and on the renewal of hostilities with France and
Naples, in consequence of Buonaparte's escape from Elba, he
was sent to the Adriatic, with the Undaunted 38, and Garland
22, under his orders, for the purposes of co-operating with the
Austrian army, and endeavouring to intercept some Neapo-
litan men of war.

After the surrender of Naples, according to the military
convention of Casa Lanza, Captain Austen entered into a
correspondence with the authorities at Brindisi, relative to
two frigates of the largest class, then lying there, and which

1^^ POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

the Phoenix and Garland had been watching, whilst the Un-
daunted scoured the coast to the northward. The com-
manders of these ships were at leni^h induced to hoist the
colours of their restored monarch, Ferdinand IV. ; and Cap-
tain Austen soon afterwards received the unqualified appro-
bation of Lord Exmouth for his conduct during the whole of
that short campaign.

We next find Captain Austen proceeding to the Archipelago,
with the Phoenix, Aquilon (32), Garh\nd, and Reynard sloop,
in search of la Junon French frigate, la Victorieuse corvette,
two heavy brigs, two large schooners, and several piratical
vessels which had lately given interruption to the trade in
that quarter. On his arrival among the islands, he had the
mortification to find that the enemy's squadron was no longer
there ; and the speedy restoration of peace left him nothing
more to do than the suppression of piracy, a service which, for
the time being, he effectually performed. We now come to
the most unfortunate event in his professional career — the
lossof the Phoenix, on the coast of Asia Minor, Feb. 20, 18J(J.

Having received orders, when at Smyrna, to join Sir Charles
Penrose, who was about to accompany Lord Exmouth on an
expedition to the coast of Barbary, Captain Austen put to sea
immediately, although the wind was foul and the weather
very unsettled. Being unable to clear the Archipelago before
the commencement of a violent gale, he was obliged to bear
up and seek shelter in the port of Chismd ; but scarcely had
he anchored when the wind flew round from S.W. to North,
and blew a perfect hurricane. Every thing possible was
done to save the ship, notwithstanding which she drove on
shore, with three anchors a-head, after her masts were cut
away. Happily no lives were lost, and he succeeded in saving
the guns, stores, &c. which were conveyed to Malta by the
Reynard and a merchant ship chartered for tliat purpose. It
now only remains for us to add, that this disaster was solely
owing to the ignorance of the Greek pilots, and that Captain
Austen was fully acquitted of all blame, by a court-martial
assembled on board the Boyne, in Tunis bay, April 22, 1816.

Captain Austen's last appointment was, June 2, 1826, to

P08T.CAPTAIN8 OF 1810. '4^

the Aurora of 46 guns, which frigate he at present commands
on the Jamaica station.

The subject of this sketch has been twice married ; 1st, in
I8O7, to a Miss Pahiier, by whom he had three daughters ;
2dly, in 1820, to a lady of the same maiden name, by whom
he has one son.

Agent. — J. V\'ood head, Esq.

SPELMAN SWAINE, Esq.

A Maghtrate for the hie of Ely.
This officer is the second son, and eldest surviving child,
of the late Spelman Swaine, Esq. of Leverington, near VVis-
bcach, CO. Cambridge (at which place the family have resided
for several centuries), by Dorothy, daughter of Walter Robert-
son, of LjTin Kcgis, in Norfolk, Esq. The Swaines are re-
lated, by intermarriage, to the descendants of Sir Henry
Spelman.

Mr. Swaine, the subject of this memoir, was born at Lynn
Regis, Jan. 1, 1709; and he appears to have first embarked
as a midshipman on board the Crocodile 2-4, commanded by
Captain Albemarle Bertie, in April 1782. We afterwards
find him serving under the same officer in the Recovery 32,
which frigate was attached to Lord Howe's fleet at the relief
of Gibraltar, and repeated his signals during tlie subsequent
partial action off Cape Spartel.

ITie Recovery being paid off at the end of the American
war, Mr. Swaine soon afterwards joined the Camatic 74,
Captain Anthony J. P. Molloy, with whom he served until
that ship also was put out of commission.

Early in 1785, having obtained an introductory letter from
Lord Howe to CapUun (now Sir William) Domett, Mr. Swaine
was received on board the Champion 24, commanded by the
latter officer, and then fitting at Woolwich. In that ship he
served on the Leith station till the Dutch armament, 1787«

At this period. Captain Domett was superseded, in conse-
quence of his being nominated to the command of the London,
a second rate, intended to bear the flag of Vice- Admiral

7$ POST-CAPTAIN* or 1810.

Alexander Hood, had the dispute with Holland been followti.
by a declaration of war ; and in which case Mr. Swaine wmB
to have accompanied those officers to the East India station.

After being borne for some time as a supernumerary on the
books of the Sandwich guard-ship, Mr. Swaine joined the
LowestofFe frigate, Captain Edmund Dod, employed on
Channel service *. During the Spanish armament, he served
under the first Lord Gardner, then commanding the Courageux
74.

At the commencement of 1791, Mr. Swaine was removed
to the Discovery, Captain George Vancouver, a vessel then
about to sail for Nootka Sound, in order to obtain formal
restitution of the territories recently seized by the Spaniards ;
and afterwards to explore the N. W. coast of America f.
During this very interesting, but tedious and perilous voyage,
he was instrumental in saving the lives of Captain Vancouver,
Lieutenant Peter Puget, a midshipman, and a boat's crew,
when treacherously attacked by a party of Indians ; on which
occasion several of the English were severely wounded, and
the whole would doubtless have been sacrificed, had not the
boat he commanded opportunely arrived to their assistance.
The following is the account given by one of Vancouver's
companions X :

"We generally landed at some sequestered spot to cook our dinner;
and upon one occasion, we were certainly in the most imminent danger of
being murdered. Our boat was in the mouth of the riter" (named after
Sir A. Mackenzie) ; " we had been employed in taking 80undii»|fs ; and
the other boat, which had been in company during the morning, had
separated to survey a small bay, at a little distance. A pouit of laud lay
between us, and we thoujfht it might take them a considerable time to
rejoin ; we, therefore, determined to land, and dine at a spot which seemed
sheltered, and free from any savages. On nearing it, a few were discovered ;
but, from them, Vancouver thought there was nothing to fear. We ac-

• Captain (afterwards Rear-Admiral) Dod died at Exeter, Dec. 18,
1815^ aged 81 years.

t See Vol. II, Part 1, p. 200 et seq. N. B. Mr. Swaine bad joined the
Discovery previous to the altercation between the courts of London and
Madrid, but left her again in consequence of the expected Spanish war.

X The late Captain John Stewart, vrho died Oct. 26, 181 1. See Ni».
Chron. Vol. ixviii, pp. 1—47.

pofT-cAPTAiNs or 1810. 79

cordingljr neared the shore, and landed, when other savafipet %Tere obserred
to make their appearance from behind a small eminence, that had hitherto
concealed them. On their approach, we perceived that many of them had
put on their war-dress, and armed themselves with spears, bows, and war-
cluhs. By this time our boat had i^ot into shoal water, and was close to
the beach, within reach of their arrows. Vancouver began to talk of
retreatinsf, yet did not like to ?liew any symptom of fear ; he ordered the
artn-chest to be opened, and that every man should prepare to defend
himself. The moment the samgrs saw lu arroiof , they rwbad towards
the boat, and, plunging; into Uie sea, got under our oars, so that they could
not be used ; others laid hold of the boat, and endeavouretl to haul her on
shore. Vancouver in vain endeavoured to hold a parley with them, and to
explain that no harm was intended .- they ever)' minute became more inso-
lent and audacious, and I saw clearly that they intended mischief.

" My station was in the stem-abeeta, where providentially lay a pair of
Urge horse-pistoU I luok one of them, and a midshipman, who stood by
me, se'tzed the other. We had iicarcely done this, when two tail, strong,
horrid-looking savages, rushed into the water, within a few feet of us,
each armed with a long spear, and their faces painted with all sorts of
colours. Tlie savage who was opposed to me threw himself back a little,
derated his spear, and seemed in tlie very act of barling it through ray
bo<ly, when svddenly his eye caught mine, and ke ubsmnred that tkenHiisle
of my pistol was directed to his Ueast. He, instantly, was horror-struck,
and remained fixed in his terrific attitade : a«rare of the efficacy of fire-arms,
he dreaded instant death, if he made his intended throw at me. At thut
critical period, when Vancouver had already been knocked down by a war-
club, and several of the boat's crew severely wounded with spears, our
shipmates hove in sight ! They immediately saw what ^vas gv)in7 on, and
fired upon the savages, who then retired in consternation. With tlie assist-
ance of our deliverers, we pushed into deep water and rowed off. One
of our men was speared through the thigh, with such force as to be
pinioned to the side of the boat."

At the time this affray took place, Mr. Swaine was accom-
panied by the present Captain John Sykes, a circumstance
which we inadvertently omitted to notice in our memoir of
that officer. Mr. Archibald Menzies, the botanist, also was
in the boat with him at that critical period.

On his return to England, in Sept. 1795, Mr. Swaine, who
had had an acting order ever since 1792, received a Lieute-
nant's commission ; and at the close of the same year Re was ap-
pointed to the Spitfire sloop, in which vessel he served under
Captains Amherst Morris, and Michael Seymour*, on the
• See VoL U, Part I, p. 295.

80 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

North Sea and Channel stations, until 1801. His next ap-
pointment was to be first of the Princess Charlotte frigate,
Captain the Hon. Francis F. Gardner, Avith whom he continu-
ed during the i^eraainder of the war.

Lieutenant Svvaine was advanced to the rank of Comman-
der, April 29, 1802; and appointed to the Raven sloop,
about July following. In her he carried despatches to Tan*
giers, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and Valette ; at which latter
place he was taken under the orders of Sir Richard Bickerton,
who then commanded on the Mediterranean station. In Oct.
1803, he led Lord Nelson's fleet through the Straits of Boni-
faccio to Agincourt Sound, an anchorage amongst the JVlade-
lena islands, north of Sardinia, which was the first time that a
three-decker ever attempted that intricate navigation *. For
this service. Captain Swaine had the honor of being highly
complimented by our immortal hero. , .{

In the night of Jan. 6, 1804, the Raven was set on »bore
near Mazara, in Sicily, by an unusual current, and totally
wrecked, notwithstanding every exertion to save her. The
whole of the officers and crew, however, were happily pre-
served by a merchant vessel then in company. Captaia
Swaine was, not only acquitted of all blame on account pf
this disaster, but commended by the court-martial /or h^
conduct on the unfortunate occasion.

We subsequently find Captain Swaine commanding the
Helicon and Philomel, sloops ; the former employed on the
Downs station, the latter conveying some military officers to
Oporto, a Spanish grandee to Cadiz, and despatches to tln^
Mediterranean. His post commission, appointing him to ti
Hind of 28 guns, bears date May 1/, 1810. ^

In Aug. 1811, the subject of this memoir received an, ap-
pointment to the Talbot 20, on the Irish station, where he
narrowly escaped sharing the fate of the Saldanha frigate,
having parted company with her but a short time before she
was driven on a sunken rock at the entrance of Lough Swilly,
by which melancholy accident, the Hon. Captain Pakenham

• See Vol. II, Part I, p. 143.

POST-CAPTAims OF 1810. 81

(brother to the Earl of Lone^ord), and nearly the whole of his
officers and crew^ perished, Dec. 4, 1811.

The Talbot was afterwards successively employed in afford-
ing protection to the Newfoundland and West India trade ; and
Captain Swaine continued to command her until April 28,
1814 ; on which day he was appointed to the Statira frigate,
vacant by the death of Captain Hassard Stackpoole, who had
fallen in a duel with Lieutenant Thomas VValbeoff Cecil, of
the Argo 44 ♦.

In that ship, Captain Swaine returned home from Jamaica,
and subsequently conveyed Sir Edward Pakenham and Ma-
jor-Gcneral Gibbs, with a number of other military officers,
to New Orleans f. We afterwards find him proceeding to
St. Mary's and Bermuda. Returning from the latter place
to join Sir Alexander Cochrane, at Isle Dauphine, he again
had the misfortune to lye shipwrecked.

On the 26th Feb. 1813, at 10 A. M., being then off Cuba,
the Statira struck upon a rock which was not laid down in
the Admiralty charts, nor in any others that her commander
had ever seen. All his endeavours to save her proved ineffec-
tual, and she went down in about half an hour after the offi-
cers and crew were removed into a transport under her con-
voy. It is almost needless to add, that Captain Swaine was
fully acquitted, when tried for the loss of his ship ; it being
proved that the existence of such a rock was totally un-
known. He returned to England as passenger on board the
Asia 74.

Captain Swaine married, in 1806, the eldest daughter of the
late Rev. Charles Le Grice, of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk j
by which lady he has a son and three daughters.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

• Lieutenant Cecil, third son of the late William Cecil, of Duffryn, co.
MoDroouth, Esq. was shortly afterwards promoted into the Electra sloop,
but died of the yellow fever, at Port Royal, Oct. 24, 1814. Some ac-
count of his family and services will be found in the Nac. Chron. Vol.
xxxii, p. 478.

t See Vol. I, Part II, note at pp. 637—^539.

SUPPL. PART II. C

^ POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810.

FRANCIS BEAUFORT, Esq.

Fellow of the Royal Society ; Vice President of the Astronomical Society ^

Sfc. 8fc.

This officer is a son of the late venerable Dr. Daniel Au-
gustus Beaufort, Rector of Navan, co. Meath, and Vicar of
Collon, CO. Louth, whose name " is well known to the
British public as the author of our best map of Ireland, and
most valuable memoir on the Topography, and Civil and
Ecclesiastical State of that country; an excellent clergyman,
of a liberal spirit and conciliating manners, and a man of
taste and literature *."

" Dr. Beaufort, in his latter years, rebuilt the churches in
both his parishes, which edifices remain monuments of his
zeal and of his architectural taste. The church of Collon is
built on the model of King's College, Cambridge. It sur-
prises and delights the English traveller, and may well gratify,
as it does, the national pride of the sister country. Dr.
Beaufort was one of those who first proposed the Royal
Irish Academy, and actively assisted in the formation, and in
the regulation of that institution, of which he was one of the
earliest members. To the establishment and improvement
of the Sunday Schools in Dublin he contributed essentially
by his personal exertions and constant attendance ; and he
was one of the original founders of the admirable " Association
for the encouragement of Virtue." He possessed an extraordi-
nary variety of information, which was never suffered to be
idle, nor produced for parade : it was circulated in the mo6t
liberal and agreeable manner by his conversation, and ever
ready and ever useful to his friends and country on all public
or private occasions. During the course of his long life he
did little for himself, much for others ; nothing for money,
scarcely any thing for fame ; much for his country, more
for virtue and religion. Many have said, and more have felt,

• See " Memoirs of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Esq." M.P. for St.
John's Town, co. Longford (who married Dr. Beaufort's daughter). Vol. II.
p. 193.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. A

that they never spent an hour in Dr. Beaufort's company
without leaving it wiser and better, more disposed to do
their duty to God and to tlieirneighbour. In disturbedtimes,
and in a country where political and religious dissensions
have unhappily prevailed, he was eminently serviceable,
combining, as he did, judicious loyalty with the virtues of
a Christian, of a ProU slant clergyman, and the talents and
manners of an accomplished gentleman. Dr. Beaufort's
peculiarly conciliating politeness increased the power and
effect of his benevolence, not only upon the highest, but upon
the lowest class of his friends, acquaintance, and parishioners.
He lived to be an example of uncommon intellectual vigour
in advanced age. When he was nearly 83, in the last yesr
of his life, he was occupied in preparing, from a large mass
of materials, an improved edition of the memoir accom-
panying his map. His sight was so acute, that he could at
that age superintend the most delicate revisions of the map.
His grateful parishioners propose to erect a monument to his
memor)'. The general and deep regret felt for his loss does
honor to virtue, and to the generous character of the Irish
people." Dr. Beaufort died at Collon, in the year 1821.

Mr. Francis Beaufort entered the navy during the Spanish
armament, in 1790, as a midshipman on board the Latona 38,
Captain Albemarle Bertie ; and we subsequently find him
serving under the Hon. Robert Stopford, in the Aquilon 32 ;
which latter frigate was one of Lord Howe's repeaters, on the
memorable first of June, 1794 ♦.

In the autumn of the same year, he removed with Captain
Stopford to the Phaeton 38, which ship formed part of the
squadron under Vice-Admiral Cornwallis when that officer
made his celebrated retreat from a powerful French fleet, June
17, 1795 f. Mr. Beaufort subsequently assisted at the cap-
ture of la Flore, a 36-gun frigate ; la Daphne, mounting 30
guns ; la Bonne Citoyenne, corvette ; nine privateers, two
other armed vessels, and many merchantmen; likewise at the

• See Vol. I. p. 75 et tteq.

t See Id. note at p. 354 et teq.
G 2

84 POST-CAFFAINS OT 1810.

destruction of I'Echoue 28 *. His promotion to the rank of
Lieutenant took place about May 1796 ; and he appears to
have continued in the Phiieton, under Captain Stopford and
the present Sir James Nicoll Morris, until he was made a
Commander, at the close of 1800. The manner in which he
obtained that step will be seen by the following ofi&cial letter:

" Phaeton, off Malaga, Oct. 28, 1800.
" My Lord, — I have the honor to acquaint your lordship, that on
the 25th ir»stant, H. M. ship under my command chased a polacre, which
showed Spanish colours, ensign and pendant, to an anchor under the
fortress of Frangerola, where a French privateer hrig also took refuge.
As the wind was on the shore, and they were close into the surf, and dircctty
Tinder a hattery of five heavy guns, there was no prospect of bringing them
off then. The following night, the brig escaped to the vrestward, and the
ship m^de two attempts for Malaga, but was driven back. Last night, the
land breeze appearing favourable, I sent the boats under the command of
Lieutenant Francis Beaufort" (first of the Phaeton) " who, at five o'clock
this morning, in opposition to a very obstinate resistance on first boarding-,
at the hatchways, with musketry, and on reaching the quarter-deck, with
sabres, got possession, and brought her out; she proves to be his Mojt
Catholic Majesty's armed ship the San Josef, alias I'Aglies, utountingr
two 24-pounders, iron ordnance, in the bow ; two brass eightceus for stem-
chasers ; four brass twelves, and six 4-pounder8 ; most completely found
^ small arms of all kinds ; commanded by an auxiliary officer of the navy;
manned by 49 seamen (of whom 1/) were absent in hier boat), and 22
soldiers as marines ; employed as a packet, and carrying provisions be-
tween Malaga and Velilla. From the force of the ship, her state of pre-
paration, and situation with respect to the fort, also the unfortunate
circumstance of the launch (from whose carronade much was ex-
pected in the plan for the attack), having not been able to keep up with
the other boats, and being distant when they were discovered and fired on
hy a French privateer schooner, that had come in unseen by us in the
night, and was so placed as to flank the ship, and give the alarm ; on which
the barge and two cutters immediately pulled to the ship and boanled. I
am convinced more «letermined bravery could not have been displayed than
has been showed by Lieutenants Beaufort and Huish, Lieutenant Duncan
Campbell, of the marines, Messrs. Hamilton and Staunton, midshipmen,
Mr. Deagon the gunner, and the boats' crews employed upon this service.
It is with extreme concern I add, that one seaman was killed on comiug
alongside, and that their very gallant leader, in trhom I have ''ver found a
most capable and zealous assistant, was first uomuled in the head, niul af-

SeeVol. I. p. 354, ei? #1^;

F06T-«APTA1N8 OF 1810. 85

tenvards received several slugs throut^h his left ann and l>ody. Lieutenant
Campbell received several slight sabre wounds*, and Mr. Aujfustus Bar-
rington Hamilum was slutt, wliile in the boat, through the thijh, notwilh-
standiog which he boarded, and UU conduct 'u highly spoken of; John
Wells, a seaman, was also shot through the thigh. The loss of the enemy
appears to have lieen 13 wounded, 6 badly ; and some are supposed to
have been woun(le<l and driven overboard.

•* I give your lordship the detail of this service, feeling it incumbent on
me to do justice to the parties employed upon it, and humbly hoping that
Mr. Beaufort's conduct and woti; ' " ntitle hiin to the protection given
in the present war to officers ot lied merit. I regret exceedingly

that Mr. Hamilton tvants some (xinsidcralde part of his scnntude, as he is
of age, and, in all other respect*. ^*''n .iMinfuM! f.ir a Lieutenant • • • •.
I have the honor to be, &c. &c.

(Si^'ued; " James N« Morris."

*• To rtcc/tdrntral Lord Keith, K. B."

The comtimnder- in- chief, when transmitting the above
letter to the Admiralty, reported to their lordships that the
San Josef liad been captured " under circumstances very highly
creditiJde tu Lieutenant Beat/''' "' :" jmd added, " I antiri'
pate with satis/uctiony the apj, i with which I am sure

their Lords hijts wilt regard the gallantry that has been
evinced in the execution of the enterprise,"

In Nov. 1801, a paltry pension of 1.j/. 12*. 6rf. pc?r annum
was granted to Captain Beaufort, iu consideration of his
severe sufferings. The followmg mention of him is made by
Mr. Edgeworth's daughter at p. 297 ^^ seq. of the volume
quoted at the commencement of this memoir : —

" When Lord Hardwicke was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, government
at length desired the csubliahment of a telegraph in this country, and my
father was employed to form a line of communication from Dublin tu
Galway. Captain Beaufort of the navy, (Ifu friend and brother-in-law^
not being at that time in active service, engaged to assist in this under-
taking, both from private friendship, and from a belief, that it would be
beneficial to the country. He would not accept of any pecuniary remu-
nei-ation, and devoted to this object two years of his life in unremittin;;-
zealous exertion.

" A Hue of telegraphs from Dublin to GaKvay wa? completed, tempo-
rary guard-houses were built at the requisite stations, and a telegraphic
corps was formed from those of my father's yeomanry corps, and others
of his tenantry, whom he had judged fit for the purpose. They had some
additional pay, and their cxpenccs of living at different stations were de-

/

86 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

f rayed l)y government. They conducted themselves invariably well, dur-
ing the whole time they were employed, and shewed all the steadiness and
intellitjence that could be desired. Telegraphic messages and answers
from Dublin to Galway were transmitted in the course of eight minutes,
i ■■ a public experiment for the Lord Lieutenant ; and his Excellency's ap-
probation was graciously expressed. Every one seemed perfectly con-
vinced of the utility, and satisfied of the efficiency and success of the
establishment. The Telegraphs being portable, they could be erected or
taken down in a few minutes, and the whole line might thus be removed
into any direction that the will of the commander-in-chief, or the exigency
of the moment, should require. Two men could, with ease, carry the
whole paraphernalia of each station upon their shoulders.

*»«•♦" Tiie alarm of invasion gradually subsided, and the tele-
graphs were consigned to the care of the ordinary military established in
the country. My father and his friend being diplomatically thanked for
their exertions, the hitter returned to the more active pursuits of his pro-
fession."

This was in the summer of 1805, at which period Captain
Beaufort received a commission appointing him to the Wool-
wich 44, armed en Jliltey and then fitting for the conveyance
of stores to our arsenals abroad. In that ship we find him
proceeding first to the East Indies, and then to Rio de la
Plata ; of which river he made a very accurate survey, dur-
ing the campaign of 1807* He was afterwards sent to the
Cape of Good Hope, and lastly to the Mediterranean.

Captain Beaufort's next appointment appears to have been,
about June 1808, to the Blossom sloop, in which vessel hi
was employed on the north coast of Spain, at Quebec,
and in affording protection to various fleets of merchant-
men, until his promotion to post rank. May 30, 1810. At
this period he was appointed to the Frederikssteen frigate 5
but previous to his joining that ship he escorted the out-
ward bound trade to Portugal, Cadiz, and Gibraltar; ac-
companied two Spanish line-of-battle ships from the latter
place to Minorca ; and acted for some time as Captain of the
Ville de Paris, a first rate, employed off Toulon. An highly
interesting account of the manner in which the Frederiks-
steen was employed during the years 1811 and 1812, will be
found in an elegantly written volume, entitled " Karamania,"
containing " A brief description of the south coast of Asia-

POST- CAPTAINS OF ISIO. $§

JUtHorf and of the remains of antiquity ;'' with 20 plans,
views, &c., published by Captain Beaufort, in 1817. The fol-
lowing extracts will shew the nature of the service which he
had been selected to perform, as also the style of his work : —

" The name of Kabamama is commonly applied, by Europeaas, to that
mountainous tract of country which forms the southern shore of AsiAr
Minor ; but, however couveuient such a general appellation may be, as a
geographical distinctioo, it is neither used by the present inhabitants, nor
is it recognized at the seat of goveruntent. A kingdom of that name, or
rather Karaman-ily, did indeed once exist ; it comprised the ancient
provuices of Lycia, Paraphylia, and the two Cilicias, with part9 of
Caria and Phrygia ; aud ivas so called from Karainan, the chieftain by
whom it WAi founded- Uut, after varioiu struggles with the growing pow-
er of the Turks during the course of two centuries, it \vas finally sub-
verted by Bajazet the Second } and the iniaod town of Karaman affords, at
tills day, the only remaining Testigc of the name.

" The names aud boundarieiof the indent provinces above-mentioned
are also entirely obliterated ; and the limits, even of the present states,
cannot be ascertained witit any precbion. Sheltered from all effectual con*
trol of the Porte by the great barrier of Mount Taurus, the half-indepea-
dent and turbulent Atfhas, amongst whom they are parcelled, are cof^ii
in constant potty hosdUtiei irith each other, so that their respective fimiK
tiers change with the issue of every skirmish.

" Groaning under that worst kind of despotism, this unfortunate coun-
try has been a continued scene of anarchy, rapine, and contention ; her
former cities are deserted, — her fertile valleys untilled, — and her rivers
and harbours idle. Perhaps nothing can present a more striking picture
of the pervading sloth aud misery, than tlie hardly credible fact, that»
on this extensive line of coast, which stretches along a sea abounding in
fish, the inhabitants do not possess a single boat.

" The allurements to visit a country in such a state of civil dei^dation
are certainly small, when contrasted with the risk of venturing among those
jealous and discordant tribes. Nevertheless, it does appear somewhat
strange, that, while the modern spirit of discovery hod explored tlte most
remote extremities of the globe, aud while the political convulsious of Eu-
rope had forced the enterprising traveller into other continents, this portion
of the Mediterranean shores should have remained undescribed, and almost
unknown. For, beside its tempting proximity to the borders of Europe,
and its easiness of access, this once flourishing region seems to possess
eminent claims to attention : — it was colonized by that redundant popula-
tion of antient Greece, which had gradually spread over the rest of Asia-
Minor, and which had every where intro<luced the same splendid concep-
tions, the same superiority in the arts, that had immortalized the parent
coimtry ;.— it was once the seat of learning and riches, and the theatre of

^ POST-CAPTAINS PF 1810.

some of the most celebrated events that history unfolds :— it was signal-
ized by the exploits of Cyrus and Alexander ; and was dignified by the
birth and the labours of the illustrious apostle of the Gentiles.

" At a few of the tvestern ports, it is true, some recent travellers had
touched in their voyaj^e to Egypt ; Le Brun also landed at Adalia •, on his
way to the interior ; and as the road from Constantinople to Syria crosses
the eastern extremitj% some casual notices were to be found of the prin-
cipal places in that quarter ; but of the remainder of this great range of
country, the only accounts extant were those of the untient geographers ;
and of the coast, there were no charts whatever by which the mariner
4^1d steer."
' This serious chasm in geography determined the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, when Mr. Yorke presided at
the board, to employ a frigate on a survey of the coast ; and
H. M. S. Frederikssteen, of 32 guns, being then stationed in
the Archipelago, was selected for that service.

** To settle the hydrography and to ascertain the naval resources, \vta
the main design of the expedition ; and the multiplied labours attendant on
a survey of such magnitude, added to an excusable impatience for the final
accomplishment of the task, in order to resume the more natural pursuits
of a cruising frigate, allowed but little time for indulging in the examina-
tion of other objects. Yet the venerable remains of former opulence and
grandeur, which every where forced themselves into notice, were loo nu-
merous and too interesting not to have found some admission among the
more strictly professional remarks; and indeed they were often necessarily
combined with the operations of the survey f."

From such materials. Captain Beaufort compiled his valua-
ble work, in the hope of exciting further inquiry. What
facts could be collected he has faithfully and skilfully report-
ed : they throw much light on anciont history, and add
greatly to modern science. We have no doubt, that in more
settled times than the present, they will rouse other English-
men of talent and research to visit those interesting Turkish
provinces ; and we cannot but hope that the growing ener-
gy, which must one day free this hitherto neglected country

• The ancient Olhia, stated by Strabo to have been the firtt town of
Pamphjflk, and described by him as a g^reat fortress. See Beaufort's Kara-
mania, 2d edit, p. 137.

+ h'aramania, preface, i— ix.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. W

from political slavery, will also emancipate it from its moral

effects.

On his arrival in the Archipelago, Captain Beaufort found
that a regularly organized system of absolute and general
piracy existed in the district of Maina, the southern province
of the Morea. The number of their vessels, or armed row-
boats, fluctuated between "20 and 30 ; they lurked behind the
different head-lands and innumerable rocks of the Archipel-
ago. All flags were equally their prey, and the life or death
of the captured crew was merely a question of convenience.
A Turkish prize was the only exception to this rule ; for, as
they expected no mercy if taken by the Turks, they rarely
gave them quarter. The follo\ving instance of their barbarity
is related by Captain Beaufort :

" We found one of these pirates concealed in a small creek of Hermo-
lu'-'i. ;i l>;ir to the westward of Stampalia : as otur boaU approach-

ed, ihry i:; them from the clifis, and rolled down large stooea

which wounded two of our men. We destroyed the vessel, and compelled
must of the crew to submit : the rest retreated to the cragf^y heights, and
we made sail in quest of their comrade, who we learned was skulking
among the neighbouring islands ; but the darkness of the night, and the
warning fires from the top of the island, enabled him to escape. On
returning to Hermonissi, we foimd that a couple of nights* starvation bad
rendered the remaining rogues more tractable, for they eagerly came down
to the boat and surrendered themselves. Nothing could be more contempt-
ible than the appearance of this vessel ; yet she rowed fast, possessed a
swivel and twenty muskets, and with the forty ferocious looking villains
who manned her, might have carried the largest merchant ship in the
Mediterranean. Nay, two of these vessels had lately secured tbemselres
under a rock, and had actually firastrated the repeated attacks of a
Turkish frigate. Having occasion to anchor at Stampalia, the Primati,
or magistrates, came off to express their gratitude for our having delivered
them from one at least of that fraternity which had so often laid their
island under contribution ; and they pointed out a rock near the ship,
where, three days before, two Mainot pirates had a<ljoumed to divide the
plunder of a Turkish boat ; whose crew, consisting of five men, they
had massacred there, sparing only one passenger ; and him they had de-
prived of an ear. The truth of this story was confirmed by the poor
fellow himself, who afterwards came on board to have his wound dressed i
and an oflScer, who was despatched to the rock, reported that the five
hodies were still lying there, a prey to innumerable birds *."

* Karamanki, p. 228.

90 p6st-captains of 1810.

Having obtained the necessary passport from the Turkish
government, Captain Beaufort sailed from Smyrna, in July,
1811, and shortly after reached the coast of Karamania. His
operations began at Yedy-Boo-roon, or the Seven-Capes, a
knot of high and rugged mountains, which appears to have
been the ancient Mount Cragus of Lycia, the abode of the
fabulous Chimaera *. From thence he proceeded along the
coast until he arrived off Gape Avova, in the Gulph of
Adalia f, where he met with an adventure which afforded
him a very happy opportunity of displaying great prudence
and humanity. He thus describes it : —

" While tranquilly employed there, surveyiutf, wooding, and watering',
we were astonished by the report of some heavy guns. No ships were iu
sight, there was no appearance of forts or CMtlea on this almost unin-
habited coast, and we began to think that the angel of Takhtalu was
anticipating his autumnal summons*."

" A small vessel, which soon after anchored in a neiglibouring creek, put
an end to our conjectures. She brought intelligence that the city of
Adalia had been lately surprised by a rival Bey, and that the firing which
had been heard was occasioned by an attempt of the former governor to
retake it.

" An approaching occultation of a star, and a lunar eclipse, were
shortly to take place ; and the island of Rashat, which is but a few miles
from Adalia, seemed to be a desirable place for our little observatory.
It would have been satisfactory to have obtained these observations near
the principal city of the whole coast, but it was of more importance lu our
pursuits to avoid being entangled in the feuds of those turbulent chief-
tains. This news, therefore, determined me to remain where we then
were, off Cape Avova. The distance of Adalia, from thence, is eighteen
miles ; and though we had distinctly heard the guns, we flattered ourselves
that we might continue there, unperceivcd and undisturbed.

•/</. p. 1. t Pamphyliura Mare.

I Takhtalu is the ancient Mount Solyma, from whence, according to
Strabo, the wrathful Neptune descries Ulysses approaching Phaeacia. Sci
Odt/s. E. V. 282. Its bald summit rises in an insulated peak 7,P0(> feci
above the sea. The Agha of Deliktash (the ancient Olympus, or Olynpos)
assured Captain Beaufort, that every autumn a mighty groan is lieard to
issue from the summit of the mountain, louder than the report of any caa-
non, but unaccompanied by fire or smoke. He professed his ignorance of
the cause ; but on being pressed for his opinion, he gravely replied, that he
believed it was an annual summons to the Elect to make the best of
their way to Paradise. See Karamania^ p. 68, and note at ditto j also pp.
46 and 58.

POST-CAPTAINS OV 1810, 91k-

" But vaia were our hopes. The city was recaptured by the former
Pasha, and the UDeuccessful party were flying in all directions. The fol-
lowiujf day, a large body of them came down to the beach abreast the
ship, and begged of our watering party to protect them from the fury
of their pursuers. This was of course refused : we had no right to in-
terfere in their disputes ; and I determined neither to involve his Ma<
jesty's flag, nor to expose our opcniioBS to interruption or failure,
through the resentment of a Pasha, wImm goremment extends along so
large a portion of the coast. Exhausted, however, as the fugitives were
by fatigue, hunger, and wounds, I could not resist their importunity for
a little bread, and for surgical assistance. But the refreshments that we
sent were accompanied vnth advice, to escape while there was yet time,
into the woods, where cavalry could not pursue them ; and in that case,
with an ofler of sufllcient bread to carry them oat of the province. They
replied, that to escape weald be uBpos«3>Ie ; there were no roads open to
their retreat ; a price wm set upoa tbdr heeds ; the ^vant of success had
now rendered all the inferior Aghas iMMtile; and that their religion taught
them to rely upon God for their deliverance, or to submit without re-
pining to their fate.

*• Some hoars after, a large sailing launch was seen drifting out to sea,
wMieat any person on board : cm beets tewed her alongside, and as the
horse-patroles of the victorious party were already deacendiDif into the
plain, I proposed to these poor wretches to victual that vessel, to repair
the oars and sails, and to embark them in her, reedy for the Und-breexe
at night.

" This also they declined — none of them were seamen ; they knew iie«
how or where to steer ; and if their hour was come, they preferred dying
like men, with arms in their hands on shore, to being murdered by the
cannon of the Pasha's cruisers, by whom they must ultimately be over-
taken.

** Things remained in thb state till the next morning-, when one of the
Pasha's armed ships was seen rounding the cape ; and the party of cavalry,
which had, till then, been checked by the appearance of our frigate, now
crossed the river, and surrounding at some distance that part of the beach
which was occupied by the fugitives, seemed only to wait the approach
of the above vessel to close upon their victims. This was the crisis of
their fate. That fate depended upon me. Cold and calculating prudence
forbade me to interfere ; but, I could not stand by, and see them butchered
in cold blood !

"My decision once made, there was not a moment to be lost. Our
boats were despatched, and in a few minutes I had the satisfaction of
rescuing sixty fellow-creatures from immediate slaughter *."

• Karomania, pp. 70—75.

92 POST^CAPTAINS OF 1810.

The premature conclusion of Captain Beaufort's scientific
operations, in 1812, is satisfactorily accounted for at p. 301;
et seq. of his narrative.

" Arrived within a few leagues of the confines of Syria, we were now enter-
ing on a part of the coast which surpassed in interest all that we had already
explored. In the celebrated plains of Issus, Alexander and Scverus had
each decided the empire of the world ; and to have been able to elucidate
the various accounts of those victories by an accurate survey of the field
of battle, would have been highly gratifying. The altars erected by the
conqueror of Darius might probably have eluded our search ; but the
course of the Pinarus, and the disposition of the country, must have beeu
still obvious. Nor would it have been a less important service to histo-
rical geography, could we have determined the position of Myriaudrus,
i^nd the contested situation of the famous Pyl»e Amanicae, where the
Persians and Macedonians bad unknowingly passed each other. But all
these flattering hopes were disappointed.

" On the 20th June, while embarking the instruments from a little cove
to the westward of Ayas, we perceived a number of armed Turks advano,
ing towards the boat. Turks always carry arms ; and there was no reason
to suppose that this party had any other object than curiosity, for scveial
of the officers were at that time dispersed in the neighbourhood, and ac-
companied by the villagers ; some of whom, about an hour before, hud
shewn the most good humoured assiduity in pointing out to me the in-
scriptions on the tower and other places : neither had their conduct to the
watering boats, the preceding evening, led to any kind of distrust.

" As they approached, however, an old dervish was observed harangu-
ing them ; and his frantic gestures, with their reiterated shouts of ' Be-
gone,' ' Infidel,' and other offensive expressions, left the hostility of their
intentions no longer doubtful. The interpreter was absent >vith the olB-
cers, and all my little store of friendly words and signs seemeil to irritate
rather than to appease them. To quit the place seemed, therefore, the
most probable means of preventing a fray ; and as the boat was ready,
we quietly shoved off. The mob now rushed forward ; their voices assum-
ed a shriller tone ; and spurred on by the old fanatic, they began to level
their muskets : the boat was not yet clear of the cove ; and if they had
succeeded in reaching the outer points, our Ktreat would have been cut off.
It was, therefore, full time to check their progress, and the unexpected
sight of my fowling-piece had for a moment that effect; but as they again
endeavoured to close, I fired over their heads. That expedient saved us.
They immediately halted ; most of them fell on the ground ; the dastardly
Dervish ran away ; and we had gained suflicicnt time to get the boat's hea(l
round, and almost disentangled from the rocks, when one niffian, more
resolute than the rest, sprang forward to a rock on the shore, which cover-
ing his person allowed him to take deliberate aim. His ball entered near

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 98

lUy cfroin, and takiniif an obli^jue course broke the trochantM* of the hip
J'' '1 ius example l>erii followed, all the boat's crew iniut have

1" yed : but fortunately, they had been so intimidated by my fire,

that we were beyond the reach of theirs, by the time they rose from the
pround. The pinnace was luckily within si^rnal distance; s' - ^lled
down, and before I fainted from the loss of blood, I had the ;i of

^■ r round to rescue the scattered ofticcrs, and to protect the small

I" \, :,:_h waited fur them to the easlwartl of the castle. Before the
pinnace, however, could reach that place, Mr. Olphert, a remarkably fine
youn^ man, who iras midshipman of the former boat, had fallen a sacrifice
to the »uinc party of aMassins."

P. 308. — " The wound I had received was dangerous in
the extreme, and the sultry cliuiate of the Levant was hit;hly
unfavorable. My constitution had already suffered from
many former wounds ; and for some time there appeared but
little hope of its weathering the present struggle : but as-
sisted by the skill of the surgeon, Dr. Hugh Stewart, of whose
unwearied attention I shall always preserve the most grateful
remembrance, it ultimately triumphed ; though not till
after many months of tedious conhnement and painful ex-
foliation.

" VMiile at Malta, however, U was atill uocerUin. At all events there
was no probability of my being able to resume the thread of the surrey,'
which had l)een so untowardly broken ; and the ship being also in a bad
slate, we were ordered to proceed with a convoy to England, where we
arrived before the close of the year."

After the Frederikssteen's return home, Captain Beaufort
was fully occupied for several years in laying down the re-
sult of his labours on the coast of Asia-Minor, and in con-
stnicting a set of charts, which have since been engraved, for
the use of the British navy. From the weighty responsibility
attached to such a work, he considered it necessary that the
whole should be executed by his own band ; and we have
reason to believe, although he has never favored us with any
communication on the subject, that previous to his doing so,
no maritime surveyor ever lodged at the Admiralty, MSS. so
drawn and arranged as to be fit for immediately placing on
the copper, without first deriving aid either from the Hy<lro-
grapher or some of his assistants.

94 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

There is another circumstance that we cannot avoid
noticing, previous to our closing this memoir.

As all the materials of which " Beaufort's Karamania"
was composed, were acquired in his Majesty's service, and
in the execution of a public duty, the able Author refused
to accept of any remuneration from the publisher for the
copyright of the MS., thereby setting an example calculated
to excite future officers to that independent and disinterested
feeling which should ever characterise the British Navy !

Captain Beaufort now enjoys a pension of 250/. per an-
num, for his numerous wounds. He married, Dec. 3, 1812,
Alicia Magdalena, eldest daughter of Lestock Wilson, of
Harley Street, London, Esq.

Agent, — Sir F. M. Ommanney.

BENJAMIN WALKER, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant at the close of 1796 ; and promot-
ed to the rank of Commander early in 1802. We subse-
quently find him commanding the Rosamond, an 18 gun
ship-sloop, on the North Sea and West India stations. In
June, 1808, he captured the Amstellan, Dutch privateer, of
12 guns and 60 men j and on the 18th Dec. 1809, le Papillon,
French national brig, of 16 guns and 1 10 men, including 30
troops, with a quantity of flour on board, intended for the
garrison of Guadaloupe. His post commission bears date
June 15, 1810.

Agent, —

JOHN MAXWELL, Esq.

Broth E& to Captain Sir Murray Maxwell, C. B., whose
services we already have recorded *.

This officer was made a Lieutenant about May 1800 ; and
advanced to the rank of Commander, Jan. 22, 1806.

• Sec Vol II, Part II, p. 797 et teg.

POtT-CAPTAlNS OV 1810. fli

On the 16th July, 1808, Captain John Maxwell, then com-
manding the Royalist, a brig of the largest class, captured
the Danish schooner privateer Aristides, of 6 guns and 41 men.
At the time he fell in with this vessel she was engaging an
English packet, which must have been taken had not the
Royalist come to her assistance. Between May 1, 1809, and
Feb. 24, 1810, he reported the capture of five French priva-
teers, viz. — la Princesse of 16 guns and 50 men ; le Grand
Napoleon, 18 guns, 75 men ; I'Heureusc Etoile, 2 guns, 15
men ; le Franyoise, 14 guns, 60 men ; and the Prince Eu-
gene, 14 guns, 55 men. His post commission bears date
June 15, 1810.

Captain Maxwell's next appointment was, April 2/, 1812,
to the Favorite of 20 guns, in which ship he visited all the
British settlements on the coast of Africa, destroyed several
slave factories on the Rio Pongus, and captured four Portu-
guese ships, which he found employed in that cruel traffic.

After the peace with France, in 1814, Captain Maxwell
was appointed to the Barrosa of 42 guns ; and in Feb. 1825,
he received a commission for the Aurora 46, on board
which frigate he died, when about to proceed from Plymouth
to Bennuda and the West Indies, May 31, 1826.

PHILIP BROWNE, Esq.

The old and respectable family to which this officer be-
longs, have long been settled at Godmanstone, co. Dorset,
His ancestor, Rear- Admiral Sir Robert Browne, Knl. wafe
Captain of a ship attached to the squadron under Sir William
Monson, at the capture of a Spanish galleon, in 1602 *. His
father. Captain Philip Browne, R. N. lost his life when de-
fending Savannah, in 177^ t> ^^^ his two brothers also died

* See Schomberg's Naval Chronology, Vol. I, p. 34.
t See Royal Xav. Biog. Vol. J, Part I, p. 65 et teq. N.B. On refer-
ring to the official report of General Prevost, who commanded the British
troops at Savannah, we find it stated,—" that owing to the zeal, vigilance,
and exertion of Captain Philip Browne, of H. M. S. Rose, first bjr sink-

96 POflT-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

in the gervice of their country,— one a captain in the royal
regiment of artillery, aid-de-carap to Lord Seaforth, and go-
vernor of fort Needham, Barbadoes ; the other a midshipman
in the navy.

Captain Philip Browne, senior ^ married the grand-daughter
of Joanna, wife of Edmund Dalby, Esq. and daughter and co-
heiress of the Hon. John Finch, a son of Heneage, the first
Earl of Nottingham, whose eldest son, Daniel, succeeded to
that title, and also to the earldom of Winchelsea, both of
which are at present enjoyed by his grandson. Heneage,
next brother to the second Lord Nottingham, was created Earl
of Aylesford, in 1714. The Dalby family (now extinct) were
long seated at Brookhampton, in Warwickshire, and seised
of the lordship of several manors in that county ; likewise
of the manor of Hurst, co. Berks. Speaking of the male
branches, Sir William Dugdale and other authorities agree,
that in 1293, they were esquires, bearing ancient arms from
their ancestors ; that they enjoyed the confidence of Edward
111., Richard II., and Henry VI. ; were entrusted by those
monarchs with the keeping of Guienne and Calais j and held
special letters of protection from them for their services.

Philip Browne, Esq. whose services we are now about
to record, was born Sept. 16, 1772 ; and he entered the navy
as a midshipman on board the Colossus 74, Captain Hugh C.
Christian, in May, 1787' He afterwards served in the Race-
horse sloop, successively commanded by Captain David Stow,
and Captain (now Sir Thomas) Foley,

In May, 1789, Mr. Browne joined the Illustrious 74, flag-
ship of the Hon. John Leveson Gower ; and in Dec. fol-
lowing the Minerva frigate, Captain Robert Manners Sutton,
with whom he proceeded to India. From June, 1790, until
Dec. 1793, we find him serving under Commodore the Hon.
William Cornwallis, in the Crown and Minerva ; by which

ing his ship on the bar of Tybcc river, to prevent the enemy's fleet under
the Count d' Estaing crossing it, to co-operate with the land forces (whicli
he effectually did) ; and secondly, Ity manning the batteries of the right
wing of the place with his officers and crew, he principally compelled the
enemy to raise the siege."

'fWH'-CAPTAIIff OF 1810. 97

officer he was, at the latter period, promoted into the Bien
Aimd sloop, Captain (now Sir Richard) King. His subsequent
appointments were, Mar. 1/95, to the Nasjsau 64, Captain
Herbert Sawyer; in 17^8, to the Daphne 20, Captain Sir
Charles Lindsay, Bart. ; Feb. 1800, to command the Chat-
ham cartel ; and in the course of the same year, to the
Arden* '" V ^" iti Thomas Bertie.

'i'hr , timed part of the squadron under Captain

John Lawford, at the capture of a Swedish convoy, in the
summer of 1708*; and Lieutenant Browne acted as cap-
tain] of that ship, for some time, after the death of Sir
Charles Lindsay f. In the Chatham, he conveyed the Wal-
loon guards, taken at Surinam, froni that colony to Old
Spain J.

Early in 1801, Lieutenant Browne was appointed to the
command of the Swan hired cutter, in which vessel he
intercepted and seized several notorious smugglers. His
next appointment was, May 1802, to the Vixen '[^un-brig ;
and in her he made the following captures : —

" Ei|fht «mu!,':Tlinjr vessels, one French privateer I. one merclumt brijj
laden with suj^ar, out- "' " " one ditti' ' ro

Dutch ships with car? aC. Heal— v-

ca»tle collier.

For his activity while holding these two commands, T "
tenant Browne was promoted into the Charwell of 18 i,.....,
Sept. 25, 1806 ; and we shortly afterwards find him com-
manding the Plover sloop of war, in which ship he detained

•See Vol. I, Part II. p. 497.

t Mr < n;»rles Lindsay was drowned off Demerara, March 6, 1790. He
had dined on shore ; hut thous^h the nijfht was dark and windy, cn-ild not
he persuaded from CToing o(f to his »hip in a small boat ; the D 1

at least ten miles in the offing. The consequence was, the l.^^^i ......,i;

and the service lost a very fine young officer, together with several valuable
Dien.

X Sorinam was surrendered without opposition to the naval and military
forces under Lord Hugh Seymour and Lieutenant-Gcneral Trigge, Aug.
20, 1799.

§ Le Lyonnaise.
SUPPU PART II. H

98 ^OST-CAPTAlNS OF 1810.

six homeward bound Danish West Indiamen, eleven other
mercliant vessels laden with timber, wine, fruit, and salt,
and one brig in ballast. He likewise captured a very valu-
able smuggling lugger, and no less than seven French pri-
vateers ; viz. —

L'Elize. 14 gains and GG raen; Jan. 1, ISO/.

Lc Bohemienne, 2 guns, pierced for 8, and 28 men ; Oct. 30, 180/.
.L'Amiral Martin, 4 f(uns, pierced for 16, and 104 men; Mar 22, 1809.
L'Aurore, 16 guns and 69 men, Sept. 18, 1809.
L'llirondelle, 1 6 guns and 65 men ; Oct. 22. 1809.
Le Lezard, pierced for 14 guns, none mounted, 57 men; Nov. 6. 1809.
Le Saratu, 14 guns, pierced for 20,. and 100 men ; Jan. 10, 1810.

The Plover also recaptured, at various periods, twelve sail
of merchant vessels, laden with spirits, wine, fruit, sugar,
tobacco, provisions, fish, oil, coals, and timber. She likewise
assisted at the capture of la Josephine privateer, mounting 4
guns, with a complement of 35 men.

In March, 1809, Captain Browne joined Captain George
M'Kinley, who was then most strenuously co-operating with
the Spanish patriots under Don Pablo Murillo. On tlic 9th
of that month, 84 French soldiers entered the town of
Marin, in Vigo Bay, but a fire being opened on them from
the Lively, Plover, and a gun-boat, they made a most pre-
cipitate retreat : the commander of the marauding party,
and a few cavalry, benefiting by their being mounted, left
their companions, who, outrunning their officers, a Captain
and a Lieutenant fell into the hands of the Spaniards, and
were by them delivered to the British.

During the operations against Flushing, in 1809, the
Plover bore the broad pendant of Commodore Cockburn,
who commanded the bombs and gun-vessels placed at the
S. E. end of the town. The following is an extract of hi»
official letter to Sir Richard L Strachan, reporting the pro-
ceedings of the advanced squadron : —

" I beg also to be permitted to recommend to your notice and con-
sideration. Captain Philip Browne, of this ship, to whom I feel under
great obligation, for the assistance he has at all times afforded me, and for
the assiduity, skill, and propriety with which he has managed the various

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 99

details and arrangements of the flotilla, at the frequent periods of my
being otherwise occupied, in gun-vessels, on shore," &c.

The total number of smuggling vessels seized by Captain
Browne, while commanding the Swan, Vixen, and Plover,
was twenty ; and their joint cargoes yielded to the revenue
a c/ear profit of 47,214/. 11*. \0d. All the Danish vessels
which he detained were condemned as droits of admiralty,
to the great benefit of government. No less than 795 French
sailors were taken prisoners by him at different times, and
upwards of 200 British seamen rescued from captivity : —
adding to these services, the number of vessels saved from
being captured through his extraordinary vigilance, it cannot
be denied that he had, by this time, proved himself a very
valuable servant of the crown : his promotion to poet-rank,
however, did not take place until June 19, 1810.

In the following year. Captain Browne was appointed
pro tempore to the Dannemark 74, employed blockading
Chcrbourgh ; and shortly afterwards to the Hermes 20, in
which ship he captured an American laden with naval stores,
for the use of the Brest fleet ; and two vessels from New
York and Baltimore, with tobacco, ivorj-, &c. He also made
one recapture ; ran down la Mouche French privateer,
mounting 14 guns, with 51 men ou board, of whom 39
perished • ; and assisted at the capture of the Sword Fish,
American privateer, of 12 guns and 82 men f.

In 1813, the Hermes escorted a fleet of merchantmen to
South America, from whence she returned home, in March,
1814. On the 30th of that month, a court-martial was
assembled at Plymouth, for the trial of Captain Browne, on
seven distinct charges preferred against him by his first
Lieutenant, Mr. Charles Letch, whom he had recently been
obliged to bring before a similar tribunal for gross miscon-
duct, of which the latter was fully convicted.

These seven charges were in no manner connected with

• See Aac. Chron. v. 26, p. 34?.
t See Royal Sar. Biog. Vobll. Part I. p. 282.

H 2

too POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

each other; some of them embracing offences of no Imn
-criminal a dye than fraud on the government, and false
muster ; whilst others were of a description that, even if
proved, censure should have been the extent of punishment
attached to them ; but, though one was altogether aban-
doned by the prosecutor, and most of the others disproved
by his own witnesses, the court, by one sweeping clause,
adjudged the whole to be in part proved, and sentenced
Captain Browne to be dismissed from his Majesty's service ;
a proceeding which, whether with reference to its informality
as connected with charges of a serious nature, or to its
severity, stands without a precedent on record.

It requires very little acquaintance with naval, or any other
species of law, to discover, that such a sentence could not
be legal : it would be absurd to comment on the hardship
and injustice attendant upon a system which would at pnce
confound all the varieties of offence, whether they were of a
nature derogatory to the honor or moral character of the
party, the result of a moment of irritation, or the conse-
quence of a blameable waraith of temper. The following
opinion, however, of an eminent counsel, places the subject
in so clear a light, that we think it cannot fail to be ac-
ceptable to our readers : —

" The proceedings of naval conrts-tnartial, as they are at present con-
stituted, cannot reu8onal)ly be expected to adhere strictly to legal forms,
or technical accuracy ; all that can he looked for is, that the charges should
be specific, and the proofs of each charge should be separately, as well as
satisfactorily made out. I say separately, because the courts are bound
to come to a decision on each, each being a distinct issue, on which they
must decide; it is, therefore, essential to justice that this sliouhl be ob-
served in naval courts, because they have not the same advantage which
attends a military court-martial, where, if any inaccuracy occurs (as the
court is not dissolved) the sentence ipay be sent back for revisal before
the result is made public : but where the sentence is promulged on the
decision taking place, as in a naval court-martial, the prisoner is excluded
from all redress (if it ia irregular) except by the interference of autbo.
rity, as far as goes to the restoration of those deprivations which such a
sentence was calculated to inflict. Now, in the present case, it appears
to me, that the prisoner has much to complain of, for he is accused of
farious offences of different descriptions : some (as of false musters) arc

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 101

«o criminal, that, if he had been adjudged intentionally jfuilty of them, on
proper and undoubted proof, be would have been precluded from all hope
of future employment ; whilst others were of so inferior a nature, that, if
guilty, a censure was the utmost to be deprecated : whilst this judgment
is couched in terms so vague and uncertain, that it is impossible to collect
whether he was found guilty of apart of every charge, or nf tome one,
or of more than one of the whole charges of which one is a part. If i*
means the former, it is in direct contradiction to the minutes, which state,
that the last charge was abandoned, and for reasons which must have
acquitted the defendant. Again, if it means the latter, it is ambiguous
and uncertain to which of the charges it is to apply ; for it is as appli-
cable in terms to that which was not tried, or to any of which they
thoui^ht him not tntiltyt as to any others ; and it would only prove that
they perfectly acquitted him of some, by only finding him guilty of a
part. I fore, is so vague and uncertain, on a subject

which ill . r the utmost certointy, that I do not feel how

the sentence founded on it can be consistently enforced. Having thus
stated my impression on the case, I do not feel it necessary, nor would it
become m<', to analyse the evidence, in order to guess on what part of it
the court formed their decision ; for, after all, it would be but guessing. I
shall, therefore, content myself with stating my opinion, after having
attended, with all the care I am capalde of bestowing on the evidence, a«
applicable to the chargfes, as vrtW as to the •cntence, as founded on that
application, that it is informal, irregular, and illegal 1 notwithstanding
which, [ cannot, from the nature of the subject, point out any mode in
which Captain Browne can procure redress : the only amends he can look
to, must be found in the justice and honorable feelings of the Board of
Admiralty, in whose power it lies to restore the situation he has lieen
deprived of, and to the prevention of which I can perceive nothing on the
face of these proceedings : to that tribunal he will have a right also to
submit any of those facts which, although capable of proof, did not occur
to his recollection at the time of the trial.
" Temple, Nov. 29, 1814." (Signed) " Frs. Conbt."

Oil receiving this most satisfactory legal opinion, Captain
Browne presented a memorial to the Admiralty, containing
not only the heads of the charges, but the whole substance
of the minutes, and some official documents sufficient in them -
selves to refute the assertions of his accuser, that he had
been guilty of fraud and di false muster. The following are
extracts : —

" That the facts of the case were not fairly before the court-martial, is
most evident, from the circumstances well kuown to the Commander-in-
chief at Plymouth, and every member of the court, that your memorialist

102 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

was utterly incapable of making any sufficient defence to the charges, not
only from severe indisposition of body and mind, but from his being in
perfect ignorance of the existence of such an accusation till 48 hours
before he was a prisoner in court. The charges were not transmitted
through him, nor intimated to him, as is customary . He had no time to
summon many witnesses whom he might have called for his justification,
or to consult any friends or advisers as to his defence ; but through au
excess of reliance on his own innocence, disdained to delay the investiga-
tion a single hour; and thus he suffered heavy charges to pass under trial,
without taking the means of repelling them, which common prudence
rendered necessary *.

" Y'our Lordships will be unable to discover the cause of the virulent
malice, which so obviously pervades the whole of the charges, without a
short explanation of the motives and character of the prosecutor. Lieu-
tenant Charles Letch had sailed several years with your memorialist, and
had enjoyed his confidence in a very great degree ; Lieutenant John Kent
had also been two years in the Hermes. Both had lived in the utmost
harmony with your memorialist until a few weeks before the arrival of the
Hermes, when these officers, especially the first, presuming on the friend-
ship and protection with which your memorialist h«id long distinguished
them, fell into such relaxation of discipline, and into such habits of
oppression towards the inferior officers, as made it absolutely necessarj' at
last (however painful) for your memorialist to interfere ; which they re-
sented by the many instances of faction, animosity, quarrelling, and dis-
respect, which are fully detailed in the recent court-martial on Lieutenant
Letch, and in many other papers before your Lordships, to which your me-
moralist refers ; and if further evidence be necessary, that the charges
originated in private pique and malice, and by no means for the good of
the service, it would be found in this consideration, that the facts alluded
to in the first and second charges, had occurred twelve and six months re^
spectively before the Lieutenants ever thought of makuig them the sub-
ject of prosecution, although it is proved in the minutes that there were
several opportunities at Rio de Janeiro of bringing your memorialist to
trial, where witnesses and parties were on the spot, of whose evidence your
memorialist was unfortunately deprived f.

* See Nav. Chron. v. 34, p. 302.
t "Adverting to what had appeared at the military trials of Captains Ca-
meron and Roy, in Mar. 1/98, on several charges, his late Majesty ex-
pressed his extreme disapprobation of keeping charges (having an oppor-
tunity to prefer them) until they should have accumulated, and then bring-
ing them before a court martial collectively, whereas every charge should
be preferred at the time the facts on which it turns are recent, or, if know-
ingly passed oyer, ought neither in candour nor justice to be in future
brought in question." See Id. p. 303.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 103

" Tlie first char^ is in substance, — * Tliat on the 25tb April, 1813, in
si<]fht of Madeira, your meuiorialbt sent for the master of the merchant-
briif Rocoinpense, on board the Hcrraes, and in the presence of the officers
and ship's company abuse<l liim and challenged him to fight, took off his
coat, and squared at him in an attitude, and aimed or made a blow at him;
and the master then lying down on the deck of his own acconi, that your me-
morial i : I (' marines to take off bis coat, and oblige to him stand
up, \vl> master resisting, the marines tore bis coat : and that
your memorialist then challenged him to go un shore to fight at Madeira,
by which conduct your memorialist was alleged to have violated the 23d
and 3od articles of war.'

" The 2 of war recites, * that if any person in the fleet shall

quarrel or ti my other person in the fleet, or use reproachful or

provoking speeches or gestures tending to make any quarrel or disturb-
ance, he shall upon being conricted thereof, suffer such pimisbment,' &c.
ice. Sec.

** The 33d article of war alleged to be violated, recites, ' that if any
flag-officer, captain, commander,] or lieutenant, l»clonging to the fleet,
shall be convicted of behaving in a scandalous, infamous, cruel, or oppres-
sive manner, unbecoming the cfaanMrter of an ofiicer, be shall be dknusaed
liis Majesty's service.'

" Such are the crimes of whidi your memoralist is accused, and such is
tb<! law which he is stated to have infringed. The simple facts of the case,
in as far as they are in evidence before your Lordships on the minutes, are
these : —

** On the 3d April uhree weeks before the time of the transaction),
your memorialist, proceeding from Cork, in bis Majesty's ship the Hermes,
with a convoy, happenetl to encounter the brig Recompense (not of the
convoy), the master of which, by the must wilful mismanagement of b'ts
ship, ran foul of one of the convoy, which be also forced on board of bis
Majesty's ship, which was in imminent danger of being Ipst thereby.
It is sworn, that the master could have prevented the accident of entang-
ling the ships if he chose, but that the Hermes could not possibly avoid
them. That your memorialist, in the alarm which he felt for the safety of
the ship, called vehemently to the master of the brig Recompense to let
go his anchor, and warned liim against the lubberly mode in which he was
proceeding. That the master not only refused to desist from bis miscon-
duct, but actually forced the other vessel fuul of the Hermes ; and in reply
to your memorialist's desire to let go his anchor, it is sworn, even by the
prosecutor's own evidence, that the said master, without any provocation,
in presence of all the officers and crew of the Hermes, called him a
damned white-faced rascal, and said that if he had him on shore A* ttould
thrash him. At this time, from the dangerous situation of the Hermes, and
the urgent necessity of putting his orders in execution, your memorialist
liad uo possibility of commimication with the ship-master. That three

104 POST-CAPTAIKS OF 1810.

weeks after this outrage, when in sight of the iaiand of Madeira, the
same vessel came close to the Hermes, and Lieutenant Kent pointed
the master out as the aggressor, and offered to bring him on hoard
thp Hermes with his papers for examination ; to which your memorialist
consented. That the master, on coming on hoard, behaved even then
with great insolence and effrontery ; and that your memorialist, exces-
sively irritated by his demeanor, and by the insolent threat of personal
chastisement, hy which the ship-master had so recently outraged ins
feelings, asked him what he meant by such abuse, and if he could now
make good his threat, and face him as a man, and that he, the memo-
rialist, would take no advantage, although in his own ship — and then
threw off his coat for the purpose : that the ship-master, to avoid lighting,
lay down on the deck of his own accord ; and your memorialist declaring he
would not strike him when down, ordered some marines who stood by to
raise him up : but his clothes were not torn ; he received no abuse except
being called a damned Irisliman, nor was the smallest violence offered to
him ; neither did the memorialist ever attempt to strike him. That your
memorialist then asked the master if he would n)eet him on shore singly to
execute his threat ; which he refusing, your memorialist put on his coat and
left him, desiring Lieutenant Kent to see him on board, to press any mau
that he might find liable, but gave him especial orders not to distress him>
ia consequence of which none were impressed. That Lieutenant Letch, the
prosecutor, remarked at the time, that the captain was too warm, but that
the master of the Recompense deserved worse treatment than what he had
received ; and that he, as well as Lieutenant Kent, repeatedly afterwards
approved of the circumstance.

" Such is every particular of evidence on the transaction in question, whe-
therfor or against your memorialist, which the minutes of the court martial
afford; and he has the more carefully selected them, because, with tli(
exception of the present charge, your Lordships will find, there is not a
shadow of blame to be imputed to your memorialist, that can arise, i>y any
possibility, out of the other charges, which it will hereafter be shewn,
were utterly false, malicious, and vexatious.

" With respect to the articles of war which your memorialist's conduct
on this occasion is alleged to have violated; he humbly begs to observe to
your Lordships, that the 23d article is wholly inapplicable to the case, as
this article prohibits one person belonging to his Majesty's fleet from
fighting with, or provoking, ant/ other person belonging to the same fleet ;
whereas, in i]i& present instance, only one of the parties is in his Majesty's
service ; moreover, that it is an article seldom or never acted upon.

" But the 33d article is, in fact, that alone which is contemplated to af-
fect your memorialist's case ; on which he has also humbly to observe,
that he is informed, that the penal acts of parliament ought to be strictly
interpreted according to the letter, aud not to be in any case strained by
inference against the accused. That, in this instance, the legal question

Pd»T-CAPIAlK$ OF 1810. 105

in not, whether the traiisactioD was in itself (generally that which is said to
he uiiin the character of an officer anil a gentleman ; but, whether

it wvL> IS, infamous, cruel, oppressive, or fraudulent; and by

l)einjj which, but not otherwite, it would be unbecomiufi: the character of a
f^entleman ; cruelty, oppreuion, xmA fraud, is here quite out of the question :
and your memorialist most confidently submits to your Lordships* superior
wisdom, to your candour and justice, that the quality of the transaction
did not deserve the character of scandalous and infainouv, in the sense in-
tended by the article of war ; and he submits fully to your Lordships, that
there is not in all the annals of martial law, in the navy, an instance or pre-
cedent, of scandal or infamy bein^ attached by the sentence of any court
martial to such a trannctkm as the present.

** But while your laemorislist pleads aot ;^ilty to the char|^ in a I%;:ra]
sense — liis own feelini;)s as an officer and a gentletnan, condemn him hm
t'i. ' ' -ranee of passion, which hurried biui into so improper an excess.
Ill ;nit8 the indecorous and bad cxampi** of his conduct. He de*

plorcis with the utuio«t contrition, that un' i-ucc of temper, which,

acted upon !)y sudden and irresistible p. :..n, has led him, when

threatened with aettiat pertonai tmtrage, to for]get that he was nn officer,
and to I he vof ff flKi», and by no means a cmrard, or ode

that U' le penooal violence of any man ander heaven.

To your Lords^hips, as men of hi^h personal courage, be appeals for indui>
jfcnce to thi- ;......,. of human frailty. To such of your Lordships as

are officers, I >een in his situation, he puts his case, and implores

you 10 consider < iic insolent abuse frequently offered by the low-

bred masters of II :nen, whose violence there is no law to panish,

and whose rnlgar excesses there are no feelings, except the fear of personal
chastiaemeat, to restrain. He asks your Lordships, whether allowance may
not be made for a captain of one of his Mi^ty's ships baring hu passions
worked up almost to frenzy on such an oct-asion as that ; where his ship,
and the lieet of his men, are tril/uUy put in imminent <langer, as well as his
character as a seaman ; and when he is told, in presence of all hi* crew,
that but for thr' //m the ajfjfres ' rshed him! —

The candour ol rdships will not . aiice for him :

und your n)enioriali«i trusts, that when he shews that, with the above ex-
ception, he is entirely gvilileu of erer^ other charge, your lordships
will deem, that he has, by the disgrace he has suffered in dismissal, l>ecn
already most cruelly punished for the venial offence which he committed,
iuid that the sentence of the court martial is severe beyond all precedent,
and ought to l>e mitigated." •••••••••••••

In consequence of this memorial, the minutes of the court-
martial were laid before Sir William Garrow and Sir Samuel
Shepherd, the law officers of the Crown, who unhesitatingly
declared that the proceedings of the court were informal and

106 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

irregular, and that there was nothing in the evidence which
could warrant the sentence passed against Captain Browne,
who was at length restored to his former rank, but not until
the attention of Parliament had been called to the subject by
his noble friend, the Earl of Egremont, April 20, 1815.
Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

MATTHEW }3ARrON BRADBY, Esq.

Youngest son of the late superannuated Rear-Admiral
James Bradby, who died in 1809, aged 73.

This ofl&cer was made a Lieutenant in July, 1796 ; and pro-
moted to the rank of Commander April 29, 1802. He sub-
sequently commanded the Calypso, a fine 18-gun brig, on
the North Sea station. His post commission bears date
June 28, 1810.

Captain Ikadby married, Nov. 25, 1808, Catherine, second
daughter of Vice-Admiral Billy Douglas, commander-in-
chief at Yarmouth. His youngest sister is the wife of Cap-
tain James Aberdour, R. N.

jlgents. — Messrs. Maude,

WILLIAM PATERSON, Esq.

A Companion of the Most HonoraUe MUttanj Order of the Bath ; and
President of the Civil Court at Neitfoundland,fiir the adjudication of all
disputes respecting the Fisheries on the coast of Labradttr.

Son of George Paterson, of Castle Huntley, in Perthshire,
Esq., by Anne, youngest daughter of John, 12th Baron Gray,
in the Scotch Peerage.

This officer entered the navy at an early age, under the
auspices of Sir Alexander Cochrane ; and served as a mid-
shipman on board his patron's flag- ship, the Northumberland
74, at the Leeward Islands ; where he was rapidly advanced
to the rank he at present enjoys. The dates of his respective
commissions are as follow : —

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 10/

Lieutenant, Feb. 18, 1805 ; Commander, April 9, 1808 j Captab, July
16, 1810.

At the close of the war with France, in 1814, Captain
Pateraon commanded the Myrmidon of 20 gims : his subse-
quent appointments were— April 25, 1815, to the Eridanus
frigate ; and, Mar. 6, 1816, to the Minden 74, fitting for the
flag of Sir Richard King, commander-in-chief on the East
India station.

Previous to his proceeding thither. Captain Paterson ac-
companied Lord Exmouth to Algiers, where the Minden sus-
tained a loss of 7 killed and 37 wounded, on the memorable
27th Aug. 1816*. For this service he was nominated a C. B.
on the 21st of the following month.

The Minden returned home from India, Oct. 16, 1820 ;
and was shortly afterwards put out of commission. Captain
Paterson received his present civil appouitment in April
ISlV).

j^getit.^Sir F. M. Ommanney.

HENRY PRESCOTT. Esq.

y^ Compamion of the Blott HonorMe MUUtay Order of the Bath,
Only surviving son of Admiral Isaac Prescott, by a
daughter of the late Rev. Richard Walter, chaplain of the
Centurion with Commodore Anson, during his celebrated ex-
pedition to the South Seas, and author of ** Anson's Voyage **\
This officer was bom at Kew Green, co. Surrey, May 4,
1783 ; and he first embarked as a midshipman, on board the
Formidable 98, commanded by the late Hon. Sir George C.
Berkeley, in 1796. During the last four years of the French
revolutionary war, we find him successively serving in the
Queen Charlotte a first rate, Penelope frigate, and Foudroy-
ant of 80 guus.

In the Penelope, Mr. Prescott assisted at the capture of le

• See Vol. I., Part I, p. 227. N. B. Sir Richard Kin"^ had previously
proceeded to his command in the Magicicnne frigate. Captain J. B. Purvis.

t The following correction is to be made at p. 67, of Vol. I. Part I. line
5 from the bottom— /or reputed author read author.

108 POST-CAPTAINS OF I8I0.

Guillawme Tell, a French 80-gun ship, Mar. 31, 1800*.
The Foudroyant bore the flag of Lord Keith, by whom he
was promoted into the Vincejo brig, on the coast of Egypt, in

1802.

Lieutenant Prescott's next appointment was to the ^Eolus
32, which frigate formed part of the squadron under Sir Rich-
ard J. Strachan, and had three men wounded, at the capture
of four French line-of-battle ships, Nov. 4, 1805 f.

Towards the latter end of 1806, Lieutenant Prescott joined
the Ocean 98, flag-ship of Lord Collingwood, who promoted
him into the Weazle brig, of 18 guns, Feb. 4, 1808.

On the 1st April following, being then off Sardinia, Cap-
tain Prescott fell in with a French squadron, consisting of ten
sail of the line, three frigates, one brig, and a store-ship, which
he closely reconnoitred the next day, and then proceeded with
the intelligence to his Admiral, who was at that time cruis-
ing, with a more powerful force, near Sicily. Unfortunately,
however, Lord Collingwood had to contend with strong
westerly winds off Maritimo, and the enemy having rounded
Sardinia, were enabled to reach Toulon without molestation.

Captain Prescott was subsequently employed on the coast of
Naples, where he gave great interruption to the enemy's trade,
and obliged a French brig of 20 guns to seek refuge under
some land batteries. This vessel he repeatedly dared to battle;
but all his endeavours to entice her out proved fruitless, al-
though eleven Neapolitan gun- boats were in readiness to sup-
port her. His spirited conduct on this occasion must have had
a good effect, the Weazle's manoeuvres being witnessed both
by the enemy's troops at Naples, and the English garrison
of CaprL

On the 8th Sept. 1808, Captain ftescott assisted at the cap-
ture of four large gun-boats and thirty-four coasting vessels,
assembled at Diamante, near the gulph of Policastro, which
place he had blockaded with much perseverance, until the
arrival of a sufficient force from Sicily to attack them X-

* See Vol. I. Part II. p. 643 et seg.
t See Vol. I. Part I. p. 289.
X See Captain Hbnry Whitmarsh Prarbe, C. B.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 109

In Oct. 1800, the VVeazle captured le Veloce French letter
of marque, of 4 c^ns and 83 men. On the 25th Dec. in
the same year, I'Eole, a polacre-rigged privateer, pierced for
20 guns, but mounting only 14, with a complement of 140
men, surrendered to her after a gallant resistance of one hour
and thirty minutes, during which the enemy sustained a loss
of 5 men killed and 9 wounded ; the Weazle only one man
slain and one wounded.

Between this period and June, 1810, Captiiin Prescott was
employed cruizing off Sardinia, on which station he made seven-
teen prizes and recaptures : among the former was I'lppolite,
French schooner privateer, of 5 guns and 78 men. We next
find hiiu aaaJHling ia the defence of Sicily, and whilst on that
service repeatedly engaged with the flotilla equipped by Na-
poleon's brother-in-law for the invasion of the island. The
capture and destruction of a large convoy from Naples, at
which Captain Prescott acted a prominent part, is fully de-
scribed in our memoir of the present Lord Hadstock f.

Two days subsequent to that enterprise, Captain Prescott
again landed at Amanthea, supported by a detachment of
marines from the Cumberland J'^ ; &nd after destroying se-
veral vessels, succeeded in bringing o£r a gun, under a heavy
fire of musketry, by which 3 of his men were wounded. In
the course of the following month, he wtis twice engaged
with convoys passing along shore, and captured six vessels,
two of which (an armed xebec and a gun-boat) he was obliged
to abandon in consequence of a sudden shift of wind, and the
Weazle's main-yard being shot away, which rendered it im-
possible to tow them out from under a battery, where a large
body of French troops had assembled for their protection.
On this occasion the Weazle had 6 men wounded, one of
whom mortally.

The British naval force employed on the coast of Calabria
being subsequently dispersed, in consequence of Murat break-
ing up his camp and retiring to Naples, Captain Prescott was
then sent to Smyrna, where he was superseded, in Feb. 1811,
having been promoted for his bravery at Amanthea, and his

t See Supplement, Part I. pp. 190—192.

110 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

commission dated back so as to give him post rank from July
25, 1810, the day on which he had so greatly distinguished
himself. Previous to his leaving the Weazle, however, he
added one more vessel to the list of her captures.

Captain Prescott's next appointment was, about Aug. 1811,
to the Fylla of 20 guns, from which ship he removed to the
Eridanus frigate, in the summer of 1813. He was nominated
a C. B. June 4, 1815 ; and appointed to the Aurora 46, April
6, 1821.

In June following the Aurora left Chatham fully manned,
and fitted for the South American station. On his arrival
there Captain Prescott found himself the senior officer on
the eastern coast, and he continued as such till the return of
Sir Thomas M. Hardy from the Pacific, by whom he was im-
mediately despatched to fill the same situation there.

In 1822, the Congress of Peru having ordered a forced con-
tribution on the commerce of Lima, the British proportion
of which amounted to nearly 200,000 dollars, Captain Pres-
cott remonstrated, and took such decided and effectual mea-
sures as compelled an abandonment of that impolitic and
iniquitous exaction. The merchants, in consequence, came
to the following resolution : —

"At a meeting of the British merchants, held in the British Commer-
cial Rooms, Lima, Oct. 12, 1822, it was resolved, that the sum of IbOO
dollars be voted to purchase a testimonial of our respect and gratitude to
Captain Prescott, for the services rendered us durin^f our present differ-
ences with the Peruvian government.

(Signed) " John Moens, Chairman."

After remaining in that ardous command for about IS
months. Captain Prescott proceeded to San Bias, and subse-
quently made a coasting voyage, for the purpose of taking in
specie at the different ports of Peru and Chili. The Aurora
returned to England with a considerable freight, and was
paid ofl[ in Feb. 1825.

Captain Prescott married, July 5, 1815, Mary Ann Char-
lotte, eldest daughter of the late Vice- Admiral d'Auvergne,
Prince de Bouillon, by whom he has several children. His
only brother, an officer in the Hon. E. I. Company's infantry,
was drowned when returning to England, in 1806.

urgent. — John Copland^ Esq.

l»OST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. HI

THOMAS WHITE, (a) Esq.

Post commission dated Aug. /» 1810.
Agents. — Messrs. Stillwell.

THOMAS GRAVES. Esq.

Post commission dated Aug. 8, 1810.
Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, llulfurd, and Son.

SIR NISBET JOSIAH WILLOUGHBV, Knt.

j1 Companion of the Moit Honorable Militaty Order of the Bath.

It appears by the records of the College of Arms, that this
ofiicer is lineally descended from Edward VVilloughby, of
Cossall, ill Nottinghamshire, Esq., who was the second son
of Sir Percival VVilloughby, Knt., by Bridget, eldest daughter
and co-heir of Sir Francis VVilloughby, of Wollaton, in the
same county, Knt. and that the eldest son of the said Sir Per-
cival (Sir Francis VVilloughby, of Wollaton,) was the direct
ancestor of the present Lord Middleton. It also appears, by
the same records, that the before mentioned Edward VVil-
loughby, of Cossall, was paternally descended from Sir Chris-
topher VV^illoughby, Knt., summone 1 to Parliament as Baron
\N'illoughby de Eresby, a lineal descendant and representa-
tive of William de VVilloughby, lord of the manor of VVil-
loughby in Lincolnshire, in the reign of King John ; that
he was maternally descended from Sir Richard VVilloughby,
Knt., Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of
Edward 11. ; and that his paternal and maternal ancestry in-
termarried with and were descended from several noble and
illustrious families, distinguished in the history of this coun-
try. Among Sir ATaAc/'* paternal ancestors, we find one
fighting at the famous battle of Ckessy ; another bearing a
part in the glorious achievement at Poictikrs ; and a third
distinguishing himself midcr Henry V. at Acincourt.

112 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

The latter gentleman, Sir Thomas Willoughby, of Parham,
was brother to Robert Lord Willoughby, the last English
governor of Paris, whose name is recorded among the greatest
soldiers of that age, and mentioned by Hume, in chap. XX. of
his English history, edit, of 1767*

Sir Francis Willoughby, who prevented the castle of Dub-
lin from being seized by Roger Moore's partisans, is spoken
of by Dr. Leland *; and the stout resistance made by the fifth
Lord Willoughby, of Parham, against the parliamentary
forces sent to reduce Barbadoes, in 1651, is noticed by Bryan
Edwards, in his Political and Commercial Survey of the
British West India Islands, vol. I. p. 343.

The motto of that branch of the family to which Sir Nisbet
J. Willoughby belongs, originally " Courage sans Peur,"
is now " Verite sans peur."

The subject of the following memoir is a son of the
late Robert Willoughby, of Cossall and Aspley Hall, both
in the county of Notts, and of Cliffe, in Warwickshire,
Esq., by Barbara his second wife, one of the daughters of
James Bruce, of Wester Kiidock (and the family of Airth),
Esq., by Janet, daughter of Sir Edward Gibson, Bart, of Pint-
land, N. B. and Barbara his wife, daughter of the Hon. John
M aitland, son of Earl Lauderdale.

Mr. Nisbet Josiah fTilhughh}/ was born in 1777; and he
commenced his naval career, as a midshipman on board the
Latona frigate. Captain Albemarle Bertie, May 12, 1790.
Subsequent to the Spanish armament, we find him serving in
the Edgar 74, Captain Anthony J. P. MoUoy; Alligator 28,
Captain Isaac Coffin ; andVengeance, a third rate, bearing the
broad pendant of Commodore Pasley, commander-in-chief
at Shcerncss.

On the 13th Jan. 1793, Mr. Willoughby joined the Orpheug
32, Captain Henry Newcome, then about to sail for the coast
of Africa, where he assisted in cutting out four French brigs
and a schooner, April 22 and 24 in the same year. The cap-
ture of these vessels, and Mr. Willoughby 's subsequent ship-
wreck, when conducting one of the brigs to Sierra Leone, have

• See Leiand'a History of Ireland, Vol. IIL p. 110 et tof.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 113

been noticed at p. 35 et seq. His escape on the latter occa-
sion may justly be deemed miraculous; for even if it had
been within the limits of possibility to have gained the shore,
he would certainly have been enslaved for life, if not instantly
murdered. The manner in which the Orpheus was employed
after her return to England will likewise be seen by reference
to our memoir of Captain William Goate.

On the 5th May, IJiH, the Orpheus, then off the Isle of
France, captured le Duguay-Trouin, a French 18-pounder
frigate, after a sharp action, in those days termed brilliant, of
an hour and ten minutes, durhig which the enemy, out of 403
persons on board, had 21 killed and 60 wounded ; the British,
only 194 in number, 1 slain and 9 wounded. An extract of
Captain Newcomc's ofhcial letter on this occasion is given at
p. 36 etseq.

In Aug. 179'^i ^Jr* Willoughby assisted at the capture of
Malacca. The public despatches reporting that event, inform
us, that the measures adopted by the Dutch authorities, sub-
sequently to the amicable proposals tendered by the British
naval and military commanders, having rendered it necessary
to land the troops sent against that settlement, hostilities com-
menced by the Resistance frigate firing upon, and, after the ex-
change of two guns, taking possession of the Constantia, a
Dutch armed ship, which had warped herself into the mud, be-
tween the English squadron and the fort ; — the dashing manner
in which that ship was taken possession of is not mentioned.

Finding the Dutch governor determined upon resistance,
the signal was made by Captain Newcomc for all the armed
boats of the squadron to assemble near the Orpheus, as he in-
tended that they should proceed under the command of one of
his own Lieutenants to secure and bring out the Constantia,
she being an impediment to the debarkation of the troops.

Lord Camelford (of whom we have twice had occasion to
speak*), was then a Lieutenant of the Resistance, and he com-
manded one of the boats that first reached the Orpheus. Im-
patient of delay, and anxious to distinguish himself, his lord-
ship desired Mr. Willoughby, who had the charge of a cutter^

• Sec Vol. I. Part II. p. "IS ft tet). and Vol. II. Part I. pp. 202—204.

snPPL. PART If. 1

114 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

then lying off on her oars, to follow him : — this was done in
the most quiet manner possible ; an(l_, when at some distance
from the frigate, both boats gave way, for the purpose of
boarding the enemy, one on each side.

The Dutch ship being of considerable tonnage, extremely
light, and well armed, with about 100 men on board, the re-
sult of this attack would in all probability have proved fatal to
the M'hole of the assailants, had not the captain of the Re-
sistance fortunately perceived Lord Camelford's unauthorized
proceeding, and, trembling for the consequences, opened his
fire upon the Constantia, which, although distant and harm-
less, gave the enemy an excuse for hauling down her colours.
At this moment the two boats were close to their object, and
they actually got alongside before the others had well left the
Orpheus* !

• We have noticed the above circumstance, because it affords a proof
how little Lord Camelford considered his personal safety when there was
the least prospect of gaining fame ; and also of the injustice that has been
done to his memory by comparing him with the notorious George Robert
Fitzgerald — a bully and a coward.

As Lord Camelford's impetuous public career and untimely end are
better known to the world than his private actions, we shall here traa-
scribe a passatje from " The Clubs," a popular work recently published : —

" Though the latter fought several duels, it is well known that he ge-
nerally had sufficient provocation, and that he received several insults
which he never thought worthy of public notice ; in short, his general
deportment was mild, and he never sought a quarrel, for which Fitzjjcmld
was on the constant look-out. Camelford, likewise. Lad a most generous
heart ; for whilst the fashionable world was taken up with his eccentrici-
ties, he was in the habit of performing many private charitable acta,
amongst those of the poor who were ashamed to beg. His charities were
invariably administered under an assumed name, and he never failed to
threaten those whose curiosity he suspected, with a suspension of their
salary, if they dared to follow him, or tried to find oat who their htmit-
factor was. He usually went out on such expeditions at night, and he has
often left a crowded and brilliant assembly, to dress himself in an old
brown coat and slouched hat, in order to visit some poor family in the
crowded courts between Drury Lane and Charing Cross. In such deeds as
these, and at the expcnce of several thousands a year, did this unaffected
philanthropist pass the hours which he stole from the dissipation of high
life ; and his protegees were not aware of the name or quality of their
benefactor, until his untimely fate put a period to his luunificcnt dona-
tions."

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 115

In 1/96, Mr. Willoughby assisted at the reduction of Am-
boyna and Banda, with their several dependencies ; after which
he appears to have been successively removed into the He-
roine frigate and SufFollc 7'^ J the former ship commanded by
Captain Alan Hyde Gardner, the latter bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Rainier, by whom he was made a Lieutenant,
and appointed to the Victorious 74, Captain William Clark,
Jan. 13, 1798.

On the 30th June following. Lieutenant Willoughby was
suspended from his duty and placed in confinement, for asking
his captain whether he should go into the waist himself, to
see the main-sheet hauled aft, his orders to that effect not
being promptly obeyed, and the captain flnding fault with
him for the remissness of others.

Conscious of having always obeyed Captain Clark's orders
with becoming alacrity, that he had never intentionally treated
him with contempt or disrespect, and that by allowing him-
self to be released without a proper explanation he would sub-
ject himself to a repetition of such unmerited trctamfint.
Lieutenant Willoughby declined returning to his duty, when
an offer to that effect was made him, unless the captain
would admit that he had placed him under arrest without any
just cause.

This admission being withheld. Lieutenant Willoughby
applied for an investigation of his conduct ; but owing to the
disposition of the ships composing Rear-Admiral Rainier's
squadron, nearly twelve mouths elapsed before his request
could be complied with ; " and by that time," says an officer
who was present, " his health was so much impaired, through
want of exercise and the medicine he had been obliged to
take in consequence, that he was more fit for an hospital
than to stand the brunt of a court-martial. His tongue was
so enlai^ed that articulation was painful to him, and those
who were present at his trial declared, he was in such a
state that he only appeared anxious to get through the busi-
ness, seeming perfectly indifferent as to the result."

The consequence was, the prosecutor had only to make his
statement in his own way, and the court came to the conclo'

f 2

116 l>OST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

sion that Lieutenant Willoiighby, in turning round when
spoken to, and asking whether he should go into the waist,
&c., " did behave to Captain Clark in a contemptuous and
disrespectful manner; but in consideration of his long con-
finement, and his health having been apparently injured by
it," his judges did "only" sentence him to be dismissed his
ship.

On the 14th June 1799, the very next day after his dis-
missal from the Victorious, Lieutenant VVilloughby was ap-
pointed to command the Amboyna, a beautiful brig, Vice-
Admiral Rainier considering that his punishment had already
been more than adequate to the alleged offence. Scarcely had
he joined that vessel, however, when his indisposition in-
creased so much that he was obliged to invalid, and remove
to the Sceptre 64, for a passage to the Cape of Good Hope.

On the 19th Sept. 1799, the boats of that ship were sent to
attack a French brig, moored within a reef of rocks, close to
the island of Rodriguez; but after being absent a very con-
siderable time, they returned with the information that no
passage could be found through the heavy surf by which she
was protected. Lieutenant VVilloughby, having been there
before, no sooner heard this report than he volunteered to
conduct them over the reef ; and they were accordingly or-
dered to renew the attempt, under his pilotage, and the com-
mand of another Lieutenant, the present Captain Thomas
Tudor Tucker.

In the mean time the brig's broadside had been brought to
bear on the passage ; and when the boats got within range
of grape she began firing upon them : immediately after-
wards she appeared in flames, and on boarding her it was
found that a pile of hand grenades on the deck had exploded,
killing two of her crew, womiding several others, and throw-
ing the remainder into such confusion that she was carried
without much resistance. She proved to be I'Eclair privateer,
of 10 guns, 4 swivels, and 83 men, some of whom effected
their escape to the shore.

Night now approaching, and the Sceptre having a valuable
fleet under her convoy, the prize was necessarily destroyed.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810, 1 17

k being impossible to bring her out through such an intri-
cate na\'igation at that late hour.

Scarcely had Lieutenant Willoughby returned from this ser-
vice, when he obtained additional credit by jumping overboard
and endeavouring to extricate a poor fellow who was una-
ble to i;et from between the bottom and the thwarts of a boat,
wamped under the ship's quarter, owing to the mismanage-
ment of the officer commanding on deck, who had ordered
her to be hoisted up whilst the Sceptre was going fast through
the water. This generous and humane attempt proved un-
uccessful, and the unfortunate man consequently perished j
but Lieutenant V\'illoughby'8 efforts to save him did not
cease until his own strength was quite exhausted.

On the 5th Nov. following, the Sceptre was driven on

hore in Table bay, and totally wrecked, by which disaster

uuout 21X) j)or.sous lost their lives, among whom were her

Captain, two Lieutenants, the Master, and four Midshipmen :

most of the other officers, including Lieutenant Willoughby,

V ere then at a ball on shore, and thus providentially escaped.

'^ '• t of those who were saved will be found at p. 222 of

, ^.1. Part L

Lieutenant Willoughby's next appointment was, Aug. 26,
1800, to the Uussel 7**, Captain (now Sir Herbert) Sawyer ;
which ship foruied part of Lord Nelson's division at the cap-
ture and destruction of the Danish line of defence before
Copenhagen, April 2, 1801 ♦.

On that glorious occasion. Lieutenant Willoughby greatly
distinguished himself by his gallantry in boarding the Pro-
vesteei^block-ship, of 50 guns, under a heavy fire from her
lower-deck, kept up in opposition to the wishes of her com-
mander, who had hauled down his colours in token of sub-
mission. The manner in which this service was performed
excited general admiration, and obtained him three cheers
from the Russel's crew, by order of their new captain, the
late Rear-Admiral William Cumijig.

It appears that, of the Danes on the lower-deck, many

♦ See Vol. I, Part I, note at pp. 366—371 ; and Id. Part II, note at p.
847.

118 POST.CAPTAINS OF 1810.

were literally drunk, and the rest in a state of great excite-
ment : these men not only abused their officers for striking the
colours and allowing the British to come on board, but even
threatened to force the hatchways, and recover possession of
the upper decks ; nor did they cease firing for nearly an hour
after the latter had been given up to Lieutenant Willoughby,
who with his f)eople, about 30 in number, were all that time
exposed to the shot of the Isis and Polyphemus, the two ships
immediately o{)posed to that end of the Danish litie. Even
after all firing had ceased on both sides, and during the whole
of the ensuing night, Lieutenant Willoughby's situation was
by no means pleasant, as the Danes continued extremely riot-
ous, and often menaced the destruction of the ship, which
there was much reason to fear they would carry into execution :
for although Lieutenant Willoughby had managed to lock up
the magazine, he could not spare men to guard it, nor indeed
would his whole party have been sufficient to do so effectually,
against such overpowering numbers as were then assembled
on the lower-deck. He was therefore obliged to content him-
self with guarding the hatchways until he received assistance
on the morning after the battle.

From Copenhageh the Russel proceeded up the Baltic^
where Lieutenant Willoughby had the misfortune to lose hid
commission under the following circumstances.

Having incurred the displeasure of Captain Cuming, whose
general character is well known, that officer deprived him
of the charge of a watch, ordered him to do the duty of
signal Lieutenant, and forbade him ever to quit the poop, on
dni/ occdsioh tuhatetrer, during day-tittle, without first ac-
^utlinting the officer of the deck thit he w^s about to do so,
and for what pttrpose. This degrading, order, mortifying
as it must have been to ^ young man of high spirit, Lien-
tenatit Willoughby most punctually obeyed ; but, unftjrtu-
nateiy, the wardroom dinner was one day announced ready
just as Captain Cuming had entered into conversation with
the g'entlenian to whom he must necessarily report his inten-
tion of goitig below, and to whom he imprudently repeated
a wish, often expressed by every one of his messmates, but

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 119

which was at length to produce an efifcct that none of them
had ever expected.

Captain Cuming was born near a borough town that gives
ita name to a beverage of which he was exceedingly fond, and
it seems tliat he never sat down to dumer without expressing
regret that lie had none to offer his guests. On the unfortu-
nate occasion to which we allude, Lieutenant Willoughby,
after acquainting the officer of the watch that he was going
down to dine, added, " / hope the caterer has provided some
Ashhurton Pop ! " upon hearing which. Captain Cuming ac-
cused him of contempt, placed him under arrest, and instantly
applied for a court-martial, the result of which was his dis-
missal, June 23, IbOl, from a service that now justly boasts
of him as one of its brightest ornaments.

After leaving the Russel, Mr. Willoughby joined the Levia-
than 74, bearing the flag of Sir JohnT. Duckworth, command-
er-in-chief on the Jamaica station, that officer having kindly
appointed him to act as a Lieutenant, and thereby afforded
him an opportunity of recovering his lost rank*

On the 17th July, 1803, being then off Cape Donna Maria,
Mr. Willoughby, in about with only two midshipmen and seven
men, boarded and secured, after a row of seven or eight miles,
TAthenaise French national armed ship, commanded by a
Lieutciumt de fregate, and liaviug on board about 50 persons,
including sex-eral military officers going from Jacqucmel to
Port-au-Prince, and wlio had not yet heard of the renewal of
hostilities.

During the remainder of the same year, the squadron un-
der Sir John T. Duckworth was particularly active and suc-
cessful ; but the most important occurrence on that station
was the capitulation of the French army at Cape Francois,
which led to the surrender of three 40- gun frigates, a brig of
war, an armed schooner, two hospital-ships, and twenty sail
of merchantmen.

According to the terms agreed upon between the senior of
ficer of the blockading force and General Rochambeau, the
French men of war were to keep their colours hoisted until
they got outside of the harbour, when they were each to dis

120 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

charge a broadside in return to a shot fired athwart their
bows by one of the British ships, and then to make the usual
token of submission.

In this manner, la Surveillante frigate, the national brig, and
one hospital-ship, came out, accompanied by three or four
merchantmen, on the 30th Nov. ; but owing to a sudden
shift of the wind, the others were prevented from following
them ; and la Clorinde frigate, having grounded under Fort
St. Joseph, at the entrance of the harbour, was in so despe-
rate a situation that the light boats sent from the British
squadron, to assist the French in removing out of the reach
of Dessalines and his black adherents, were returning to their
respective ships, supposing that nothing could save her from
destruction.

At this critical period, the launch of the Hercule 74, which
had just been hoisted out, was proceeding towards the har-
bour, under the command of Mr. Willoughby, who had re-
moved to that ship on her being selected for the flag of Sir
John T. Duckworth, in July 1803.

Anxious to rescue the numerous Frenchmen on board la
Clorinde from the certain fate that awaited them, whether they
remained in her or swam to the shore, (for no quarter was
then given by either the blacks or their opponents) ; at the
same time feeling it to be disgraceful to the character of the
British navy not to make an effort in their behalf, this zealous
officer took upon himself the whole responsibility, and in-
stantly pulled towards the grounded frigate *.

Finding, as he approached la Clorinde, that her side was
crowded with troops ready to spring into the launch, and fear-
ing that some disaster would happen if he took his boat along-
side, Mr. Willoughby searched for, and after some time found
a small punt, in which he proceeded to the frigate, resolved
to put in practice every resource to save her passengers and
crew, amounting, as he soon found, to at least 900 men, wo-
men, and helpless children.

• Mr. James erroneously states, that the Hercule's launch was among
the rearmost of the boats which left laCorinde to her fate. SecNav. Hut,
Vol. Ui, p. 302.

POST-CAPTAIN* OP 1810. 121

On board la Clorinde was the French General Lapoype, to
whom Mr. Willoughby represented, that, as by the terms of
the capitulation, the ships and vessels of war were to haul
down their colours when outside the harbour, it would not be
a greater sacrifice of national honour, considering the situa-
tion of the ship, she then heeling much and beating heavily,
if he did so immediately and gave her up to him. " I will
then," said Mr. Willoughby, " hoist English colours, wait
upon Dessalines, and demand, not only that the British flag
shall be respected, but that, if assistance cannot be procured
from the shore, and la Clorinde is lost in the night, now fast
approaching, the crew and passengers shall be considered as
prisoners to the English, and protected as such until the se-
nior officer has it in his power to send for them."

General Lapoype readily assented to this proposal ; upon
which Mr. Willoughby hoisted British colours, hailed Fort
St. Joseph, and told the Haytian officer in command there
that he wished Vi wait upon his chief. Permission was im-
mediately granted, and Mr. Willoughby, after experiencing
some difficulty in landing, obtained an interview with Des-
salines, who received him kindly and promised all that he
asked for.

About this time, two or three other boats arrived from the
Hercule ; and a favorable change taking place in the weather,
la Clorinde was soon hove off, with the loss of her guns and
rudder, but without having sustained any material damage.
" Thus to the uncommon exertions and professional abilities
of acting Lieutenant Willoughby y' were owing the preserva-
tion of so many people, and the acquisition to the British navy
of a frigate, which continued for many years afterwards to be
one of the finest of the 38-gun class.

We have reason to believe that Mr, Willoughby was res-
tored to the rank of Lieutenant for his excellent conduct at
Cape Fran9oi3, the commander-in-chief having recommended
him most strongly to the protection of the Admiralty, in the
despatch which we have just quoted ♦.

• Sir Johu T. Duckworth's official letter to Sir E?an Nepean, datec
Dec. 18, 1803. — N. B. The preservation ofla Clorinde is noticed iu Nicho-
las's Imperial Encyclopedia, and also in Rainsford'i HaytL

122 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

On the 31 8t Jan. 1804, a squadron consisting of the The-
seus 74, Captain John Bligh, senior officer ; Hercule, Captain
Richard Dalling Dunn ; Blanche and Pique frigates, Captains
Zachary Mudge and Charles B. H. Ross ; and Gipsy
schooner, commanded by Mr^ Michael Fitton, arrived off
the to^v^l of St. Ann, Cura9oa ; having been sent by Sir John
T. Duckworth to demand the surrender of that island upon
liberal conditions, and in case of a refusal, to endeavour to
reduce it by force. The following is an outline of the ope-
rations that ensued j and by comparing it with the account
given by Mr. James, our readers will be enabled to correct
several material errors in that part of his naval history.

Captain Ross having embarked on board the Gipsy, was
despatched with a flag of truce and a summons to the Dutch
governor, to surrender the colony to the British. At 9-30
A.M., the Gipsy stood out of the harbour, with a preconcerted
signal displayed, announcing that the proposed terras had
been rejected.

" The passage into the harhour is so narrow, that even with a fair wind,
(and it now blew off the laud) a line-of-battle ship can with difficulty
enter ; and the batteries that coimnand the harbour and town, including
Fort Rdpublique, against which, from its eituation, an attack by storm is
impracticable, mounted nearly 100 pieces of cannon, hi the harbour were
lying the Dutch 3G-gun frigate Hatslaar, and two French privateers. Under
these circumstances, no alternative remained but to try the effect of a land-
ing. Leaving, therefore, the two frigates, as well to blockade the harbour,
as to cause a diversion of the enemy's force. Captain Bligh, with the two
74's and schooner, bore up for a small cove which had been pointed out by
Mr. Fitton as the most eligible spot for effectinjf a disembarkation. •"

According to a previous arrangement, the boats of the squa-
dron, containing ^5 officers, seamen, and marines, had as-
sembled alongside the Herciilc ; and the whole detachment
was placed under the orders of Captain Dunn.

** In passing Fort Amsterdam, situated on the S. E. side of the entrance
to St. Ann, the two 74'8 were fired at, but without effect, the shot falling
short. At 11-30, Fort Piscadero, mounting 10 Dutch 12-pounders, and
protecting the intended point of disembarkation, opened a tire. This was
immediately returned by the Theseus, within half-musket shot, although
the ship was unable to remain alongside owing to a strong head wind and
lee current. By making short tacks, however, the Theseus brought her guns

* Jamcl, V. iii, p. 414.

voir-tAPtAiifB dp 1810. 123

to bear with sacli effect, that tlie fort Ared only ta\ occaiional a^ when the
ship waa in stays. At 1 P. M. the first division of seamen and marines
in the boats stormed and carried the fort without loss, and struck the
Dutch colours, which the enemy, on retreating, had left flying. By a
rapid movement, the British," undrr the command of Lieutenant fFiU
loughby, " reached the heights, aftd, with the loss of only 4 or 5 killed and
wounded, drove the Dutch soldiers from their position. This done, the
remainder of the seamen and marines were landed, and the Gipsy schoO'
ner anchored in the cove.*"

On the let Feb. two 18- pounder carronadcs and a light
field-piece were landed from the llieseus, and, with great
difficulty, dragged foiu* miles to the advanced post, situated
about eight hundred yards to the westward of the town,
which it in part overlooked. This post was placed under the
command of Lieutenant VVilloughby ; and a battery erected
near it was confided to the charge of Mr. £aton Travers,
midshipman, who had most gallantly supported him at the
storming of Piscadcro, &c.

On the 2d and 3d, two long 18- pounders, four more carro-
nades, and one or two field-pieces were brought on shore and
mounted. A Dutch 12- pounder, also, was transported from
the fort to Willoiighby's battery ^ and a constant fire kept up
between the adverse parties.

" On the evening of the 4th, there was a smart skirmish
between the British at the advanced post, and the enemy's
sharp-shooters, in which the latter were repulsed 3 and on the
morning of tiie 5th, a more serious affair took placet" in front
of that battery, Lieutenant fFilionghby having marched
out with nearly his whole force, co7tsisting of about 80 or
85 seamen and marines j for the express purpose of giving
battle to about 500 Dutch and French, the latter privateers'
men, who had landed their guns, and mounted them in a bat-
tery of their own construction. On this occasion the British
a^ain defeated their adversaries, but sustained a loss of 23
killed and wounded, the whole in fair fight with muskets
alone, not a man having suffered "from the cannon of Fort
lUpublique." llie senior marine officer, serving under Liew

* James, v. iii, p. 415.
t td. p. 416.

124 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

tenant fVilloughhy's command, was Mr. Edward Nicholls j
and his principal naval assistant, the midshipman above men-
tioned.

The cannonadebetween the batteries was resumed on the 6th
Feb. J but Lieutenant Willoughby, finding it in vain to point
any of his guns at fort Rdpublique, directed them against Fort
Amsterdam and the shipping : the Hatslaar would probably
have been destroyed had not two large merchant vessels,
purposely placed between her and the shore, received almost
every shot intended for that frigate;

" In this way passed a number of successive days, the force
of the British gradually decreasing, not merely by loss from
the cannon of the forts, and in the difterent skirmishes, but
from fatigue and sickness *," till at length, the only officers
left at the advanced battery, of those originally stationed
there, were Lieutenant Willoughby and his right-hand man,
Mr. Eaton Travers. 63 men were obliged to be re-em-
barked, owing to an attack of dysentery ; " a circumstance
not to be wondered at, considering that both officers and
men lay upon the ground, without any of those conveniences
deemed indispensable in the encampment of an army. The
force of the Dutch too, instead of amounting to only IGO re-
gulars," as Sir John T. Duckworth had been led to believe,
" consisted of 250 effective men, besides a body of local mili-
tia, and the crews of the vessels in the harbour. In addition
to all this, the Dutch learnt by deserters, 9 of whom quit-
ted in one night, the weak state of the British force, and that
the squadron must soon raise the blockade for want of pro-
visions f."

In this state of affairs, Captain Bligh despatched Mr. Fitton
to apprise the commander-in-chief of his intention, unless any
thing favorable should happen, to re-embark his people on
the 4th of March. In the course of the same day, Feb. 23,
the Dutch received a reinforcement ; and in the evening the

• James, v. iii, p. 416. N. B. Not even a drop of water, nor a bit of
fire-wood, could be procured, unless brouj,'bt from a great distance.

t /rf. p. 417.

l»OST-CAPTAISS OF 1810. 125

Pique was obliged to depart for Jamaica, on account of hav-
ing damaged her rudder.

About '30 of the Hercule's marines were Poles, part of the
prisoners taken at Cape Fran9ois, and xvho had been allowed
to enter the British service. On the 24th Feb., these men
evinced so clear an intention of going over to the enemy, that
they were obliged to be sent on board their ship with all
haste. The re-embarkation of the whole remaining force
could now no longer be delayed ; and on the 25th, by 9 P. M.
every person had quitted the shore, except two small parties
under Lieutenant John B. Hills and the subject of this me-
moir ; the former left to destroy fort Piscadero, the latter
remiiining behind to cover the retreat from his own batteries
and head quarters. After continuing there about three quar-
ters of an hour, without receiving any annoyance from the
enemy, Lieutenant ^^'illoughby joined his brother officer,
assisted at the demolition of the works, and embarked with
him in the same boat, at 11 P. M.

According to the othcial returns, the loss of the British, in
the different skirmishes that had taken place, amounted to 18
killed and 42 wounded ; but many otlier men, not reported ui
the latter list, were obliged to be embarked from time to
time, in consequence of the ulceration of bruises and slight
wounds, which when first received were considered unworthy
of notice : the circumstances under which Lieutenant Samuel
Perrot, R. M., lost an arm, are so extraordinary as to be
worthy a recital.

During the 25 days that the advanced post was held by
the British, Lieutenant VVilloughby frequently took his meals
in an exposed situation, but not, as Mr. James says, *i7/jw^ in
a chair upon the breast-work of the hattery. " The earth
was ploughed up all around, and one man, we believe, was
killed close to the spot ; but still the table and chair, and the
daring officer who sat there, remained untouched." One
afternoon, Mr. Perrot was induced to occupy Lieutenant
Willoughby's usual seat ; but ** scarcely had he done so, when
a shot came, took off his left arm, badly wounded the knee
upon which it had been resting, and knocked the table to

126 tasTrCATTMfi^ OF MO-

atom? »/' We should here observe, th^t Lieutenant Wil-
loughby, instead of being imwarrantably reckless of his per-
son, had good reasons for exposing himself in the way he
did :— the novelty of serving against an enemy ashore having
soon vFom off, the severe duties to be performed by the hand-
ful of men at the advanced post, the great privations every
one suffered, the extraordinary large proportion of killed and
wounded, the numbers taken sick, and the utter hopelessness
of ultimate success, all combined to depress the spirits of his
party, and rendered it highly necessary that he should set a
more than common example of cheerfulness and daring.
We must here add, that he always obliged the seamen and
marines to take their meals under cover of the rampart.

On the 14th Mar. 1804, we find Lieutenant Willoughby
commanding the Hercule's launch, and with two light boats
under his orders, capturing la Felicity French privateer, which
vessel had sailed from one of the Spanish ports in St. Do-
mingo for the express purpose of intercepting two valuable
homeward bound merchantmen, then about to sail from Port
Royal, and of whose approaching departure her commander
bad been apprised by the master of a neutral vessel. On this
occasion, the weather being perfectly calm, and the launch
having an 18-pounder carronade mounted. Lieutenant Wil-
loughby directed the other boats to tow him within grape-
shot distance of the enemy, and then to lay off on bis bcaui
whilst he engaged and rowed up to her. In the action which
ensued the launch had a midshipman (Mr. George Lawrence
Belli) and two men severely wounded : her consorts, com-
manded by Lieutenant Russel and Mr. Travers, were not
fired upon, and consequently sustained no loss, the enemy
having struck without waiting to be boarded.

In consequence of his gallant and excellent conduct on so
many occasions, Mr. Willoughby was, about this period, or-
dered by Sir J. T. Duckworth to take upon himself the office
of first Lieutenant ; and in that capacity we find him setting
another example of intrepidity to those about him.

• James, v. Ui, p. 41R.

POBT-CAPTAINS OP i810. 127

Towards the latter end of Aug. 1804, the Hercule sailed on
a cruise to the northward of St. Uomingo, iu company with the
Theseus 74, bearuig the flag of Rear- Admiral Dacres ; and
on the 6th Sept., she encountered as sudden and severe a hiK-
ricane as ever was experienced : — the Silver Keys then bei^:-
ing about S. W., distant 54 miles.

At this period Lieutenant Willoughby was ill, and in tlje
doctor's list ; but knowhig that tlie ship was by no means pre-
pared for such a tremendous visitation, he resumed his duty
the moment the storm commenced.

Scarcely had he reached tlie deck when the fore-top-mast
was litenUy 1 ' the side, and to hLi aatoaishment,

altiioi^ftbe i il a fine ship's company, not a uvm

stirred to cleftf the wreck. Seeing that even the oldest aea-
men were either appalled or paralyzed, he immediately ran
forward and mounted into the fore top, folloued by Lieute-
nant Kussel and Mr. Stewart the gmmor, with whose assist-
ance he succeeded in cutting away the wreck, iuul thereto
saving the lower i 'a was previously in a tottering

state. In a shori vards, tlic mizen-mast went by

the board ; and next morning, the main-mast was likewise
rolled away.

The whole of the main-deck ports and dead-lights being
store in, and the ship labouring so much as to render it almost
impossible for the people to remain at the winches, the watfr
in the hold gained upon the pumps for a very considerable
period ; but by the united and extraordinary exertions of the
officers and men, they were at length got to suck, and on the
third day a fire was lighted for the first time since the begin-
ning of the storm.

The Theseus lost all her masts ; and being an old ship,
she suffered still more in every respect than her consort. It
has been ascertained, that upwards of 300 vessels either
fomidered or were totally wrecked during this dreadful hur-
ricane.

On the 1st Feb. 1805, the Hercule captured a merchant
schooner of about 30 tons burthen, from Cuba bound to
Carthageua ; and one of the prisoners having given inforraa-

128 POST-CAPTAINS OP I8IO.

tion that a fine Spanish corvette, of 20 guns and 130 meny
was lying at St. Martha, Lieutenant Willoughby immediately
volunteered to attack her ; but it was not until after three
days importunity that Captain Dunn would comply with hw
wishes. On the 4th Feb., himself, 3 passed midshipmen,
and 30 volunteers, all young and active, parted company in
the prize, taking with them 14 days' provisions. During the
first two nights, it blew so very hard that the vessel was
every minute expected to go down, the sea breaking over her
in such a manner as rendered it impossible for a man to re-
main at the helm, or for the hatches to be opened in order to
get rid of the cargo. On the 6th, his little bark having wea-
thered the storm, Lieutenant Willoughby stood into the
harbour of St. Martha ; a midahipman (the present Captain
Samuel Roberts, C. B.) at the helm, with a check shirt on,
his head decorated with a French kerchief, and his face and
hands blackened with burnt cork and grease. All the rest of
the gallant band below, except two men ; one a black the other
a mulatto. The schooner being well known, this deception
had the desired effect : no interruption was given to her as
she passed the batteries, and every thing seemed to promise
success : unfortunately, however, the corvette had sailed a
few days before ; and there was not another vessel at the
anchorage worth bringing out. Mortified in the extreme.
Lieutenant Willoughby now put about : the enemy on shore
discovered the ruse that he had been practising, and the bat-
teries on the island that protects the harbour immediately
opened upon him, keeping up a steady fire for more than
half an hour, but luckily without once striking his diminutive
and slightly built vessel : — had she been hulled by a single
shot, the consequences would in all probability have been
fatal, as she was very rotten, and had not a boat of any dea-
cription belonging to her.

This enterprise appears to have been one of the most
hazardous ever recorded ; and we leave our readers to judge
what were the feelings of Lieutenant Willoughby, then first
of a flag-ship, on finding that the opportunity of stamping his
character as a hero was denied him. Had the corvette been

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 129

found at the anchorage of St. Martha, we have no doubt that
she would have met with a similar fate to the Hermione *,
in which case he would have been appointed to command
her, and a new line marked out for his future career in life.
His subsequent exploits sufficiently prove what an example
he would have set to those who accompanied him io Feb.
1805.

On the last day of that month, Sir John T. Duckworth
appointed Lieutenant Willoughby first of the Acasta frigate,
in which ship he himself was about to return home, fully
expecting that his protege would be promoted immediately
he struck his flag, and that he should be able to obtain him
the command " of a fine sloop" as soon as he arrived in
London. The Vice-Admiral's court-martial, however, put
an end to these flattering prospects, and the subject of this
memoir was consequently obliged to serve as a Lieutenant
^or at least two years longer +.

Mr. Willoughby's subsequent appointments were, Aug. 11,
1805, to the Prince 98, Captain Richard Grindall ; Dec. 28,
180G, to the Formidable 98, Captain Francis Fayerman ;
and Jan. 15, 1807, to the Ro3ral George 110, bearing the flag
of Sir John T. Duckworth, who was then about to proceed
on an expedition against Constantinople J.

The accidental destruction of the Ajax, an 80-gun ship
belonging to Sir John Duckworth's squadron, has been no-
ticed at p. 648 of vol. L Lieutenant Willoughby's humane
exertions and miraculous escape on that occasion, are worthy
of particular mention.

• See Vol. I. Part II, pp. 823—826.
f Sir John T. Duckworth was tried on charges preferred against him
by Captain (now Sir Jame&) A. Wood, whom he had unju:itifiably dispos*
sessed of the command of the Acasta, a circumstance noticed at p. 794 of
Vol. I. ; and, although he managed to obtain an acquittal, he did not retun
sufficient influence to get any of his followers promoted.

X See Vol. I. pp. 316, 798, and 808 et teg. N.B. The following correc-
tions should be made at p. 318 of that volume :—/or 100,000, read near
200,000 ; and at the end of the same paragraph, for force consisted of
eight ships of the line, two frigates, and two brigs, read force now consisted
of seven sail of the line, two frigates, and two bombs.

SUPPL. PART II. K

l;^) POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

At the time of this dreadful disaster, the Ajax was lying at
ianchor close to the Royal George, and as her cable was soon
burnt, the latter was obliged to cut and run out of her way.
Upon the first alarm of fire. Lieutenant Willoughby had
hastened in a cutter to the assistance of the unfortunate ship's
company, and he very soon rescued as many men from a
watery grave as his boat could possibly float with ; numbers,
however, were still surrounding him^ — some swimming, others
clinging to various buoyant articles, and many on the point of
sinking, for want of that aid which it Was ittipossible for him
to render them ; the cutter's gunwale being only a few
inches clear of the water, although masts, sails, and every
other moveable article, except two or three oars, had been
thrown overboard to lighten her. The Admiral was then so
far off, that to reach the Royal George, or indeed any other
ship, was quite impracticable ; but, fortunately, some launches
and barges at length arrived, received the poor fellows
already saved by the light boats of the squadron, and con-
tinued to do so uhtil they also were cl^wded. Tlie Ajax, all
this time, was drifting towards the island of Tenedos, with
her stern and broadside alternately presented to the wind.

Lieutenant Willoughby had piclo^d up and discharged a
second boat load, and was <^ain nearly filled with people who
had been so long in the water that they were nearly insensible,
when he observed the Ajax round to, and at the same time
"several men hanging by ropes directly under het head.

Trusting that he should be able to rescue those men, and
get clear of the ship before she again fell off, Lieutenant Wil-
loughby procured some more oars from other boats, then
immediately dashed towards her, and succeeded in the first
part of his object ; but not until the burning fabric was once
more right before the wind, with the cutter across her hawse,
and flames issuing from every part of her hull and rigging.

To extricate himself from this unparalleled state of danger
without the Divine aid was impossible ; for every moment
increased the velocity with which the Ajax was going through
the water, while the sea she threw up at her bows threatened
his small boat with instant destruction : to add to the horror

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. l3i

of his situation, the men who had been lying apparently half
dead, rn the bottom of the cutter, endeavoured to get upon
their legs, and greatly increased the confusion which very
naturally prevailed among his crew. Dreadful as the scene
then was, a most appalling circumstance soon took place, as
if to prove the possibility of his situation being rendered still
more terrific.

Whilst the Ajax was propelling the cutter in the above
alarming manner, the flames reached the shank-painter and
stopper of her remaining bower anchor, and it fell from her
bows, nearly effecting the destruction of the boat at its first
dash in the water : the cable caught her outer gunwale, over
which it ran, apparently a complete sheet of fire : orders, or
exertion and presence of mind, were now out of the question :
death to all appeared inevitable ; the only alternative left was
to be burnt or drowned, for every one was too much exhausted
to swim : the scene was altogether indescribable. The boats
at a distan - - that the cutter was enveloped in a sheet of
fire, and i considered it impossible to assist her: all

that Lieutenant Willoughby and his companions could do,
while the cable was running over and binding her more
firmly to the ship, was to keep the sparks and flames as much
as possible from the uncovered parts of their persons. Pro-
videntially, however, although the inner portion of the cable
had been burnt through, the anchor took the ground, and
gave the ship's head a check to windward, before the less
consumed part had entirely left the tier ; and thus the verj
event which seemed to fix the doom of the cutter, was, in all
probability, ordained by the Almighty for her preservation,
the alteration in the ship's position enabling her to get clear ;
but not before every individual in her was more or less dread-
fully scorched, and the heat no longer to be borne. Among
those who shared in the above unprecedented dangers, was
Nevin Kerr, Esq. one of the principal Turkey merchants,
whom Lieutenant Willoughby had just before picked up in a
very exhausted state.

By reference to p. 317 «' seq., of Vol. L, it will be seen that
the British squadron passed the Dardanelles, Feb. 19, 1807 ;

k2

132 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

and, on the 20th, brought up about 8 miles from the Turkish
capital "At 10 o'clock," says Sir J.T.Duckworth,"!
sent Captain Capel, in the Endymion, to anchor near the
town, if the wind, which was light, would permit the ship to
stem the current ; and to convey the Ambassador's despatches
to the Sublime Porte, in the morning, by a flag oF ti*uce ;
but he found it impracticable to get within 4 miles, and con-
sequently anchored at half-past IIP. M."

At this latter period. Lieutenant Willoughby received an
order to hold himself in readiness to leave tlie ship with a flag
of truce, early enough to reach Seraglio Point by the first
break of day : his surprise at being selected for such an im-
portant service was only equalled by the pleasure be felt on
the occasion.

About 2-30 A. M. Lieutenant Willoughby shoved off,
taking with him a letter from the Hon. William Arbuthnot
to the Grand Vizier, demanding the surrender of all the
Turkish men of war, with stores sufficient for their equip-
ment; and promising that, in case a favorable answer was
given, every hostile demonstration should immediately cease.
Lieutenant Willoughby was also charged with an energetic
message from the Ambassador and Vice-Admiral, allowing
the Grand Seignor only half an hour, after the translation of
the letter, to determine upon peace or war. We should here
particularly remark, that the British Minister had hitherto
failed in ohtaining an answer to any of his despatches.

Accompanied by Mr. Arbuthnot's dragoman ♦, Lieutenant
Willoughby arrived close to Seraglio Point by day- break ; at
which time numerous vessels and boats, of every shape and
size, crowded with men, were rapidly passing over from the
Natolian shore to protect Constantinople.

Ignorant of the nature of a flag of truce, many of this hete-
rogeneous flotilla fired at Lieutenant Willoughby 's unarmed
boat, as they passed a-head of her, thereby obliging him to
increase his distance from them ; even the regular sentries at
the point invariably opened their fire whenever he attempted
to near it ; and to add to his embarrassment, the dragoman,

• Interpreter.

POST-CAPTAI\S OF 1810. 133

who had resided nearly all his life at Constantinople, generally
attached to the British embassy, grew so alarmed and
nervous, that he used every argument that fear could dictate,
or his knowledge of the Turkish character inspire him with,
to return to the Royal George. Lieutenant Willoughby,
however, although aware that the Porte had hitherto treated
Mr. Arbuthnot's representations with silent contempt, and
that the destruction of the Ottoman squadron, off Point
Pesquies, would naturally enrage both the government and
the populace, felt the importance of delivering the above letter
and message to be so very great, as it would afford him an
excellent opportunity of reconnoitring, that he determined to
persevere, whatever might befal him at such a moment of
general excitement *.

After many ineffectual attempts to open a communication.
Lieutenant Willoughby was at length allowed to approach
Seraglio Point, near which a large gun-boat was stationed to
receive him. Having explained to her commander that he
was charged with a letter from the British Ambassador, and
that he had orders, if possible, to communicate with the
Turkish government, an officer came off from the point and
requested that he would accompany him to the Grand Vizier.
This officer proved to be Ysak Bey, of whom mention is
made in Sir John T. Duckworth's despatches of Mar. 6, 1807.

On his way to the dock-yard. Lieutenant Willoughby wtfs
enabled to reconnoitre the different military positions, &c. ;
and from having read and heard much of the sluggishness of
the Turks, he was astonished to find the whole harbour exhi-
biting as much energy and activity as could have been shown
in any English port under similar circumstances. On land-
ing, the same hostile spirit displayed itself; and before he left
the naval arsenal, he felt perfectly convinced that but little
good would be effected by negociation.

The first house Lieutenant Willoughby entered was the
residence of Ysak Bey, who pretended sudden indisposition,
and left his guest several times, evidently for the purpose of

* The affair at Navariu prores how little flags of truce are respected
by the Turks.

134 F0ST-CAPTAIN9 OF 1810.

detaining him until the breeze should die away, which was
then favorable for an attack.

To put an end to this farce. Lieutenant Willoughby rose,
ordered the dragoman to say that he would wait no longer,
and that he was determined to return on hoard ; upon which
Ysak Bey replied he would conduct him to the Grand Vizier.

After a short walk. Lieutenant Willoughby found himself at
the entrance of a large building, and was speedily ushered
into a superb saloon, where 6 or 7 persons of consequence
were seated. In about a quarter of an hour after, the whole
Divan assembled, and the Grand Vizier was made acquainted
with the object of the Lieutenant's visit ; the contents of Mr.
Arbuthnot's letter, and Sir J. T. Duckworth's message, being
translated and communicated to him by the dragoman.

A conference, in whispers, now took place j during which
pipes, sherbet, and coffee were passed round, according to
Oriental custom. Of the latter. Lieutenant Willoughby par-
took ; as he had also done at the house of Ysak Bey.

Finding from the conversation, or rather the repeated ques-
tions addressed to him through thedragomun, that the Grand
Vizier was still trying to gain time ; and having been strictly
enjoined only to allow a stated period to elapse after the de-
livery of the Admiral's message, Lieutenant Willoughby rose
to the very moment his orders permitted him to remain, and
demanded with firnmess, but in the most respectful manner,
the answer he was to take back, and permission to depart ;
both of which were immediately given.

On his return to the Turkish gun-boat, Lieutenant Wil-
loughby was again escorted by Ysak Bey, who took hold of
his arm in a familiar manner, as if for support, although he
had not betrayed the least symptom of indisposition while
attending the Divan. In all probability, however, this
ruse was of service tp the British officer; for although
Ysak gained time for his countrymen to complete their
warlike preparations, by obliging his companioo to walk at a
very slow pace, he thereby led the immense mob to believe
that the negociation was proceeding in a friendly manner :
had the armed rabble, then collected at Constantinople, been

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 13(t

aware that a British Admiral, with only seven sail of the line,
two frigates, and two bombs, neither of them having a single
soldier on board, had demanded the surrender, without resist-
ance, of two three-deukera, tea other Une-of-battle ships,
nine frigates, and numerous small craft, protected by " a chain
of batteries," and ready to be defended by " near 200,000
troops," from the enthusiastic janizary to the wild arab, there
cannot be a doubt that Lieutenant VVilloughby, the dragoman^
and the English boat's crew, would all have fallen victims to
the insulted feeling of the proudest and most haughty nation
in Europe.

Lieutenant Willoughby took leave of Ysak Hey, o£f Seraglio
Point, between 9-30 and 10 A.M., at which time the wind
was still favorable for the British to attack Constantinople.
Anxious to see decisive measures adopted, and knowing what
the result of the expedition would otherwise be, he imme-
diately proceeded on board the Endymion, communicated, by
telegraph, to Sir John T. Duckworth, the answer he had re-
ceive4 {" a negociator will be sent off to the British Admiral
at noon"), and then pulled for the Royal George, in order to
aiford ^very information which his chief might require, as to
the state of the Turkish fleet, the batteries, &c.

"At nooq of the 21st.," says Sir John T. Duckworth,
'* Ysak Bey came off ; from whose expressions Mr. Arbuth-
not thought it impos:»ible not to believe that, in, the head of
the government there really existed a sincere desire for peace,
and the negociation was carried on till the 27th j" but not on^
word does he mention about Lieutenant Willoughby, or his
delicate mission. To the telescopes on board the Royal
George, and not to the information obtained from his zealous
subaltern, does he acknowledge himself indebted for the in-
telligence, " that the time granted the Sublime Porte to take
its decision ha4 been employed in warping the ships of wau
into places more susceptible of defence, and in constructing
batteries along the coast, therefore rendering it his duty to
lose no time *."

This, however, is not to us so much a n;iatter of wonder,
* Extract of his correspondeace, as translated from the Moniteur.

136 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

when we remember that even the name of Captain Dunn, his
old and faithful follower, did not appear in either of the public
letters which he wrote concerning that abortive expedition ;
although an officer of the same rank, who volunteered to serve
in the Royal George, after the accidental destruction of his
own ship, is highly praised '* for his able assistance in regu-
lating the fire of the middle and lower decks," when first
passing the Dardanelles *.

To prevent any misconception on the part of the future
historian, we must here add, that Lieutenant Willoughby was
the only officer that landed at Constantinople, after the flight
of the British Ambassador and merchants ; and that, if he had
failed in obtaining an interview with the Grand Vizier, it is
more than likely that the Turkish government would not have
deigned to communicate with the British authorities, after
contemptuously neglecting to notice, either their former
threats or persuasions. The situation in which Lieutenant
Willoughby was so unexpectedly placed, appears to us to
have been one of the most extraordinary and dangerous
nature : no one but a man of the strongest nerve could possi-
bly have acquitted himself as he did ; and no officer could have
more acutely felt the official neglect which he experienced.

On the day previous to Sir John T. Duckworth's retreat
from before Constantinople, he addressed a letter to Lord
Collingwood, of which the following is an extract : —

" My Lord, — I have to inform your Lordship, that it was perceived at
nine o'clock yesterday morning, that the Turks had landed on the island
of Prota, near which the squadron was anchored, and were erecting a battery
in a position to annoy us : I immediately ordered tlie marines of the squa-
dron to be prepared for landing, and the boats to be manned and armed ;
the Repulse, with the Lucifer, having been directed to cover them, they
proceeded towards the island. The Turks, on the ships firing a few grape
to scour the beach, quitted the island in their boats, when all but one boat
with eleven men escaped ; the which, with two guns they had intended to
mount, fell into our possession."

On this occasion. Lieutenant Willoughby commanded a

• See Vol. 1. p. 649 et seg ;—&nd make the following correction in the
note • at p. 803, /or the name of each of the Captains, read the names of
several Captains.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 137

double-banked cutter, in which he was lying off upon his
oars, waiting for the boats of the squadron to assemble near
the Royal George, at the time when the enemy began to re-
embark. Perceiving that they were exerting themselves to
reach the Asiatic shore, and that the whole would escape if
not attacked before all the British boats could be got toge-
ther, he immediately dashed on towards their main body,
obliged the two stemmost boats to alter their course, and
gave way to board the nearest.

During the pursuit, the boats thus cut off ran alongside of
each other, apparently to exchange some men, but separated
again in a minute or two, and continued pulling with great
velocity towards the main land. On approaching pretty close
to them, Lieutenant Willoughby distinctly saw that one was
manned with about 2() Greeks, and that the other had a Turkish
crew, 13 in number : the former soon ceased rowing, held
their hands up, and cried for mercy. No honour could be
gained by capturing them, and they were, therefore, allowed
to escape. After exchanging a few musket-shot with the
Turks, they likewise laid in their oars ; and when Lieutenant
Willoughby arrived within about twenty yards of them, their
chief took his sword by the point, and presented the handle
to him, thereby indicating that he surrendered.

Having continued to advance. Lieutenant Willoughby was
about to take hold of the sword thus offered in token of sub-
mission, when, to his great astonishment, two Turks pointed
their pistols towards the stem of his boat, and fired, killing
one mim and mortally wounding another. Enraged at thii
treacherous act, the remainder of the British sailors would
instantly have commenced an indiscriminate slaughter ; but
as Lieutenant Willoughby had k«pt his eye constantly fixed
upon the Turkish officer, he felt convinced that it was not
connived at by him, and therefore he would only allow the
two guilty individuals to be slain — of the others not a man
was hurt.

The principal captive taken by Lieutenant Willoughby
proved to be a person of rank ; and as the Turks had just
before captured the Endymion's jolly-boat, with a young

138 POST^CAPTAINS OF 1810.

midshipman and four lads, he was allowed to depart from
the Royal George, for the purpose of endeavouring to effect
an exchange of prisoners, promising that he would return,
and again surrender himself, in case of failure : no exchange,
however, took place j neither (Hd the Turkish ofl&cer ever
afterwards make his appearance, although, if we are not
greatly in error, he had been sworn, on his own copy of the
Alcoran, to do so. Mr. Harwell, the midshipman alluded to
above, and his unfortunate juvenile boat's crew, were detained
on board the ship of the Capitan Bey until she was taken by
the Russians, oif Lemnos, July 1, 180/.

Another aflEair, in which Lieutenant VVilloughby was the
commanding officer, and one of the principal sufferers, is thus
described by Sir John T. Duckworth : —

" At half-after two o'clock in Uxe afternoon" (Feb. 27) " Sir Thomas
Louis" (the third in command of the squadron) " sent to inform me, that
he had received intelligence of a small number of Turks being still on the
island, and requesting permission to send marines to take them ; my reply
was, that no risk whatever must be run, but if it could be effected without
hazarding the people, it might ; and a party of the Canopus's marines was
immediately sent on shore in consequence, with the most positive orders to
Captain Kent, from Sir Thomas Louhi, uot to pursue the object if he found
it attended with as^y hazar^. At fpur o'clo9l^ the party on shore made the
signal for assistance, and the marines and boats were directly ordered away
from the Royal George, Wiudsor (Jastle, and Sttndard, with particular
directions to bring off the Cunopus's people, but to avoid being drawn into
danger. A little before sun-set, au oHicer was despatched with orders fur
the whole to return on board.

On the return of the boats, which wJVj u.ot mitil after da,rk, I heard witU
the deepest regret of the loss we had sustained, a list of which I herewith
transmit * j and do most particularly lament Lieutenant Belli, a young of-
ficer of the fairest promise, who had never served but with myself. To
account in some degree for this unlucky affair, it appears that the iafortaa-
tion of a few Turks only having remained on the island was entirely false,
aa nearly one hundred of them had retired to an old convent, from loop,
holes ia the walls of which they defended themselves with musketry. The
people of the Cauopus had in the first instance advanced close under the
walls, and in endeavouring to relieve them from their unpleasant situation,
the others suffered."

On this, as on the former occasion. Lieutenant Willoughby
* Total, 2 officers, 4 seamen, and 1 marine killed ; 2 officers, 3 m}d>
skipmen, 6 seamen, aad B marined wounded.

POST-CAPTAINS Of 1810. 139

pushed on without waiting for the detachment of boats to
assemble. On landing at Prota he found that the marines of
the Canopus had attacked a large building situated on an emi-
nence in the centre of the island, surrounded with a strong
iron railing, and defended by at least one hundred Turks, two
or three of whom were firing through each of its numerous
loop-holes and windows. An attempt was now made to get
part of the marines round to the left wing ; and Lieutenant
Willoughby, perceiving three men to be much exposed, was
calling to them to stoop, when two pistol- balls struck him,
one entering his head just above the right jaw, and, from the
upward position of his face at the moment, taking a slanting
direction towards the region of the braiu, where it has ever
since remained. The other shot cut his left cheek in two,
and he lay, for more than six or seven minutes, apparently
lifeless on the ground ; but, at the very moment that bis
party began to retreat, one of his arms waa observed to
move, and he was carried off to the ship as one of whom no
hopes were entertained. In short, so desperate was his case,
that the surgeon of the Royal George also considered him
to be mortally wounded, and officially reported him as such
for three days afterwards.

The commissioned officers slain at Prota were Captain
Kent, R. M. and Lieutenant Belli, of the Royal George;
which latter gentleman, it will be remembered, was wounded
when serving under Lieutenant Willoughby, at the capture of
la Felicite, in March, 1804. Among the badly wounded were
Messrs. John Alexander and John Wood Rouse, midshipmen,
both of whom were with him when he so gallantly pursued
the Turkish boats in the morning of the same day. It is
worthy of remark, that Messrs. V\ illoughby. Belli, Alexander,
and Rouse, all belonging to the same ship, were nearly touch-
ing one another when each received one or more of the
Turkish shot.

Although Lieutenant Wilbughby's perseverance, gallantry,
and sufferings, whilst employed in the sea of Marmora, were
not publicly reported by Sir John T. Duckworth, with whom
he had always been on the most friendly terms, his praise-

140 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

worthy conduct was afterwards represented by that officer to
the Admiralty, in a private communication, and duly appre-
ciated by their Lordships.

Lieutenant Willoughby's discharge from the Royal George
took place July 13, 1807 ; immediately after which we find
him proceeding to the Rio de la Plata, as a passenger on
board the Otter sloop, for the purpose of assuming the com-
mand of la Fuerte, a very fine Spanish corvette, pierced for
28 guns, which vessel had fallen into the hands of the British,
at Monte Video, in the month of Feb. preceding *.

On his arrival in that river. Lieutenant Willoughby had the
mortification to find that la Fuerte was not destined to wear an
English pendant, the Spaniards having compelled Lieutenant-
General Whitelocke to retire from South America, and the
shipping taken at Monte Video being again in their possession.

From thence, our disappointed officer proceeded in the
Otter to the Cape of Good Hope, where he succeeded Cap-
tain John Davies (a) in the command of that sloop, Jan. 10,
1808. His commission as a Commander was confirmed by the
Admiralty, April 9, in the same year.

The Otter's first cruise off the Isle of France was under
the orders of Captain Robert Corbett, then commanding la
Nereide, a frigate universally allowed to take the lead of
every other " crack " one in the British navy j and Captain
Willoughby, anxious that his first command should be
marked by the high state of discipline in which he kept his
Bloop, made her vie with, and endeavour, if practicable, to
excel that ship in every manoeuvre. On her return to the
Cape, Vice-Admiral Bertie, then commanding on that station,
received an anonymous letter, which led him to believe that
Captain Willoughby had exceeded the usual esprit de corps
in striving to effect his object, and he therefore thought
proper to have his conduct investigated by a court-martial ;
the result of which was an honorable acquittal of the whole of
the charges upon which he had been tried. During his next
cruise. Captain Willoughby, with volunteers from the same
sloop, performed services which induced the Vice- Admiral,
• See Vol. I, note at p. 626 et seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 141

who deeply regretted what had taken place, to give him the
coiiHuand of la Nereide, although he had many old followers
whom he wished to serve, and a Commander was also under
his orders who had been directed to receive the first Admi-
ralty" vacancy. Vice-Admiral Bertie did more ; for on Captain
Willoughby assuming the command of la Nereide he allowed
a large proportion of the Otter's best men, who volunteered,
to accojnpany him. We shall presently have an opportunity
of shewing how highly he admired, and how duly he appre-
ciated the subsequent daring conduct of an oflScer who had
first embarked as a midshipman under his command.

On the 14th Aug. 1809, CaptainWilloughby, then cruising in
the Otter off Cape Brabant, Isle of France, discovered a brig,
a lugger, and a gun -boat, at anchor under the protection of the
batteries of Black River. The brig had recently arrived from
France with a cargo, and the lugger was also a merchantman :
thinking it practicable, notwithstanding the immense strength
of the batteries, to cut out these vessels, he resolved to make
the desperate attempt that same night. In the mean time,
to prevent suspicion, the Otter bore away for Bourbon until
dark ; then hauled up and worked back to the vicinity of
Black River. At 1 1-30 P.M., being close enough in, Captain
Willoughby pushed off in his gig, accompanied by Lieutenant
John Burn in the yawl, and Mr. William Weiss, midship-
man, in the jolly-boat. 'Hie plan arranged was, for the gig,
supported by the other two boats, to carry the gun- vessel ;
the yawl was then to secure the brig, and the jolly-boat
the lugger.

Favored by the darkness, the three boats got into the
harbour unperceived ; and having from the same cause, and
the silence of the enemy, missed the gun-vessel, they pulled
alongside of and captured the lugger. After securing her.
Captain Willoughby detached the yawl and jolly-boat to board
the brig, and then proceeded himself in search of the armed
vessel. Lieutenant Burn soon got along side the brig, and
found a body of soldiers drawn up on deck to defend her.
In the face of a heavy fire of musketry from them, the
British boarded, and after a smart struggle carried her. The

142 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

cable was then cut by a man left in the yawl for that purpose,
but not 'till he had been wounded in the head by the French
mate, whom he killed with a blow of his axe. Captain Wil-
lougbby in the mean time approached so near to the inner-
most battery as to be hailed by one of the sentries : the alarm
soon became general, and the batteries, four in number, im-
mediately opened their fire.

The brig being firmly moored to the shore, with her
yards and top-masts down, and the weather very tempestu-
ous, there was no possibility of bringing her off ; Captain
Willoughby therefore gave orders to take out the prisoners
and destroy her ; but as many of them were wounded, and
could not be removed, she was ultimately abandoned. The
boats then took the lugger in tow, and brought her out under
a heavy fire of shot and shells, from the batteries on both
sides of the river. To enable them to distinguish their ob-
ject, the enemy on shore threw up fire balls of a superior de-
scription, which illumined the whole river ; and they con-
tinued doing so every half-minute until she was out of range.

Under all these circumstances, it is rather surprising that
no gi^eater loss wiis sustained by the British than one killed
and three severely wounded ; particularly as the boats, when
towing their prize past a particular feef, were at least ten mi-
nutes directly in front of a very heavy battery. The principal
advantage derived from this' attack was the evidence it afforded
of the practicability of cutting out vessels from a river so
strongly protected both by nature and by art. Had the gun-
boat been found, there cannot be a doubt that she would have
ishared the fate of the lugger.

The capture of St. Paul's, in the island of Bourbon, has been
briefly noticed at p. 626 et seq. of our first volume. The con-
spicuous part borne by Captain Willoughby on that occasion
will be seen by the following extracts of the official letters
published in the London Gazette, Feb. 13, 1810.
Captain Josiat Rotrley to y)ce-/l(Jmiral Bertie.

" The force intended to be landed were the detuchment of his Majesty's
and the Company's troops, reinforced by the marines of the squadron, and
a party of about 100 seamen from this ship • and the Otter, under the

* Raisouable 64. See Captain Edward Llotd.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 143

command of Captain Wil}mi<rbby, whose zeal indu^ him to Tolunteer
the command of so small a party. • • ♦ » • ^. The pms and mortars at
the different batterie? and on the hcach hein? spiked, their carriaijes hnmt
or destroyed, and mfli^azinM Wo\m off under the directions of Captain
WiI!o\!£;hl)y, the whole of the troops, nrarines, and seamen, were era-
harked, ••••••. 1 be? leave to refer you for details to Lieutenant-
Colonel Keatinsr's letter ; and am happy to say he mentions in higii terms
t' - ^Mllougbby, the officers, seamen, and marines

etj;. . :.."

Lieufennnt-Cohnel Kffit'ifig to the Bomb'iy Gnremment.

" At 6 A M. on the 21st*' (Sept. 1?09), " the troops were disembarked
to the gouth\rard of Point de Oalotte, seTcn miles from St. Panl's, and
i" cd march, with a riew of ( 'iccatRc-

^' , before the enemy coulu .. , ..rour de-

barkation or approach to Ihe totin, wM^h we \wre fortunate enou^^h to
effect ; nor ha I ttiov timf to fv ,i In arty force unlil we had p-^ssed the
•tronijpst pnsuion. Hv «^r,.n < '- '-vk ive Vrere in possession of the first
and second batteri*^, Ln and la Centi^re ; when Captain Wil-

loaghhy, of the royal ni ... ; commanded a detachment of about
100 seamen on shore, and to whose leal, activity, and exertions, I feel
II •••■•• •• • iiitjedthe " ny's shipping,

fr lictly jfrapi . , within pistol-

shot of the shore, we suffered much, bein?: necessarily exposed to it dur-
injj our movements upon the beach, and throned the towti. From the
battery la Cemifcre, Captain Imlack was detached with tire second co-
1 ke possession of the third, or battery of la Nenf, deserted by

t': y. On his nay thither, he fell in with and was opposed by the

entire force of tlie French, who had concentrated and taken up a vety
stroni!^ position behimi a sMbe wall, with eight bras« field-pieces,
6-pounder8, upon their flanlca. This post was Instantly charged in the
most gallant manner by that officer and his men : the enemy, however,
maintained tiieir position, and Captain Hannor, of the 56th regiment, was
ordered to proceed with the third column to his support, who charged, and
took two of the enemy's guns. The action now became warm, but never
doubtful.

" The enemy being reinforced from the hills, and having also received
1 10 troops of the line from the French frigate la Caroline, and the squa-
dron not being able to staml in to support us, our movements being en-
dangered by their fire except at intervals, which they always took advan-
tage of. Captain \MlIouchl)y was directed to spike the guns of Lambou-
si^re and la Centi^re, and with the seamen to man the third battery, la
Neuf, continuing the fire from thenCe upon the enemy's shipping. By
this arrangement, Captain Forties, who with the reserve had covered those
batteries, was enabled to advaifce against the enemy, who, after an ho-
norable resistance, were compelled to give way. Their remaining gims

144 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

being carried by that excellent officer, a sufficient number of men were
ordered to act as ligbt troops, and to pursue the enemy, whilst the third co-
lumn, with part of the reserve, advanced against the fourth and fifth bat-
teries, la Piere and la Caserne, which fell into our hands without opposition,
and whose entire fire was immediately directed against the enemy's ship-
ping. By half-past eight o'clock, the town, batteries, magazines, 8 brass
field-pieces, 117 new and heavy iron guns, and all the public stores, were
in our possession, with several prisoners. The instant the squadron perceiv-
ed that the object in landing had succeeded, and that they could, with safety
to the troops, stand in effectually, they immediately anchored close to the
enemy's shipping, which after a short firing surrendered. The entire of the
batteries being destroyed, and the town completely commanded by our
squadron, the troops were re-embarked by eight o'clock the same even-
ing. • • • ♦.

"On the22d, late in the evening, the enemy appeared in some force
upon the hills, and a heavy column was observed advancing from St.
Denis, which I since understand to have been under the immediate com-
mand of General Des I^rusleys : the commodore and myself now agreed
upon the propriety of landing a sufficient force to destroy all public pro-
perty ; and accordingly the marines, with a few sailors, under Captain Wil-
loughby" (who again volunteered), "were ordered upon this service, when
I had an opportunity of again witnessing the steadiness and good conduct
of the seamen and royal marines, who effectually bunit an extensive go-
vernment store of considerable value ; the remaining stores were only
saved from some doubt existing respecting their being public property*.

" On the following morning, the entire force was put in boats to re-
land and attack the enemy ; whose retreat, however, to St. Denis, during
the night, prevented the necessity of any further debarkation."

On this latter occasion, the boats containing the troops,
armed seamen, and marines, pulled in shore and reached the
intended landing place, to the eastward of St. Paul's, facing
the position in which Des Brusley's army was supposed to
have encamped in the night of the 22d.

After waiting some time for Lieutenant- Colonel Keating to
arrive and give the necessary orders. Captain Willoughby,
anxious to ascertain if the French were really there, and hav-
ing taken proper precautions for ensuring a speedy retreat if
necessary, landed with two of his gig's crew, all the boats
anxiously watching his motions, particularly when he disap-

• Mr. James states, that the government store, destroyed by Captain
Willoughby, contained all the raw silk which the enemy had found on
board the Streatham and Europe, East Indiamen, and that it was valued
at more than half a million sterling.

POST-CAPTAIN'S OP 1810. ii§

peared over the saud hills, as k was then believed by every
officer and man that the enemy were close at hand, ready to
oppose them. From this state of suspense they were soon
relieved by his re-appearance, and waving for two more men
to join him. After a second absence of ten minutes, he re-
turned to his gig, with a 9-inch brass mortar, taken from one
of the batteries which had been dismantled on the 21st.
During this reconnoissance he did not see a single French-
man ; and therefore, as Lieutenant-Colonel Keating says,
** the necessity of any further debarkation was prevented."

Mons. St. Michiel, the military commandant of St. Paul's,
being now disposed to enter into negociations, the prelimi-
nary articles were drawn up, some of which it is necessary
for us to subjoin ; and that officer accompanying Lieutenant-
Colonel Keating on board Captain Rowley's ship, they were
there signed by all the parties, subject to confirmation or
rejection by the French commander-in-chief. General Des
Brusleys, whose chagrin at the success of his intrepid op-
ponents was so great, that he rashly put an end to his ex-
istence.

Articlet 0/ Jgreemer^, ifc.

" It is agreed, that in consequence of the town betni;; in possession of
the English, and the situation of the iohabitauts, a mutual suspension of
arms shall immediately take place * * *.

*' Art. II. Tliat public property of every description, such as guns,
stores, merchandise, and money, in the to\vu of St. Paul, shall remain in
the possession of the English.

" Art. III. That the limits of the towTi are considered to be the Canal
running near the Promenade, and from thence to the Carem.

" Art. VII. That nothing here above mentioned shall be considered
as preventing the English from attacking any other part of the island,
either by sea or land."

This latter article was " accepted, under the condition that
no disembarkation or movement of troops should take place
at St. Paul's within the limits above mentioned."

As by this agreement there was nothing to prevent the
British from pursuing offensive measures, provided no part
of their force marched from within the lines of St. Paul's, an
expedition was determined upon, having for its object the

8UPPL. PART II. L

146 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

destruction of the works at St. Luce, a sea-port town, about
12 or 13 miles to the westward ; and as it was necessary to
obtain good information respecting the military strength of
St. Gilles, the intended place of debarkation, Lieutenant-
Colonel Keating resolved to land at an intermediate village
for that purpose, taking with him a black pilot, named John-
son, to whom alone he communicated his intentions. This
man had been taken prisoner by Captain Willoughby, in
whose boat the Lieutenant-Colonel proceeded from St. Paul's.

On the 2d Oct., after dark, Lieutenant-Colonel Keating
asked for the Otter's yawl, into which he got, accompanied
by two or three of his own officers, and followed by Captain
Willoughby ; the latter impelled by curiosity to know how
the military commander was about to act, but not suspecting
that he intended any thing further than to reconnoitre the
coast, and select a proper place for landing the next day.
We have no doubt that our readers will consider the cap-
tain's subsequent situation as one of the most unpleasant he
could possibly have assigned himself.

At midnight, after rowing for some time with their oars
muffled, and every one perfectly silent, Johnson pointed to
a small open bay, and Lieutenant- Colonel Keating imme-
diately desired to be landed : — the pilot followed him, but
neither of the military officers did the same. Seeing this,
and feeling it a point of honor not to allow him to proceed
unattended. Captain Willoughby instantly jumped on shore ;
but with the exception of some orders given to the boat's
crew, to guard them against surprise, &c. not a word was
spoken by any individual.

Lieutenant- Colonel Keating, Captain Willoughby, and the
pilot, now walked into a middling sized village, inhabited by
blacks, sword in hand, and still maintaining the most pro-
found silence. At length perceiving a faint light, occasioned
by the embers of an almost extinguished fire, Johnson pointed
to, arid entered the hut where it was, asking in a gentle tone
for permission to light his segar, which request was granted
in a rough voice by a man half asleep, in one corner of the
cottage. Nearly two minutes elapsed before another wor<l

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 147

was spoken on either side, when Johnson began a slow con-
versation upon various subjects, that lasted ten minutes, dur-
ing which time, the British officers stood within the hut to
avoid detection, knowing that strong French night guards
were constantly prowling along shore, particularly in the
creeks and bays where a landing could be effected.

A pause now took place, and at the end of about a quarter of
an hour, Captain Willoughby heard Johnson whisper some-
thing to the owner of the hut, who immediately got up, dis-
covered his other visitors for the first time, and, followed by
his wife and children, walked quietly to the boat without any
interruption.

Captain Willoughby 's anxiety during the whole of this
curious iiegociation was nat\irally very great, knowing as he
did that a French guard could not be many hundred yards
distant, and bearing in mind that Johnson, whose family and
connections lived amongst the enemy, had neither deserted
to the British, nor yet committed himself so far as to en-
danger his own life, should he betray the trust then reposed in
him. From the time of their pulling in to land, until they were
again seated in the yawl, Lieutenant-Colonel Keating and
Captain Willoughby did not address a word to one another.

On the following day, in consequence of the information
obtained from the black villager, a descent was made at St.
Gilles ; but after capturing the battery there without resist-
ance, and storming a second in their advance upon St. Luce,
the British commanders found that the latter town was crowded
with regular troops and militia, and that, although it might
possibly have been carried by assault, even complete success
would not have justified them in attempting to do so, as they
must have sacrificed many lives in order to obtain their object.
Lieutenant-Colonel Keating and Captain Willoughby there-
fore reluctantly abandoned the attempt, and contented them-
selves with the destruction of the above mentioned batteries
(containing four long 10-pounders and 9 twelves), a guard-
house, and a new public building. We should here remark,
that the battery taken by storm was first entered by Captain
Willoughby, at the head of his gig's crew,

L 2

148 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

Of the naval detachment serving on shore under Captain
Willoughby, at the capture of St. Paul's, 7 were killed, and
18, including Lieutenant Edward Lloyd, of the Raisonable,
and 2 marine officers wounded. Not a single person was
hurt on board any one of the squadron. The total loss sus-
tained by the British has been stated at p. 627 of Vol. L

For his zealous, gallant, and active exertions during this
expedition. Captain Willoughby was immediately promoted
into la Nereide, the frigate mentioned at p. 140, mounting
26 long 12-pounders and 12 carronades (24-prs.), with an
established complement of 251 officers, men, and boys. His
commission, however, was not confirmed by the Admiralty
until Sept. 5, 1810 j on which day, the then recently ap-
pointed First Lord of the Admiralty addressed a note to him,
the contents of which we shall presently lay before our
readers. The foUowiuff is an extract of his commander>rin-
chief 's official letter reporting the capture of St. Paul's : —

" Captain Rowley and Lieutenant-Colonel Keating' alike express their
liigli approbation of the conduct of Captain Willoughby, of the Otter,
both by sea and land : his many wounds arc honorable testimonies of his
former services, and on uo occasion can he have distinguished himself be-
yond the present.

(Signed) " A. Bertie."

Towards the latter end of April, 1810, Captain Willoughby
discovered a ship in Black River, moored in such a manner
between the formidable land batteries that her stern was
alone visible. Supposing her to be a ship of war, he imme-
diately worked up towards the anchorage, and discharged se-
veral broadsides at her nearly within point-blank distance,
receiving in return a heavy fire of shot and shells from the
shore, many of the latter bursting near, and without la Ne-
reide. The enemy's ship was afterwards ascertained to be
I'Astree, a large 40 gun frigate, recently arrived from Cher-
bourg, with troops and supplies for the Isle of France.

On the 30th of the same month, a large merchant ship
was discovered at Jacotel, within pistol-shot of two batteries
commanding the entrance of that harbour ; and Captain Wil-
Imighby, having confidence in the ability, resolution, and

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 149

integrity of his black pilot, resolved to attempt cutting her
out ; although he considered the enterprise so desperate, and
so nearly a forlorn hope, that, for the sake of inspiring his
men with more than usual enthusiasm, which the occasion re-
quired, he headed them himself in his full dress uniform, a
circumstance which had more effect upon the gallant fellows
than if their number had been doubled.

About midnight, this heroic officer left la Nereide, tak-
ing with him his three Lieutenants (John Bum, Thomas
Lamb Polden Laugharne, and Henry Colins Deacon), two
marine officers, and 100 men; but owing to the intricacy of
the channel, it was full five hours before he reached the only
spot where ' a landing could be effected ; and even there the
surf was half filling tlie boats when the French national
schooner I'Estafette, of 4 brass guns and 15 meu, including
an enseigne de vaisseau, lying close to the shore, hailed, and
gave the alarm. Both batteries, assisted by two field pieces,
immediately played upon the place of debarkation, and the
British had no sooner formed on the beach than they found
themselves likewise exposed to a heavy fire of musketry.
Their subsequent proceedings are thus described by Captain
VVilloughby, in his official letter to the senior officer off
Port Louis, dated May 1, 1810: —

'* As every officer knew before we landed what was to be done after-
wards, the whole party was instantly upon the run, and in ten minutes in
possession of the nearest battery : havuig spiked the guns (2 long 12-
pounders), we moved towards the guard-house, protected by 2" (6-
pounders) " field-pieces, 40 troops of the line, 26 artillery, and a strong
party of militia, the whole comn)anded by Lieutenant Rockmun, of the
18th regiment. This detachment, while we were taking the battery, had
attacked and driven our boats into the centre of the harbour. Their
opening fire upon us was the signal for charging ; and, to my astonish-
ment, they instantly gave way with a speed we could not equal : their of-
ficer, who deserved to command better soldiers, was taken prisoner, with
his two field-pieces, which he was in the act of spiking.

" Hitherto twilight had hid our force : full day shewed to the enemy
the Nereide's small band of volunteers, consisting of 50 seamen, and the
same number of marines. The strongest battery was still in their pos-
session, to gain which it was necessary to pass the river Jacotel, at
the foot of a high bill covered with wood, and defended by the com^

150 • POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

mandant of the Savanne district, Colonel Etienne Bolger, 2 cannon, and a
strong body of militia. Owing to the late heavy rains, we found the river
swollen, and the current so strong that the tallest men could scarcely wade
across; the short were helped over, more than half of them upon the swim,
and the whole exposed to a heavy fire. This diflBculty was no sooner sur-
mounted, with the loss of the greatest part of our ammunition, than three
cheers warned the enemy to prepare for the bayonet. The jungle-hill, 2
guns *, battery, and colours, were carried in style ; and the comman-
dant taken prisoner j nor do I think an officer or man of the party, ex-
cept myself, had an anxious thought for the result of this unequal affair.

" Having spiked the guns and one mortar, burnt and destroyed their car-
riages, the works, magazines, &c., and embarked the field-pieces, toge-
ther with some naval and military stores, I was upon the point of return-
ing to the ship, when the strong party we had driven from the first bat-
tery and field-pieces, appeared to have recovered from their panic, and,
strongly reinforced by the militia and burgeois inhabitants of the island,
re-assembled upon our left.

"As the Nereide's attack of Jacotel tens the first ever made upon any
point of the Isle of France , and aware that its principal defence consisted
in its militia, I determined on running some risk in letting them know
what they had to expect if their island was ever attacked by a regular
British force f. Moving towards them, the enemy at the same time ad-
vancing within musket-shot, they opened their fire, and I instantly turned
direct into the country in an oblique line to them, to get into their rear,
and if so, not to leave to the defeated party the resource of a retreat \ :
at first they halted and remained upon their ground ; but the moment we
began to move in quick time, and they understood my intention, then they
again gave way, and beat us in fair running for more than a mile into the
country. On returning to our boats, we burnt the signal-house, flag-staff,
&c., a mile from the beach ; and having sounded the harbour, and done
all I wished, I again embarked and returned to the Noreide.

** I now beg you will allow me to express how highly I approve of the
gallant and regular conduct of every officer and man landed. Indeed, I feel
myself under the greatest obligation to the senior officers. Lieutenants Bum,
Laugharne, and Deacon ; also to Lieutenant Cox, commondmg the ma-

• Long \2-pounders.

+ An invasion of the Mauritius had often been attempted, particularly
by Boscawen, in 1748 — See Nav. Chron. vol. vii, p. 188 et seq.

t Mr. James erroneously states that " Captain ^Villoughby resolved to
get into the rear of his opponents in order to cut them off in the retreat to
which, he knew, they would agtun resort." See Nav. Hut. vol. v,
p. 391.

POST-CAPTAiN3 OF 1810. 15i

riaes, with Lieutenaat L>C3bri:$ay under him. I Lave to regret my return
of killed and tronnded •.

" The loss uf the enemy could not be ascertained, nor do I know the
force opposed to us ; but from every information gained, and from the
French officers themselves, they declare that 600 men can reinforce the
batteries by signal iu an hour. I remained on shore four hours» in a clear
morning, and the signal was flying the whole of the time."

On retuniing to la Nereide, Captain Willoughby took along
with him the French schooner, which the midshipman left in
liargc of the boats had secured just as she was sweeping to
^cu. The ship proved to be an American ; but although de-
tainuble for a breach of blockade, he did not think proper to
bring her out.

Spojiking of tliis heroic enterprise, Captain Matthew Flin-
ders, K. \., who was then a prisoner in the Isle of France,
says :—

" Captain Willoughby, of the Nerdde, made a descent upon the south
aide of the inland, at Port Jacotel, where hi cut out I'Cstafette packet-
buat, spiked the guns of the fort, carried off the officer, with two field-
pieces, and M. Eiicnne Bolgcr, commandant of the quarter of la Savanne
• • •. This tttUt/ing »j' the French territory produced a fulminating
proclamation from General De Caen, nearly similar in terms to that of
the Emperor Napoleon, after the descent at Walcheren • • • •. Three
days afterwards a flag of truce was sent out to negociate au exchange
for M. Bolger and the officer who had commanded the fort, for whom 20
soldiers of the 69th regiment were given -f-."

In addition to these soldiers, an equal number of British
subjects were exchanged for the crew of I'Estafette, on board
which vessel Captain Willoughby had found a mail for Bour-
bon, consisting of nearly 600 public and private letters, lay-
ing open for the first time the military resources, the condi-
tion of the mercantile interest, and the views of the inha-
bitants of both islands.

The restoration of the above-mentioned men, many of
whose fellow prisoners had been seduced into the French
service, was an immediate good result of the enterprise at
Jacotel. The benefits of a more permanent nature, arising

* One marine killed j Lieutenant Deacon, 4 aeamen, and 2 marines
wounded.

t See Flinders' Voyage to Terra Auttralit, vol. ii, p. 481.

152 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

from the gallant exploit of Captain Willoughby, were an in-
stance of the practicability, hitherto doubted, of making a
descent upon the Isle of France, and a proof that the prin-
cipal part of the troops in that colony consisted of militia,
previously considered equal to soldiers of the line, but whose
military character was now at once ruined. The following
is a copy of the note to which we alluded at p. 148 : —

" Mr. Yorke presents his conipliments to Captain Willoughby, and
has the pleasure to acquaint him, that in consequence of the gallantry he
has displayed at Jacotel, it is his intention to take a very early opportu-
nity of promoting him to the rank of Post-Captain.

" Admiralty, 5th Sept. 1810."

Had the former First Lord of the Admiralty bestowed upon
Captain Willoughby the reward to which he was juatly en-
titled for his admirable conduct at Black River, and during
the expedition against St. Paul's, he would have taken post-
rank from Nov. 10, 1809, the date of his appointment to la
Nereide, instead of Sept. 5, 1810, on which day Mr. Yorke,
with his usual liberal feeling, signed a commission for him.

On the 15th June, 1810, a serious accident happened to
the enterprising commander of la Nereide, then watering at
Isle Platte, a small island near the northern extremity of the
Mauritius.

Captain Willoughby was on shore, exercising his men at
small arms, when a musket in the hands of a marine bursty
inflicting upon him a dreadful wound, supposed at the time
to be mortal. His lower jaw on the right side was badly
fractured, and his neck so lacerated that the windpipe lay
bare. The surgeon feared that it would slough away with
the dressings, and of course end the life of his patient. For
three weeks he could not speak ; however, by skilful treat-
ment, aided by a temperate habit of body, the wound at
length healed j but not until a painful exfoliation of the jaw
had taken place ; and so great was the injury he received that
even now (1828), he cannot open his mouth to any consider-
able extent: — after eating very distressing feelings ensue,
and continue for some time.

Scarcely had Captain Willoughby recovered his speech.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 163

^vhen he volunteered to superintend the landing of a light
corps, about 550 strong, embarked at Rodriguez, and con-
veyed by la Nereide to the Riviere des Pluies, for the pur-
pose of assisting at the reduction of Bourbon, a service thus
described by Captain Josias Rowley, in an official letter to
Vice- Admiral Bertie : —

" H. M. S. Dmtllcea, road of St. Denis, hie Bourbon, July 11, ISIO.
" Sir, — I feel much satisfaction in announcing to you the surrender of
Isle Bourbon to his Majesty's arms.

" According to the communii-ation I had the honor to make to you on
the 14lh ult., I proceeded to the Isle of Rodriguez, where, having joined
the transports from India, and, in concert with Lieutenant-Colonel Keat-
ing, made the neeessary arrangements relative to the troops, and em-
b;i i the Boadicea m "^ <■ as many as they could stow, we

pr a the ships of tli on which I had left off the Isle of

France, under the orders of Captain Pym, blockading the three frigates of
th' Tiien in port, having previously detached a light transport to

a[ !i of our sailing. We joined them at the appointed rendez-

vous, between the isles of France ami Bourbon, on the 6th ; and having
embarked on board the firigates, the remainder of the European and part
of the native troops, made all sail iu the evening to>Tards the points of at>
tack, it being intended to push on shore the greatest part of our force
with all po>sible celerity, for which purpose each ship was provide<l with
additional boats taken from the transports. While the main force dre\?
the attention of the enemy off St. Marie, about two leagues to the east-
ward of St. Denis, Captain Pyro, with his usual skill and activity, ef-
fected a lauding about 2 P. M., on the 7th, from the Sirius, of all the
troops embarked on board of her, at a part of the beach called Grande
( "haloupe, six miles to the westward of the town, where the enemy were
totally unprepared for an attack. The Riviere des Pluies, about three
uiiUs to the east of St. Denis, was intended for the other point of descent.
The remaininij fri<ratcs, when it was supposed the first landing was secured,
immediately pushed for anchorage, and were followed by the transports
as they arrived : the weather, which till now had been favorable, began to
change : the beach on this side of the island being steep, and composed of
large shingles, is generally of difficult access ; but it was supposed on recon-
noitring it, that the landing was practicable ; and Captain IViUoughhy, who
undertook to superintend it, pushed off in a small prize schooner, captured
by the Nereide, with a party of seamen and a detachment of light troops'*
(under Lieutenant-Colonels Macleod and Campbell), " and, with some of
the boats which followed, effected a partial landing ; but the surf still in-
creasing, several were stove on the beach : it being, however, considered
by Lieutenant-Colonel Keating of much importance to effect the landing
at this point, a light transport was placed with great judgment by Lieu-

J54 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

tenant Edward Lloyd, of the Boa<licea, in order to act as a breakwater j
but tlie stern cable parting, she only formed a momentary cover for a few
boats ; and notwithstanding every exertion of the skill and experience of
Captain Willoughby, the officers, and seamen, it was found necessary, on
the close of the day, to relinquish any further attempts at this point for
the present. I am concerned to state, that two seamen (belonging to la
Nereide) and two soldiers, were drowned on this occasion; the party,
however, maintained their ground, aud took possession of the battery and
post of St. Marie during the night •.

The Magicienne, with two transports, was now detached to support the
brigade landed at Grande Chaloupe ; but Captain Curtis alone gained the
anchorage, and landed the troops embarked in her. In the morning of the
8th, the beach still appearing unfavorable, I weighed, at the desire of Lieu*
tenant-Colonel Keating, and proceeded to the anchorage off Grand Cha-
loupe, where we landed the remainder of the troops, guns, &c. ••••••;

at 10 P. M., I received a message from the Lieutenant-Colonel, that he
had entered into a capitulation with the enemy, and at his request landed
next morning, in company with Mr. Farquhar, appointed to the govern-
ment of the island, when we signed the terms of capitulation. • •••••.

To Captains Pym, Lambert, Curtis, and Willoughby, I feel particularly
indebted, for the prompt assistance and support I received from them on
every occasion ; and the actice exertions of the officers and men on this
short but fatiguing service, could not be surpassed. Lieutenant-Colonel
Keating has mentioned, in high terms of approhation, the conduct of Cap-
tain Willoughby, the officers and seamen employed on shore tpith the
troops; and Lieutenant Cottrell, with the brigade of marines under his
orders f.

Shortly after the surrender of Isle Bourbon, iUJ grenadiers
of the 33d and 69th regiments, and J 2 artillery-men, were
embarked on board la Nereide, for the purpose of co-operat
ing with Captain Willoughby in an attack upon I'lsle de la
Passe, situated about 4 miles from Port Sud-Est, in the
Isle of France, and com'nanding the narrow and intricate
entrance to that harbour. ITie main object of this enterprise

• L'Estafette, aud the whole of la Nereide's boats, were dashed to pieces.
The schooner, steered by Captain Willoughby, with the dressings still on
his wound, was so crowded with troops, that Lieutenant-Colonel Macleod
and many of his men were nearly drowned before they could gain the
shore.

t The enemy's regular force amounted to only 676 rank and file ; but he
had an organized militia force of 2717 men. The British had 1800 Euro-
pean and 1860 native troops, of whom 8 were killed and 78 wounded.

POST-CAPTAINS OV 1810. MS

was to enaUe Captain Willoughby to land in the vicinity of
Grand Port, to open a communication^ and commence nego-
ciating with some of the principal inhabitants of that town ;
and at the same time to distribute among tlie islanders in
general numerous copies of a proclamation addressed to them
by the governor of Bourbon, " holding out to them not only
the advantages they had enjoyed under the protection of
France, but the pre-eminent advantages of British colonies—-
free trade, and the fullest protection to the produce of the
island in the markets of (ireat Britain *," provided, when the
British came to conquer it, they otfered no resistance : in
short, as the principal strength of the Isle of France, after its
forts should be carried, would consist of the unembodied mi-
litia, the grand object was, by sapping their integrity, to
render them comparatively powerless ; which service Captain
Willoughby efftctuaUy performed.

On the lOth Aug., la Nereide arrived off Port Sud-Est, in
company with the Sirius and Staunch ; the latter a gun-brig,
commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Street,

Towards the evening, the boats of the two frigates, con-
taining about 400 seamen, marines, and soldiers, under the
command of Captain Willoughby, were taken in tow by the
Staunch, and proceeded to attack I'lsle de la Passe ; but the
night becoming very dark, and the weather extremely tempes-
tuous, so as to occasion several of them to run foul of each
other, and some to get stove, la Nereide's black pilot began
to ^ter, and at length declared, that it was impossible to
enter the channel under such disadvantageous circumstances,

• Sir Robert T. Farquhar's speech in the House of Commons, June 3,
1825, when supporting a proposition then suggested and carried in favor of
the trade of Mauritius ; on which occasion. Captain Willoughby's name was
introduced by that gentleman in the following terms : —

" The House will excuse ray intruding myself on its attention, as I na-
turally feel a strong interest in the prosperity of a colony whose affairs I so
long administered. In 1810, I proceeded with the expedition to the cap-
ture of the Isle of Bourbon, accompanied by that meritorious oflScer, Cap-
tain Willoughby, who has shed his blood so often in the service of the
country, and who distributed the proclamations holding out, &c., &c, &c."
See Hansard's Parliamentary Debates, new series. Vol. 13, p. 1041, et seq.

156 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

Captain Willoughby oiFered him 1000 dollars, if he would
j)ersevere and carry the boats in , but still he persisted in his
declaration of the impractibility of the undertaking, and it
was therefore reluctantly abandoned. The manner in which
risle de la Passe was ultimately taken will be seen by refer-
ence to our memoir of Captain Henry Ducie Chads, C. B.

After obtaining possession of that island, the senior officer
of the blockading squadron returned to his station off Port
Louis, leaving Captain Willoughby to pave the way for ** the
most iinjjorfanf of all our colonial conquests since the com-
mencement of the ivar *,"

Between the 10th and I4th Aug., reinforcements were
marched from various parts of the Mauritius to Grande Porte ;
the militia were called out, and the second in command of
the island. General Van de Masson, was sent from head-
quarters to oppose Captain Willoughby. This French officer
had upon his line of defence, extending from Grand Port to
Grand Riviere, at least 2200 men, including cavalry, pro-
tected by Fort du Diable, several other military posts, and
a brigade of artillery.

Notwithstanding this immense disparity of force, and his
having no field-officer of the army to confer with, la Nereide's
intrepid commander resolved to persevere, though fully sen-
sible that, if taken prisoner when in the act of negociating
with the inhabitants, he would suffer the same fate as Major
Andr^, in the first American war f. The nature of the ser-
vice in which he was thus voluntarily engaged will be seen by
his official letter to Captain Pym, dated Aug. 19, 1810 : —

" In obedience to your order of the 15th instant, (received the ICth) to
remain at the anchorage of I'lsle de la Passe for it3 protection, and to use
my own discretion in landing upon the main, for the distribution of the
proclamations given to me by his Excellency the Governor of Bourbon,
and intended for tl»e inhabitants of the Isle of France, as I felt they were of
the utmost consequence to our future operations against the island, I de-
termined, after well reconnoitreing with Lieutenant Davis of the Madras
engineers, to land and attack their principal post of Point du Diable, the

♦ Speech of the member for Bedford, in the House of CommoDS, Feb.
13,1811.

t See Dodsley'B Annual Register for the year 1781, pp.39— 46.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 15/

fort that commaoded the N. B. passa^ into Grand Port ; and haringupon
the 1 7th instant, embarked 50 men of the 33d and 69th regiments, and their
respective officers, an officerand 12 artillery-meu, 40 men from the Staunch,
and 100 men from la Nercide (50 marines and the same number of seamen,
the whole of the different parties volunteers}, I left the ship at one a. m."
(without a single field-piece), "and landed before day-light at the Canaille
de Bois, and after a march of six miles reached the point, and carried the
works without the loss of a roan : the commanding officer and three men
on the side of the enemy were killed, and three gunners taken prisnncrs.
Having halted three hours, spiked eight 24-pounders, and two 13-inch
mortam, l)urut the carriages, blown op the magazines, and embarked a 13-
inch brass mortar in a new praam, well calculated for carrying troops or
guns over flats, 1 moved on to the old town of Grand Port, a distance of
twelve miles, leaving in the houses and villages we passed, the proclama-
tions addressed to the inhabitants. On the whole of our march, we were
attended by three of the Nereide's and Staunch's boats, with guns mounted,
commanded by Lieutenant Deacon ; and from the nature of the ground,
they 80 completely cominatided our road, that scarcely an enemy could
shew himself; a strong party who were adrandttg to attack us were put to
the rout by their fire, and six killed and wounded. General Van de
Masson, the second in command of the island, who had arrived with a
strong reinforcement upon the 14th instant, and commanded this party,
was reconnoitreing us the whole of the day, retiring as we advanced. At
smi-set, Iiaving succeeded in every view I had for landing, and gained from
some of the most respectable inhabitants and well-wishers to the English,
the most satisfactory in' ' i. I returned on board; but wishing to

know what effect the pr» s* would have upon the inhabitants, I

landed with the same force yesterday morning, taking the Staunch in with
me to support us, and cover our retreat if necessary. I pushed on, de-
stroyed the signal-house, staffs, &c., of Grande Rivi«*re, and perceived the
< rir iiy had 7Wor 800 men in or near the battery, but upon the opposite
>iia uf the river: I then returned to Point du Diable, and continued there
three hours, blowing up the remainder of the works; after which I moved
on to Canaille de Bois, and embarked at sun-set, leaving the Staunch to
command and protect the harbour. The inhabitants appeared much tran-
quillized and satisfied with our conduct on shore, and the proclamation.
The loss of the enemy in the two days was 8 men killed, the number of
wounded not known : mine as per margin.'*

During the whole of this march of nearly 22 miles, in an
enemy's territory, not one of Captain Willoughby's party was
killed, and only two were wounded. This forbearance on the

• Most of which were actually backed with Captain fFiUoughby^s cotn-
plimentt, as an indirect answer to the proclamation issued by De Caea
after the attack of Jacotel. — See p. 151.

158 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

part of the islanders was, no doubt, occasioned by the orderly
manner in which the seamen, marines, and soldiers conducted
themselves, and by the strict attention they paid to their
leader's injunctions, — " to abstain from giving offence to the
inhabitants by pilfering the slightest article of their property."
Even the sugar and coffee, laid aside for exportation, and
usually considered as legitimate objects of seizure, remained
untouched ; and the invaders, when they quitted the shore
for their ship, left behind them a high character, not merely
for gallantry, but for a rigid adherence to promises. Had
Captain Willoughby burnt the commercial property within
his reach, or entered into terms for its embarkation, his dash-
ing exploit would probably have been gazetted ; but, for the
good of his country, he preferred relinquishing prese7it fame,
and all pecuniary benefit. He well knew that the whole of
the British forces collected at Bourbon, were anxiously wait-
ing the result of his daring enterprise ; — Governor Farquhar
had informed him, that the distribution of the printed procla-
mations would be of the utmost importance to the success of
the meditated operations against the Isle of France ; — he had
promised his Excellency that he would execute his wishes ; —
and for the honor of the navy he persevered under circum-
stances of difficulty and danger, which every one but himself
considered insurmountable. This esprit de corps has been
the main-spring of all his actions. — Honor he has sought on
every occasion — in the present instance prize money was
quite out of the question. Had the latter been his principal
object in landing at Point du Diable, the Mauritius would not
have been so easily subdued when attacked by the British in
December 1810.

" On the 19th and 20th August, CaptJiin Willoughby again
landed ; and, as there were no more batteries in that quarter
to attack and destroy, and no opposition was offered to him
by either the regular troops in the vicinity, or by the inha-
bitants among whom, it may be said, he was sojourning, the
trip on shore was considered in the light of a pleasant excur-
sion, rather than of a forced irruption into an enemy's
territory ; when, at about 10 A. M. on the last-named day,
an event occurred which gave a complete change to the aspect

P08T-CAPTAIMS OF 1810. 159

of affairs, and placed the whole party, who had hitherto con-
sidered themselves so secure, in the utmost jeopardy*."

This alarm was caused by the discovery of five strange ships
to windward, steering under easy sail for the grand entrance to
Port Sud-Est. Leaving the other boats to get up in the best
manner they could, Captain Willoughby hastened away from
the shore in his gig, and after a hard pull, of nearly 5 miles di-
rectly to windward, arrived, about noon, on board la Nereide,
then lying in a small bight of deep water just at the back of
risle de la Passe ; which anchorage was afterwards occupied
by Captain Lambert, of the Iphigenia, who found himself ob-
liged to surrender both his ship and the island, from their
almost defenceless state, and great scarcity of provisions,
water, &c. Tlie Staunch had previously been sent by Cap-
tain Willoughby to join the squadron off Port Louis.

" At 12," lays Captain Willotighby, " I clearly made them out to be
the long^ expected enemy's squadroD, consisting of the Bellone, Miuerve,
and Victor corvette, with two larg;e ladiatuen in company, their prizes*
which I found afterwards to be the Ceylon and Windham. As I knew the
French force in Port Louis consisted of three heavy frigates and a fine cor-
vette ready for sea, and if the former squadron joined them, they would be
far too strong for the Sirius, Iphigenia, and Maniciennc, then blockading
that port and Black River, though my anchorage was only supported by
four guns (two of those upon open platforms, and only meant to protect
the landing place against boats,) I felt it my duty to \ue every means to
draw the enemy into Grand I'urt ; and I'Isle de la Passe answering their
private signals, together with our French colours, so completely deceived
them, that at 1 P. M. the Victor le<l inf. As I had given the most posi-
tive orders that the fire of the island was to be entirely guided by the
manceuvres of the Nereide, the \'lclor passed the sea-battery, and when
within pistol-shot of us, our union wa^ hoisted, and our fire opened. She
was so cut up, that she struck her colours, and hailed us to cease firing.
As she anchored, in obedience to my orders, I did so, and directed my
whole attention to the Miuerve, who, following close to the Victor, and
within the same distance, received and returned our fire : she then ordered

* James, v. 405 et seq.

f The Bellone and Minerve were 24-pounder frigates, each mounting 44
guns. Captain Willoughby obtained the information of the enemy's ships
at Port Louis being ready for sea from Captain Lambert, of the Iphigenia,
who had, a day or two before, approached within signal distance of la
Nereide, and telegraphed to that eflfect.

160 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

the corvette to cut and follow her, which I had the mortification of seeinfif
instantly done, thoug^h my first Lieutenant was alongside of her to take
possession. The two Indiamen attempted to haul out; the Windham sue"
ceeded, sailed to the southward, and was captured next morning by the
Sirius * ; the Ceylon was obliged to bear up and pass our fire ; the Bellone
following her in (.going 7 knots), steered direct for our bow, with every de-
monstration of boarding ; but perceiving we were ready, had just time to
alter her determination, sweeping our yard-arms, and giving us her
broadside.

" The enemy's squadron must have sufiFered : our foremast is badly
wounded, driver-boom cut in two, spars much cut, also lower rigging, and
fore and main-stays : my killed and wounded as per niarginf. 1 beg leave
to express how zealously I was seconded by ('aptain Todd, commanding
upon the island, and the whole of the party under his command ; but owing
to five guns in the sea-battery, and one in the rear, dismounting the first
fire, and a heavy explosion of nearly KX) cartridges blowing up 16 men,
put it out of his power to give that support he wished ^.

" Though not an officer or man in the Nerdde but knew their fiate if the
enemy had anchored and engaged us, yet more cheerful zeal could not be
displayed."

The situation of la Nereide's boats, with a great proportion
of her crew in thera, besides soldiers and artillery-men, ap-
pears to have been a very critical one, as they were succes-
sively passed by the Minerve, Ceylon, and Victor, the former
ship running so close to them that they were obliged to lay
in their oars, yet not a word was spoken by the enemy ; an
enigma not to be explained, especially when it is considered
how promptly the French captain, Mons. liouvet, had just
before hailed the Victor, and desired her to follow him. Had
he given the same orders to the boats, they must have obeyed ;
otherwise, witli the velocity with which they were sailing,
the Ceylon and Victor could with ease have run them down r
he did not do so, and they therefore reached their ship in
safety, just as the Bellone had made sail for the passage.

A contemporary notices another circumstance, which Cap-
tain Willoughby's modesty would not allow him to mention.

• See Commander John Wvatt Watlino.
t 3 slain, 1 woimdcd.
X Captain Todd, of the C)9t\\ regiment, was the senior officer of the mili-
tary detachment serving under Captain Willoughby's orders. Of the mea
blown up, 3 were killed, and all the remainder severely burnt.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 161

At the moiueut when the boats were pulling up the narrow
channel, with the pri«e praam in tow, and their capture
appeared inevitable, it was observed that the French com-
modore, M. Duperrd, instead of following la Minerve, &c.,
had hauled off on the larboard tack, as if intending to seek
another port, in company with the Windham. Although in
only a 12-pounder frigate, with so many of his men absent.
Captain Willoughby thought his ship a match for the Mi-
nerve, Victor, and Ceylon, particularly if he embarked the 34
serviceable soldiers remaining upon I'lsle de la Passe ; but
just as he was about to slip his cable for the purpose of at-
tacking them, his sails already loose, la Bellone bore up for
the harbour, thereby compelling him to abandon his design,
and prepare to receive a fresh antagonist •.

At 4 P. M., Captain Willoughby sent Lieutenant Deacon,
in the launch, with a note for the senior ofl&cer off Port Louis,
or any other captain of the blockading squadron he could
first meet with, announcing the arrival of the enemy, and
volunteering, if reinforced by a single frigate, to lead in and
attack them ; as he knew the passage well, and had sounded
every part of it.

At 4-30 P. M., the cutter, with Mr. William Weiss, was
sent upon the same errand ; but at sun-set she returned, not
having been able to pull ahead on account of the fresh breeze
and rough sea. It may naturally be asked, why Captain
Willoughby, considering how exposed he lay to an attack by
two heavy French frigates and a corvette, did not get under
weigh and proceed to join the Sirius, instead of lessening his
means of defence, by thus despatching two oiSicers and as
many boats' crews. The truth is, that as he had been ordered
toprotectrisledelaPasse,he was resolved to defend that newly
acquired post as long as he was able ; and at the same time, his
anxiety for the safety of the British frigates off Port Louis,
determined him rather to subject himself to the imputation
of rashness, than endanger them by allowing Mons. Duperr^
to come out unopposed, and form a junction with the other
French squadron, which would doubtless be ready to start

• James, t. 408.
8UPPL. PART II. M

162 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

from that harbour the moment his approach was announced.
Captain Willoughby, surely, had a right to anticipate, that
one or the other of his boats would succeed in reaching either
the Sirius, Iphigenia, or Magicienne, before the enemy
could find time to send a reinforcement of men overland to
Duperr^ ; and he felt confident^ 'rom the enthusiasm of every
one on board la Nereide, that the co-operation of a single
frigate would have secured a most brilliant victory. The
disasters that afterwards befel the Sirius, on two successive
days, and which we shall presently have occasion to notice,
may therefore be deemed truly unfortunate.

On the following day, to prove to Commodore Duperr^ that
the Victor had struck her colours, to impress upon him an
idea of the confidence with which la Nereide maintained her
position, and to reconnoitre and obtain a correct knowledge
of that taken up by the enemy, Captain Willoughby sent in a
flag of truce, with a letter, of which the following is a copy :

" Sir, — Trusting to the honor of the Frencli flag, and the laws of war, I
demand that the Victor corvette shall be sriven up to my disposal, in coO'-
sequence of having yesterday struck her colours to his Majesty's ship under
my command ; hailed she had done so, and anchored, in obeiUence to my
orders, close to the Nereide.

" Lieutenants Bum and Pye, whom I send with this letter, were in a
boat alongside the Victor, to take possession of her, \vhen she cut and
followed the Minerve, being hailed and ordered to do so by her. I have
the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " N. J. Willoughby."

** To Commodore Duperrd**

On the 22d August, Captain Willoughby received just such
an answer as he expected the enemy to return : —

(Copy.)

" Sir, — In answer to the letter you did me the honor of writing, I am
commanded by his Excellency the commander-in-chief. General De Caen,
to say that he objects to your extraordinary demand. I have the honor to
be, &c.

(Signed) " Duperrb."

When it is remembered that la Nereide mounted only 12-
pounders on the main-deck, that nearly 100 seamen and
marines were absent in her boats, and that Captain Wil-
loughby was not chased and obliged to fight in his own

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. 16S

defence, but that he sought tlie above conflict with his usual
ardour, and made use of a justifiable ruse de guerre to accom-
plish his wishes, we doubt not that it will be considered one
of the most heroic, if not the most unequal, of all the frigate
actions fought during the late war. We shall merely add,
that he thereby saved the '^:lash frigates off Port Louis, from
the consequences of an attack which the enemy would
doubtless have made upon them with his united force, had M.
Duperre proceeded thither instead of suffering himself to be
decoyed into the harbour of Grand Port j and that by deter-
ring the Windham from following her consorts, he rendered
a most important service to his country, as the masts and
stores of that ship enabled Captain llowley to re-equip the
Africaine frigate, at a most critical moment, and by doing so,
to regain our naval superiority in the Indian ocean*. The
manner in which that ascendancy was for a short time lost by
the British is thus described in an official letter from Captain
Pym to Captain Rowley :

* See Vol. I. note at p. 631. N. B. It will be >eeD by the extract 9t
Captain Willoughby's official report, and the note f, at p. lo9, that the
enemy's united force would have been five heavy frigates and two corvette* ^
whereas the Sinus, Iphii^enia, and Magidenne, were only rated at 3$
guns each ; and the latter armed in a similar manner to la Nereide. la
the said note we observe a typographical error, — la Bellone and Minerve
were both 18-pounder frigates — the latter, however, wa« pierced for 52
guns. Since the preceding sheet was printed, it has been suggested to us,
that probably Captain Bouvet, on finding VU\e de la Passe in the posses-
sion of the British, imagined that the districts of Savanne and Grand Port
were likewise held by them, in which case his ultimate capture was inevi-
table ; it being impossible for him to repass la Nereide, with the wind
then blowing. To this erroneous impression on Mons. Bouvet's mind,
the officers and men in the boats of la Nereide were, perhaps, indebted for
their safety. It is also probable that the French captain imagined, as the
boats were filled with marines and soldiers, that they belonged to the shore,
and not to the British frigate.

The gentleman from whom we received the above hint acquaints us, that
la Bellone's best bower anchor was cut away from the bow by la Nereide's
shot, but owing to the cable being stoppered in board, it did not take the
ground — a circumstance much to be regretted ; for had the anchor gone to
the bottom, the ship in roundiog to, must inevitably have got od shore, and
would consequently have lain with her head exposed to la Nereide's raking
broadside.

M 2

164 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

• " L'Isle de la Passe, August 26, 1810.

" Sir, — By my last you were informed of my intention to
attack the frigates, corvette, and Indiaman in this port.

" Magicienne having joined just as the re-captured ship
was about to make sail, I sent Captain Lambert orders to
bring her and the gun-brig with all despatch off I'lsle de la
Passe J and that the enemy in Port Louis should not be
alarmed, I made all sail round the south side, and although
blowing very hard, reached I'lsle de la Passe next day. At
noon, Nereide made signal * ready for action ;' I then
closed, and from the situation of the enemy, decided on an
immediate attack ; and when her master came on board as
pilot, made the signal to weigh, but when within about a
quarter of an hour's run of the enemy, he unfortunately put
me on the edge of the inner narrow passage. We did not
get off, and that with wonderful exertion, until 8 o'clock next
morning. At noon on the 23d, the Iphigenia and Magicienne
came in sight ; the enemy having moved further in, and
making several batteries, as also manning the East India ship,
and taking many men on board the frigates, I called them to
assist in the attack : having all the captains and the pilot on
board, and being assured we were past all danger, and could
run direct for the enemy's line, we got under weigh (at 4-40
P. M.) and pushed for our stations, viz. Sirius alongside
Bellone, Nereide between her and the Victor, Iphigenia along-
side Minerve, and Magicienne between her and the East India
ship *. Just as their shot began to pass over us, sad to say,
Sirius grounded on a small bank, not known ; Captain Lam-
bert gained his post, and had hardly given the third broad-
side before his opponent cut her cable f. Magicienne, close
to Iphigenia, ran on a bank, which prevented her bringing

• La Minerve, the enemy's van ship, was stationed just behind a patch
of coral ; next to her was the Ceylon, then la Bellone, and lastly le Victor,
with her stern close to the reef that skirts the harbour.

t Commodore Duperr6 says, that the springs of la Minerve and the
Ceylon were shot away by the first broadside, and that those ships conse-
quently cast to leeward and ran aground. See Gaxette des Itlet de France
et BonajHirte, 26(h Sept. 1810.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 166

more than six guns to bear * j poor Nereide nearly gained
her post, and did in the most gallant manner maintain that
and the one intended for SiritiSt until Bellone cut. All the
enemy's ships being on shore, and finding Siriiis could not
get off, the whole of them opened their fire on Nereide ; but
7iotipithstanding thi<i unequal contest, and being aground,
she did not cease ^firing until 10 o'clock, and sorry am I to
say, that the captain, every officer, and man on board, are
killed or wounded f,

" Captain Lambert would have immediately run down with
the enemy, but there was a shoal a very little distance from,
and between him and them ; he did all that could be done,
by keeping up a hea^'y, although distant fire ; nothing was
wanting f to make a most complete victory, but one of the
other frigates to close with la Bellone.

" I must now inform you, that the moment we took the
ground, every possible exertion was made to get the ship off, by
carrying out stream and kedge anchors ; but both these came
home together. 1 then got a whole bower cable and anchor
hauled out (not a common exertion for a frigate), as also the
stream ; but although heaving the one with the capstan, and
the other with purchase on purchase, we could not move her
one inch, from the nature of the ground, and the very heavy
squalls then blowing. We continued lightening every thing
from forward, and made many severe but finiitless attempts to
heave the ship off before day-light, all, however, to no effect.
At that time the Nereide was a perfect wreck, Magicieime in
as bad a situation as Sirius,no possibility of Iphigenia closing
with the enemy, and thk whole of the latter on shore
IN A HEAP. We then tried the last resource, by warping the
Iphigenia to heave us off, but could not get her in a proper
situation until the 25th in the forenoon.

" I now had a survey by the captains, masters, and carpen-

• The three foremost on each side.
f La Nereide did not take the ^ound until some hours after la Bellone
and le Victor had cut, in order to get further from her fire ; and then only
in ' onsequence of her best bower cable and the spring being shot a^vajr.
Sei p. 167.

166 t»OST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

ters, in which they agreed it was impossible to get the ship
off : having the same report yesterday from Captain Curtis,
and that his men were falling fast, 1 ordered Magicienne to
be abandoned and burnt ; and as the enemy's frigates cannot
get off'y I thought it most prudent to preserve Tlsle de la
Passe, by warping Iphigenia for its support ; and having no
prospect of any other immediate protection, I considered it
most advisable to quit my own ship, then within shot of all
the enemy* s posts and squadron, and only able to return their
fire from two guns*. After seeing every man safe from Sirius,
Lieutenant Watling and myself set her on fire ; and, 1 trust.
Sir, although my enterprise has been truly unfortunate, that
no possible blame can be attached to any one : never did
captains, officers, and men, go into action with a greater cer-
tainty of victory ; and, / do aver, that if I could have got
alongside of Belloney all the enemy's ships would have been
in our possession in less tlian half an hour. My ship being
burnt, I have given up the command to Captain Lambert, and
have recommended his supporting and protecting this island
with Iphigenia, and the ships' companies of Sirius and Magi-
cienne. Provisions and water will immediately be wanted.
" I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) " S. Pym/*

We have already stated that Captain Lambert was obliged
to capitulate to the Port Louis squadron, on the 28th of the
same monthf : la Nereide's glorious defence is thus described
by one of Captain Willoughby's commissioned ofl&cers, in a
letter to the author :

** The French force in India was now divided, and it was cousidered ex-
pedient instantly to make an attack, as the enemy lay exposed, except from
the difficulties of the navigation ; they were moored, with springs on their
cables, in the form of a crescent, and supported by two flanking batteries.

* The Magicienne's total loss amounted to 8 killed and 20 wounded. La
Bellone hove herself off on the 26th Aug., and the other French ships were
also afloat by noon on the 27th. The Sirius, if actually, " within shot of
all the enemy's posts and squadron," was wonderfully fortunate, for she had
not an officer or man hurt from the beginning to the end of the business.

+ See Vol. II. Part II. p. 718 ; and at p. 717 make the following cor-
rection '.—for used every effort to prevent the French squadron from enter-
ing the harbour, read succeeded in decoying the enemy into the port.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. 167

" La Nereide had the honoarable station asdigned her of leading in, which
was done in the most masterly style, receiving the enemy's raking fire in
silence, until we had t;tlien our station on the how of the French commodore,
and quarter of the corvette,tf rMfn half-putoi-shot, whtn we opened an effective
fire, and wiih the greatest confidence of succesn, aujiwmlff MMgfor the
*tipp0rt mad tututanceo/the rat of our iquadron^ vrhow^nawftn^td had
fViNMided in rotalioii, iemiutr tu in tkiimmt tla/Mrtttmlmttiom, e»p9tedUt tk«
verp mneqtuil mmd iettnetive fire of the wkoU Premek afrndrM*. The Siritu
had grounded nforfy ami of gunshot, and the other ships were in a position
which would allow very few of their guns to bear : had any of our squadron
floate<l, and come to our assistance, the contest most very soon have termi-
nated in our favour. We aftenvards learned that the decks of our principal
opponent bad been thrice cleared, and that the French, from Port Louis, re-
fusing to go on board, the ship bad been partly re-manned by Irish traitors,
previously taken by the eoeaiy, and Tmlirtrt iato their servicef. We continu-
ed this unequal conflict until mtmrjf dim btard were killed or wounded : Cap-
tain Wil!ought>y lost an eye', and the sight of the other was much impaired ;
the first Lieutenant was killed ; and the second wounded in the throat,
breast, legs, and anus. Flodinff there was no poasibility of obtaining any
relief, we were under the painful necessity of striking, which the eueiny
did not regard, but continued firing through and through us the whole of
the night, during which we were in momentary expectation of being blown
up by their red-hot shot, which more than once set us on fire : tre teere also
in imminent danger of sinking ; but the latter disaster was fortunately pre
vented by the cablfls and spriug benf shot away, and the ship running
aground. We wen then in the moat dreadful state of carnage ever wit-
nessed— 02 dead bodies Ijfing on the deck, many of the crew dying, and
most of the remainder severely teouoded : words cannot express the horrors
of the scene. I have only to add, that this action was the most severe ever
recorded in history, and that it was prolonged in the full hope and expec-
tation, that some of the squadron would be able to come to our assistance ;
for had me sooner yieided, eU chance ofmccess mmld then have l>e«n de'
stroyed, oteing to the ur\fortunate situation of our consorts."

The disastrous events of Aug. 22 and 23, and the noble
conduct of Captain Willoughby on the latter day, are still
more minutely described by Mr. James, who has, however,
made several material mistakes, which it is now our business
to correct. He says : —

* Captain Pym's letter proves that, although the Iphigenia did not
actually get aground, she was unable to give la Nereide any effectual
support : another officer informs us, that when bringing np, la Nereide's
flyiug jib-boom scarcely cleared la Bellone ! !

t See p. 17d> last par. of the text.

168 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

" The Sirius picked up the Nereide's boat with Lieutenant Deacon on
board ; and on the 22d, at 1 1-1(> A. M., arrived oflFthe island, and exchanged
numbers with the Nereide, still at anchor within it ; and who immediately
hoisted the signals ' ready for action,' ' enemy of inferior force.' Having,
from the situation of the French squadron, decided on an immediate at'
tack. Captain Pym made the signal for the master of the Nereide. Mr.
Robert Lesby accordingly went on board the Sirius, to conduct her, as he
supposed, to the anchorage at the back of the island. The Sirius now
made all sail, with the usual E. S. E. or trade wind, and bore up for the
passage; and at 2-40 P. M., agreeably to a signal to that effect from the
Sirius, the Nereide got under weigh, and, under her staysails only, stood
after her consort down the channel to Grand Port. At 4 P. M., having
still the Nereide's master on board, but not her black pilot, who was the
only person that knew the harbour, the Sirius unfortunately groimded
upon a point of the shoal on the larboard side of the channel ; and, having
run down with her square-sails set, and consequently with a great deal of
way upon her, the ship was forced a considerable distance on the bank.
The Nereide immediately brought up, and Captain Willoughby went on
board the Sirius, to assist in getting her afloat *."

Instead of la Nereide following the Sirius, she preceded
her ; and Captain Willoughby, being personally well ac-
quainted with Port S. E., would have led Captain Pym safely
alongside the enemy, had not the latter officer carried so
much sail that he was obliged to yaw about, in order to avoid
running aboard la Nereide — it was in consequence of his
being under this necessity, that the Sirius grounded. Mr.
James should have added, that the master of la Nereide knew
less of Port S. E. than any other officer belonging to her, as
he was always left in the command of the ship, whilst Cap-
tain Willoughby and his Lieutenants were either on shore
or employed in sounding the harbour : — in fact, Mr. Lesby
had never before been so far in as the spot where the Sirius
grounded on the 22d August.

" At 10 A. M., Aug. 23, the Iphigenia and Magicienne were seen beat-
ing up for Isle de la Passe ; and Captain Willoughby immediately sent his
master, who had returned from the Sirius, to conduct them to the anchor-i
age. ♦ • • •. At 4-40 P. M., by signal from the Sirius, the four frigates
got under way ; and, preceded by the Nereide with her black pilot oil
board, stood down the channel to Grand Port. ••••••.

• Nav.Hitt. V, p.il3.

POST.CAPTAINS OF 1810. " 169

" The Ncreide, still wilh Hay-tniU only, cleared the tortuous channel,
and stood along the edge of the reef that skirts the harbour directly for the
rearmost French ship. The Sirius, about a quarter of an hour or 20 mi-
nutes after she had weighed, keeping this time too much on the starboard
hand, touched the ground. Very shoal water appearing ahead, the best
bower anchor was let go ; but the velocity of the ship was so great, as to
run the cable out in spite of stoppers and every other effort to check her
u'ay. The small-bower was then let go, but to no purpose, the ship conti-
nuing to tear both cables out with great rapidity ; and unfortunately, the
helm having been put a-port, the ship struck on a coral reef, which, a
minute or two before, must have been on her starboard bow. Just as the
"^ir: IS had taken the ground, the French ships began firing, and their shot
jia-fi.'d over the Nereide *.

" With the Sirius as a beacon, the Magicienne and Iphigenia succes-
sively cleared the channel; but, at 6-15 P. M., while steering for her
station, and of course wide of the track in which the Nereide, with the
only pilot in the squadron was steering, the Magicienne grounded on a
bank, in such a position, that only three of her foremost guns on each
deck could bear upon the enemy ; from whom she was then distant about
'1^0 yards. Seeing what had befallen Um Magicienne, the Iphlgeuia, who
was r lose in her rear, dropped her ttretm anchor, and came to by the
stern in six fathoms : she then let go the best bower umler foot, thereby
bringing her starboard broadside to bear upon the Minerve ; into whom, at
a pistul-shot distance, the Iphigenia immediately poured a heavy and de-
structive fire. By this time the Nereide was also in hot action, and to her
we must DOW attend.

" Just as, regardless of the raking fire opened upon the Nereide in her
approach, he was about to take up his allotted position on the bow of the
Victor, Captain ^^'illoughby saw what had befallen the Sirius ; and, with
characteristic gallantry, steereil for, and in his 12-poun(ler frigate anchored
upon the beam of the i3eUons, at the distance of less than 200 yards. Be-
tween these two ill-matched ships, at about 5-15 P. M., a furious cannonade
comraencetl ; the Victor, from her slanting position on the Nereide's
quarter, being also enable<l to take an occasional part in it. At 6-15, after
having received an occasional fire from the bow guns of the Magicienne,
and the quarter guns of the Iphigenia, the Ceylon hauled down her colours,
and Captain Lambert immediately hailed the Magicienne to take posses-
sion : at that instant the Ceylon was seen with her top-s^ls set, numing

* Although the master of the Sirius was unacquainted with the har-
bour, he of course attended to the steering of the ship, and took particular
notice of every cast of the lead. From two charts drawn by Mr. Lesby,
and now lying before us, we find that the soundings in la Nereide's track
were very regular ; the d^th of water gradually decreasing from 1 6 to 5
fiithoms.

170 FOST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

on shore. At 6-30, the Minerve, having had her cable shot away, made
sail after the Ceylon. Both these ships grounded near the Bellone ; but
the Ceylon first ran foul of the latter, and compelled her to cut and run
aground also : the Bellone, however, lay in such a position that her broad-
side still bore on the Nereide*."

La Bellone did not cut in consequence of the Ceylon running
foul of her ; but voluntarily ^ and that for the express purpose
of getting further from la Nereide' s ^re, as is implied in
Captain Pym's letter, and tacitly admitted by Monsieur
Duperre. Mr. James continues his account in the following
terms : —

" At a few minutes before 7 P. M , the Nereide's spring was shot away,
and the ship immediately swung stern ou to the Bellone'a broadside. A
most severe raking fire followed. To avoid this, and bring her starboard
broadside to bear, the Nereide cut her small bower cable, and, letting go
the best, succeeded so far in her object. At about 10 P. M., or a little
afterwards, a piece of grape, or langridge, from one of the Nereide's guns,
cut Captain Duperr^ on the head, and knocked him senseless upon the
deck. Afl the fire of the Minerve was now completely masked by that of
the Bellone, Captain Bouvet removed from the former on board the latter,
and took the command."

La Nereide did not make use of langridge, but grape and
canister she discharged in abundance ; which no other ship
was near enough the enemy to do.

The fire of la Minerve was never completely masked by la
Bellone. On the contrary, three of her long 18-pounders and
two 36- pounder carronades continued incessantly to play
upon la Nereide during the remainder of her ^ve hours' des-
perate and sanguinary battle, the whole time within hail of
la Bellone.

Since the early part of the action. Captain Willoughby had
been severely wounded by a splinter on the left cheek, which
had also torn his eye completely out of the socket. The first
i/ieutenant lay mortally, and the second most dangerously
wounded ; 1 marine officer, 2 officers of foot, 1 of artillery, 2
midshipmen, and the greater part of the crew and soldiers, were
either killed or disabled. Most of the quarter-deck, and several
of the main- deck guns were dismounted ; the hull of the ship
was shattered in all directions, and striking the ground
astern. His frigate being in this state, and five hours having

• Nav. Hist, w, p. 415.

POtT-CAPFAINS OF 1810. 171

elapeed since the commencement of the action, without the
arrival of a single boat from any one of the squadron, or even
a signal being made to her. Captain Willoughby now ordered
the feebly maintained fire of the Nereide to cease, and the
few survivors of the crew to shelter themselves in the lower
part of the ship. He then sent acting Lieutenant William
Weiss (a very young man who had not yet served his full time
88 & midshipman), with one of the two remaining boats, on
board the Siriua, ** to acquaint Captain Pym witli the de-
fenceless state of the ship ; leaving it to his judgment, as
the senior oflBcer, whether or not it was practicable to tow
the Nereide beyond the reach of the enemy's shot, or to take
out the wounded and set her on fire ; an act that would have
greatly endangered, and might have been the means of de-
stroying the Bellone herself, as well as the whoie cluster of
grounded ships, the situation of which cannot be better ex-
pressed than in the words of Captain Pym himself, — * the
whole of the enemy on s/iore in a heap*.' "

At about 10-45 P. M., a boat from the Sirius, with an officer
of that frigate, also Lieutenant Davis of tlie engineers, and Mr.
Weiss, whose boat had been sunk before he got well along-
side of the commodore, reached la Nereide, with a message
from Captain Pym, requesting her persevering commander to
abandon his ship and come on board the Sirius ; but, with a
feeling that did him honor. Captain Willoughby sent back
word that he would not quit her, until every officer and man
was first removed f.

Although Captain Willoughby refused to leave his ship, he
ordered all the wounded officers to be taken on board the
Sirius, and they, of course, gladly availed themselves of the
opportunity, with the exception of the master, who, not
being dangerously hurt, remained with his heroic comman-
der. At Uiat period no one on board la Nereide supposed
that the Sirius was in danger of being lost : on the contrary,
those who were removed to the latter ship felt happy in having
thus escaped being made prisoners, seeing that they had no-

• Nae. Hist, v, 416.
t The above fact was sworn to by Mr. Weiss, at the subsequent trial of
Captain Willoughby, &c.

172 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

thing to fear from the enemy's distant fire. That Captain
Pym himself did not then consider the Sirius in an utterly
hopeless state, is evident from his anxiety for Captain Wil-
loughby's removal to her, lest the conduct of the latter, in
having negociated with the inhabitants of Grand Port, and
distributed Governor Farquhar's proclamations, might prove
prejudicial to him.

"At 11 P. M., Captain Willoughby sent an officer to the Bellone, which
still continued a very destructive fire, to say that the Nereide had struck ;
but, being in a sinking state from shot-holes, the boat returned without
having reached the French ship. At about 30 nninutes past midnight, the
main-mast of the Nereide went by the board. At 1-30 A. IM., on the 24th,
several of her ropes caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished.
At about 1-50, after having been repeatedly hailed without effect by one
or the other of the French prisoners who were on board the Nereide, the
Bellone discontinued her fire. The Iphigenia and Magicienne, a portion
of whose fire had already dismounted the guns at the battery de la Reine,
then ceased theirs ; and all was silent *.

*' At day-light the Bellone re-opened her fire upon the Nereide. To
put a stop to this, French colours were lashed to the fore-rigging ; but
still the enemy continued their fire, ft was now 8urmi8e«l, and very natu-
rally too, that the cause of this persevering hostility was the union-jack
at the mizen-top-gallant-mast-head, which could not be hauled down ; for
by one account f it had been nailed there ; and, by another, the haliards
had been shot away, as well as all the rigging and ropes by which the mast
could be ascended. As the only alternative, the mizcn-mast was cut
away, and the firing of the Bellone instantly ceased J."

Of la Nereide's established complement, as stated at p.
148, only 202 were on board when she went into action ; —
she had sailed from the Cape (in April) with only 228 ; since
then 10 had been either killed or invalided, and a master's-
mate and 15 men were absent cruising in her tender. To the
first mentioned number, however, should be added 3 military
officers, 2 of whom were killed, the other severely wounded,
12 artillery men, 50 grenadiers, and 10 light infantry, part of
those recently exchanged at Port Louis, making a total of 277
persons. Commodore Duperr^ says, in his official report to
General De Caen : —

" Le 22, la fr^ate anglaise le Syrius se joignit h, la frfegate la Netelde,
raouill<5e sous I'lsle de la Passe ; toutes deux firent un mouvement pour
m'attaqucr. Dana ce moment voire Ejicellencc connamant la position des

• Nov. Hitl. V. 417. f La Nereide' t log. \ Nov. Hitt. v. 418.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 178

equtpaget cotwd/rabifment affttUUi* par Carmement de$ prises et les en-
gagemens smtenus pendant la campagne m^expidia un detachement de 60
tnarins de la frigate la Mancbe et de la corvette /'Eutreprenant, sous le
commandement de AfM. Coste, lieutenant de vaisseau ; yieillard, Esnouf^
Junot, enseignes ,- et Dubotq, f^ergos, Fnutrel, Arnauld, et Descotnbes^
aspirans ; auquelfassignai de mite un paste i borddet dhert bititnens ;
The loss on board the French ships, according to Commo-
dore Duperre's statement, amounted to 37 killed, and 112
wounded. Amongst the former were ** MM. Montozon et
Meunier, officiers de la Bellone ; Lanchon, de la corvette le
F'ictor ; et Amaud, aspirant." Our readers will not fail to
observe, that those officers, the only French ones slain, be-
longed to la Nercide's immediate opponents ; and that Cap-
tain Willoughby's was the only English ship that had an
officer killed. The number of men on board la Bellone
at the commencement of the battle, could scarcely have been
less than 400 or 420, and none were wanted to attend to the
sidls. The enemy's admitted loss, considering that it must
nearly all have been infficted by la Ncreide, was highly cre-
ditable to tlie skill and exertions of her officers and crew ; to
whose assistance not a single man was scat during the whole
conffict, although, at the time when all the French ships
and batteries opened upon her, or, more properly speaking,
at the commencement of the second action. Captain Wil-
loughby, the two senior Lieutenants, and half of her men,
were already hors de combat.

We say at the commencement of the second action, be-
cause we consider that la Nereide fought two distinct battles
on the 23d Aug. 1810— the first with la Bellone and le Victor,
which ships, although supported by a flanking battery, were
indisputably defeated by her ; and the second with the whole
French squadron, supported by several batteries.

Judging from what la Nereide effected alone, we also think
that Captain Pym was perfectly justified in saying, "nothing
was wanting, to make a most complete victory, but one of the
other frigates to close with la Bellone ;" and that if he could
have got alongside of her, all the enemy's ships would have
been taken in less than half an hour. It is our firm belief,
that if it had been decreed from above, that even the Magi-

• Gazette des Isles de France et Bonaparte, 26 Sept. 1810.

174 POST. CAPTAINS OF 1810.

cienne, the weakest of the other three British frigates,
should have followed Captain Willoughby into close action,
the victory would have been theirs in a very short time.

The French did not take possession of la Nereide until
nearly 3 P. M. Lieutenant Roussin then went on board for
that purpose, spiked all the guns, liberated 20 of his country-
men who had been taken by the British, and reported to
Commodore Duperrd, that 100 of the latter were lying dead
or dying upon her decks.

" M. le Lieutenant de Vaisseau, Roussin," says the Commodore, ** fut
envoye k mariner la Nereide. II la trouva dans un dtat impossible k d^>
crire; 100 morts ou mourans 6taient sur les pontsj son capitaine, M.
Willoughby, 6tait bless^ •."

In justice to the petty ofl&cers, seamen, marines, and sol-
diers on board la Nereide, we must here observe, that the few
who escaped unhurt, and very few there were, together with
those not totally incapacitated by their wounds, most heroically
kept up the unequal fight for some time after they had been
left without a single commissioned or warrant officer to direct
them : — the following is a list of the officers belonging to, and
supernumeraries on board la Nereide, Aug. 23, 1810 :

N. J. Willoughby, Captain, dangerously wounded.

John Burns, 1st Lieutenant, mortally

Henry C. Deacon, 2d ditto, dangerously

William Weiss, [3d ditto, (acting,) no one yet joined in lieu of the

former.
William Lesby, Master, received a severe contusion in the side by a

splinter, during the action ; and afterwards had Ixis baud badly burnt

in extinguishing the fire in the rigging,
Thomas R. Pye, Lieut. R. M., not recovered from a wound received

at the attack of St. Pauls ; see p. 148, par. 1.
Thomas S. Cox, Lieutenant, R. M., severely wounded.
John Strong, Boatswain, - - - ditto.
John Constable, Gunner, ^
John Martin, Carpenter, > Quartered bcluw.
George Young, Surgeon, j

• French Gazette. — Of the above number, two, and two only, were
killed after la Nereide ceased to resist. N. B. According to Mr. James,
she had at least 137 wounded ; his statement respecting the slain, agrees with
that given at p. 166:— Capt. Brenton says that 116 were killed and many
mortally wounded.

IHWT-CAPTAINB OP 1810. 175

Thomas Stones, Purser, absent on duty at Bourbon.
Lieutenant Davies, Mad. Eng. ahtent on board Sirius,
Aldwinkle, Mad. Art,

Morlett, 33d Regt. J '^'"^*^-
Xee<lliall, 69ih do. severely wounded. •

Vice-Admiral Bertie, when reporting the destruction of
the Sirius and Magicienne, and the surrender to the ene-
my of the Iphigenia and Nereide, says ** the latter after
a GLORIOUS resistance, almost unparalleled even in the
brilliant annals of the British navy.** In another part of
the same letter he acquaints the Admiralty that, " having
found it practicable to equip the Veims," a French frigate
captured by Captain Rowley, on the 18th Sept. 1810, he had
not hesitated " to commission her for the time being, mider
the name of the Nereide, in commemoration of the gallant
defence of his Majesty's late ship bearing that name."

Captain Willoughby being now a prisoner, a council was
held by General Dc Caen, to determine whether or not he
should be punished for having intrigued with the leading
people of the island, and distributed proclamations, having a
tendency to subvert the allegiance of the inhabitants in gene-
ral. It was decided, notwithstanding hia previous liability,
that, as he had been taken in honorable figiit, he should be
treated as a prisoner of war. On this occasion, the French
governor is reported to have said, " Let thefoiUre live ; he has
lost his eye and his ship, after defending her most gallantly."

* We beliere that la Nereide had only four midshipmen on board, one of
whom, Mr. George Tun mins, was killed; another, Mr, Samuel Costerton,
severely wounded. Some of the circumstances attending her famous de-
fence, strongly remind us of the last battle fought by Sir Richard Grenville,
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. That heroic officer, being advised to trust
to the good sailing of his ship for safety, peremptorily refused to fly from
the enemy, telling his officers, " that he would much rather die than leave
such a mark of dishonor on himself, his country, and the Queen's ship," In
consequence of this resolution, he was presently surrounded by the whole
Spanish fleet, which he most gallantly fought from about 3 P. M., August
31, 1591, until the break of daynext morning, continuing to give his orders
although wounded early in the action. Of his officers and crew, only 103
in number, 40 were killed and almost all the rest wounded : his masts were
shot away, and his ship reduced to a perfect wreck, unable to move one
way or the other. See CampbeWs Lives of the Admirals, edition of 1813,
Vol. I. p. 448.

176 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

It is almost needless to add that poor Johnson, the black
pilot, who had been Captain Willoughby's guide in aU his
landings, was immediately put to death.

As for la Nereide, she was rendered so completely hors de
combat before her colours were hauled down, that we doubt
whether the enemy ever attempted to repair her : at all events,
the British, when they captured the Mauritius, found it im-
possible to do so, and she was consequently sold only to be
broken up. The following statement appears in ** Brenton's
Naval History :"

" No part of her was sheltered ; the shot of the enemy penetrated to the
hold and the bread-room, where a young midshipman was killed, as he lay
bleeding from a previous wound. Captain Willoughby, having lost an eye,
and being otherwise severely hurt, was removed from the bread>room to
the fore part of the hold, as less exposed to shot."

This passage in the " Naval History" gave rise to a cor-
respondence, which we shall now transcribe, altiiough its
insertion here is not strictly according to chronological order ;
" Ro^al Naval Club, Bond Street, Feb. 10, 1826.

" My dear Sir, — In reading your Naval History, I find respecting my-
self a few errors, which 1 truet you will correct in your second edition :
the one to which I particularly allude, is in volume 4th, page 469, where
you say * I was, after being wounded, removed from the bread-room to the
fore part of the hold, as being less exposed to shot.' This you will find,
upon enquiry, is not the fact, as, after I was wounded, I was in no part of
the ship but the gun-room and cock-pit. I remain, my dear Sir, very
truly yours,

(Signed) " N. J. Willouohbt."

" To Captain Edward Brenton, R. N.'*

(Answer.)

" 4, Park Lane, Feb. 10, 1826.

" My dear Sir,— I am extremely sorry that any statement of mine
should have caused you one moment's pain. Upon the circumstance of
your removal from the bread-room to the fore-part of the ship, or fore-
hold, I was mis-informed, as appears by your surgeon's letter, and the
statement of other officers. I shall have great pleasure in contradicting it )
and with respect to the other inaccuracies, they shall be corrected in ano-
ther edition. X remain, my dear Sir, yours very sincerely,

(Signed) " E. P. Brbnton."

** To Captain fVilloughby, R. N. C. B. •"

• Mr. George Timmins, the midshipman alluded to by Captain Brenton,
was wounded at his quartere on the main-deck, and had his head shot off
while sitting at the door of his mess-berth.

lH>ST-CAPTArNS OF 1810. 177

Shortly after the capture of the Isle of France, Captain
Wiiloughby was tried by a court-martial, for the loss of his
ship, and for his conduct from the time she anchored offl'Isle
(ie la Passe until her surrender. The following is a copy of
the sentence :

" '1' ' is of opinion, that the conduct of Captain Wiiloughby" (on

the /; - , - ..'/irf Au^.) " was injudicious, in making the signal ' enemy
of inferior force* to the Sinus, she being" then " the only ship in siglit,
and not justifiable, as the enemy was superior. But the Court is of opinion,
that his Majesty's late ship Nereide xna carried mto battle '' (on the ticenty-

third) " in aMOST JUDICIOUS, OFriCER-LIKE, AND 0A( LANT MANNER; and

the Court cannot do otherwise than express its high admiration of the nobU
conduct of the captain, officers, and ship'i? company, during the whole of
the unequal contest, and is further of opinion, that the Nereide was not
surrendered to the enemy, until she was disabled in every respect, so as to
render all further resistance useless, and that no blame whatever attaches
to them for the loss of the said ship : the Court doth therefore adjudge
Captain Wiiloughby, the officers, and ship's company of his Majesty's late
ship Nereide, to be most honorably acquitted; and they arc hereby most
HONORABLY ACQUITTED accordingly."

Captain Wiiloughby 's address to the Court, corroborates
what we have stated at pp. 159 and 161, respecting the enemy
at Port Louis being ready for sea, and his volunteering to
lead in and attack Duperrc's squadron. It moreover informs
us, tliat the signals " ready for action " and *' enemy of in-
ferior ffjrce '* \^ere made, to counteract the effect of an indica-
tion of inability, by the appearance of a stiige up la Nereide 's
foremast, which had been badly wounded on the 20th August.

Having thus placed upon record the "glorious" and
" noble " conduct of " poor Nereide," whose officers, &c.,
were, in our opinion, rather to be envied than pitied, we can-
not avoid remarking, how weighty a responsibility Captain
Wiiloughby took upon himself, in volunteering to lead his
senior officer into action ; and the anxiety he must have ex-
perienced both on the 22d and 23d August : had la Nereide,
from any unforeseen circumstance, got on shore when run-
ning down to the enemy, a universal outcry would have been
raised against him, and his judges would have passed some-
thing very different to the above unprecedented . sentence.

SUPPL. PART II. N

J78 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810.

We shall now make our readers acquainted with the opinion
entertained by the Governor-General of India, of her sangui-
nary battle at Port Sud-Est, on which occasion she had many
more men killed than the whole British squadron, in the much
talked-of recent affair at Navarin *, and at least 20 more than
were slain in our whole fleet, at the celebrated battle off Cape
St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797* The following are extracts of two
letters from Lord Minto to Governor Farquhar, dated Oct. 19,
and Oct. 21, 1810:—

" It is superfluous to express tbc extreme cuncera aod dlsappointnaent
which the occurrence of this disaster has occasioned to my uaiud ; but
deeply as I lament the failure of the gallant attempt to capture or destroy
the enemy's naval force in the harbour of Port S, E., and especially the
loss of the ships which have been destroyed, and of the many valuable
ofBcers and men who have fallen on this occasion, it is yet satisfactory to
reflect, that the result of it is alone to be ascribed to the operation of causes
beyond the controul of human foresight and precaution, while it affords
another and distinguished instance of that spirit and heroism which cha-
racterize the British navy, and which in the recent contest has been
displayed in a degr«e seldom equalled, and perhaps never surpassed, under
the most trs'ing circumstances of difficulty, danger, and distress."

*' The first feelings I am anxious to convey, are those of regret and af-
fliction, at the loss of so many precious lives, and the sufferings of tbc
surviving officers and men, in the affair at Port S. E. : that sentiment,
however, is immediately succeeded by admiration of the extraordinary
heroism that distinguished that disastrous day, and wliich has attached to it a
species of, and degree of glory, which fortunate events alone cannot confer.
Courage which survives hope, and unbroken spirit under such complicated
evils as those of the 23d August, are the hlglicst efforts of human charac-
ter, and place those who have displayed them amongst the superior beuigs
of our race. What are we to think, therefore, of a whole profession, wbicU
never fails to produce those demi-gods, whenever they are called for ; and
may we not reasonably be proud of a country which constantly produces,
to that profession, fresh and successive crowds of such heroes.''

Presuming that some of our readers have not perused the
accounts given by Brenton and James, of Capt. Willoughby's
daring conduct at Jacotel and in Port Sud-Est, we shall here
give some extracts of their statements. Speaking of the

* See Captain Sir Thomas Fklj.owbs, C. B.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 179

eaccesses of Commodore Rowley, previous to the reduction
of the Isle of France, the former writer says : —

** There was one circumstance attending the attack on this island, which,
though hitherto scarcely noticed by historians, contributed greatly to en-
lii^ten the minds of the inhabitants, till then kept in profound ignorance of
the state of things. We mean the dariog adventure of Capt. VViUoughby,
of the Nereidc, who, after landing at Jacotel, peucirated into the interior
of the island, and distributed the proclamations which made the inhabitants
acquainted with the ticws of the British government, and induced them,
on our forced' landing, to lay down their arms, and gladly avul themselves
of British protection*."

After recording the most honorable acquittal of Captain
Willoughby, Mr. James thus happily expresses himself: —

" To tills testimony In favor of the Nereide, we shall merely add, that
the noble behaviour of her officers and rrew threw such a halo of glory
around the defeat at Grand Port, that, in public opinion at least, the Loss of
the four frigates was scarcely considered a misfortune t."

On the morning of the 30tb Nor. 1810, the day after the debarkatioa
of the British troops under Major-Geoeral Abercromby, " there was a
slight skirmiahiug between the adverse pickets ; and on the Ist and 2d o£
December, an affair, rather more serious, took place between the Britisbi
main body and a corps of the enemy, who with several fifild-piecei bad.
taken a strong poiition to check the advance of the invadcn> The French,
however, were soon overpowered by numbers, ••••••« Immediately

after the termination of this battle. General De Caen, who, in the slight
support he received from the Colonial Militia, now learnt to appreciate the
effects of the proclamations so industriously spread amout^ them by Captaiu
\Mlloughby, proposed tenns of capitulation ; and on the following monuag,
the 3d, the articles were signed, and ratifications exchanged, surrendering
the island to Great Britain. The garrison of the Isle of France consisted,
it appears^ of wt more than 1300 regultr troops, bcluding, to their shame
be it spoken, a corps of about 500 Irishmen, chiefly recruits taken out of
the captured Indiamen. But the militia force amounted to uptcards of 10,000
men ; a number tehich General De Caen, «• doubt, veould have gladly
exchanged for at many more regulars as he had under his command X"

• Brenton, r, 481. f James, v, 431.

X Id. 475. — N. B. In this we perfectly agree with Mr. James ; for Ge-
neral De Caen, knowing that Captain Willoughby, at the head of only 200
men, had landed and marched upwards of 20 miles in the face of 2200<
roust have felt that he could stand but little chance of retaining his govero-
ment, by means of the French militia, after 13,000 British and natire
troops had been brought against him.

N 2

J80 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

The opinions entertained by the English Governors of the
Isles of France and Bourbon, of the beneficial effects^produced
upon the French militia, by the proclamations which Captain
Willoughby had circulated among them, are contained in two
public letters ^vritten by those gentlemen when he was on the
eve of his departure for England. The following are copies
of the said documents ; and that dated Dec. 27, 1810, is the
only correct one that has ever met the public eye : —

Governor Farqdhar to Captain Willoughbv.

" Port Louis, Sih Jan. 1811.

" Sir, — The unfortunate, though gallant affair, in which you so emi-
nently distinguished yourself at Grand Port, and which for a short time
interrupted all communication with you, prevented my replying imme-
diately to your despatch, which I received on the 21 st August, informing
me of your having landed in the Isle of France, on the l/th and 18th
that mouth j of your having destroyed the batteries and magazines at Grand
Port, and distributed the proclamations with which I had entrusted you,
for the inhabitants of the Isle of France. I cannot, however, permit you
to quit this colony without expressing to you my warmest acknowledg-
ments, for the very satisfactory manner in which you executed every part
of this important duty. I feel it the more necessary now to make this
official declaration of my sentiments to you, from the more intimate know,
ledge I have acquired, since I assumed this government, of the beneficial
cflFects produced by those proclamations ou the minds of the inhabitants.
However much, therefore, I am disposed to admire that enterprising spirit
and perseverance which dared to land at the second principal port of the
main island, at the head of only 200 men, and to effect a long march of
20 miles, for the purpose of destroying the defences, in the face of an
enemy far superior to you ; and however much I must commend that
prudence and discretion which enabled you to re-embark without the loss
of a single man, af^er hnving effected every object you had in view, it is
still more my indispensable duty, as being in my immediate province, t»
bear this public testimony of the prompt and efficient execution of the de-
licate and dangerous service trhich you undertook, of issuing my proclama-
tions to the inhabitants of a neighbouring hostile colony ! I feel convinced
that this, amongst the many other more brilliant services in which you
have been engaged, and of which you bear so many honorable murks, will
speedily replace you in a situation which will afford ample scope for the
exercise of the distinguished naval talents and undaunted heroism which
your countrymen, as well as the enemy, unanimously bear testimony of
your possessing. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) '« R. T. Farquhar.'*

POST-CAPTAIMS OF 1810. 181

Lieuienant-Go9ernor Keating to Captain fFilloughby.

" St Denis, Itle of Bourbon, 27th Dec. 1810.
*' Sir, — I cannot allow you to depart from these islands, that have lo
often witnessed with wonder the intrepid, daring valour of your conduct,
without joining' in the general wish — that qualities so valuable maybe duly
appreciated by our Country, and that services so singularly eminent may
be distinguished hy the beneficence of our gracious Sovereign.

" Among the applauses of your own service, and the admiration of ours,
the testimony of my sentiments can ad<l but little to your fame; but I
^should be ungrateful, did I not state huw large a share is due to you in the
conqnest of these islands, where so much has been done by the few — to
little by the many.

" On my first rcconnoitreing these citadels of French power in the East,
T found the name of Willoughby already familiar with the inhabitants aJs a
vigilant enterprising enemy — and a generous conqueror.

" When we captured St. Paul's, it was the gallant Corbett * who recon-
noitred our landing place, and enabled us to debark with a secrecy and
rapidity perhaps uncqualletl. Vou then fought by my side, leading by your
example 80 seamen to the most daring achievements. I felt the full value
of your services ; my testimony of them is on record. When I had led
my force back to Rodciguez, you, ever indefatigable and on the watch for
the enemy, made a landing at Jacotel, in the Isle of France, and expe-
rimentally confirme<l our iufonnation as to the strength of the enemy,
while your gallantry in carrying off a number of prisoners in the face of a
superior enemy, was a new proof of unshrinking determination, that sur-
prised even your friends.

" The conquest of Bourbon was the next scene in which your conduct
was displayed, and this also is on record.

" After this achievement, while most were refreshing themselves after
the toils, hardships, and privations, that were the lot of all, you, never in-
active while any thing remained undone, volunteered to take the Isle de la
Passe, commanding the chief entrance to S. E. Port, and I gave you 100
chosen men to assist in that important servic*e.

" Your next attempt was on Point du Diable, the strongest post in the
south of the Mauritius, and doubly valuable as commanding the other en-
trance of Port S. E.

" The gallantry of this attack, its complete success without the loss of •
man on your side ; yoiur march of 20 miles aften\-ards, when from the dis-
position of your force, you compelled a superior to retreat before you with
loss ; your distribution of the proclamation of the Honorable the Governor,

* Captjun Willoughby's prsdecessor in la Nereide, of whom mention is
made at p. 629, of our first volume.

182 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

which WM attended with effects so beneficial, by demonstrating the viewi
of our country in taking possession of these colonies ; the orderly conduct
of your force in abstaininof from any act of irregularity, and thus gaining
the confidence of the inhabitants ; these were services of no ordinary de-
scription.

" I now approach that period of your services, which will hand your
name to posterity 'among those consecrated by the admiration of our
country. Here, in the nervous language of the Governor-General, 'yott
displayed a heroism almost fabulous, and acquired a glory of too transcen-
dent a character, to be reaped by any other portion of the human race, than
the seamen and soldiers of our own nation.'

" Whatever I could add to a testimony so exalted, would be superfluous.
I must now take my leave ; you quit those scenes where we have fought
together and bled for our country; but you return to no ungrateful
country ; she has long been known to reward that portion of her sons who
"ave raised her name to the most exalted of the earth j and in thus honor-
ing the splendid exertions of superior merit, has founded the most impreg-
nable bulwark of her strength. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) "Ht. S. Keating.''

On his return to England, Captain Willoughby was sur-
veyed by the College of Surgeons, and in consequence of their
report, a pension of 300/. per annum was granted to him, Oct.
4, 1811 ; they stating, that he had not only lost an eye, but
that his other wounds were more than equal to the loss of a
limb. In 1815, this pension was increased to 550/. per an-
num, commencing from July 1, in that year, agreeably to H.
M. Order in Council, dated Nov. 2/.

Having now arrived at the conclusion of Captain Wil-
loughby's naval services, during the late war, we cannot help
remarking, that he had the peculiar good fortune never to be
discomfited, either afloat or on shore, when the service to be
performed was arranged by himself, and the plan carried into
•execution under his own directions. From the time of his
joining the Otter until the twentieth of August, 1810, that
day also included^ his astonishing efforts to signalize himself
were invariably successful. His otily unfortunate action was
fought under the orders of a superior officer !

In 1812, having no immediate prospect of employment
afloat. Captain Willoughby obtained leave to go abroad ; and
repaired to the Baltic, ready to serve as a volunteer wherever
active service might be in contemplation.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 183

Hearing upon his arrival, that Riga was about to be be-
sieged by the French and Prussian forces under Marshals
Macdonald and Yorck ; and that Rear-Admiral T. B. Martin
had gone thither to co-operate -with the Russian garrison,
Captuin Willonghby immediately made a tender of his ser-
vices to that officer, from whom he received a handsome let-
ter in return, acquainting him that there was no immediate
apprehension of an attack.

Upon receiving the Rear-Admiral's answer. Captain Wil-
loughby's enterprising spirit led him without loss of time to
St. Petersburgh, at which court Earl Cathcart ^vas then re-
siding as Britisli Ambassador, and through whom he solici-
ted permission to serve in the Russian array j offering to fur-
nish himself with all necessary equipments, and to continue
under the Imperial sUmdard, without pay or compensation
of any kind, during thfe war then recently begun between
Alexander and Napoleon.

A short correspondence i-^wn. ^>lace, in consequence of his
being an English officer on half-pay ; but at length his servi-
ces were accepted by the Czar, who commanded that he
ehouhl repair to Riga, and put himself under the orders of
General Essen, the governor of that city. While there, wc
find him living with the commanding officers of the British
flotilla, the present Captains Hew Steuart and John Brenton.

On the 26th Sept. 1812, Captain Willoughby left Riga,
under the command of Lieutenant-General Count Steinheil,
who had lately arrived from Finland, with 15,000 troops,
supposed to be the finest col^s in the Russian service, and
whose intention it was to fight his way through Macdo-
nald's army, for the purpose of joining General Wittgenstein,
who was then besieging Polotzk, and also threatening the
left flank of the French army at Smolensk. The result of
this movement will be seen by the following extracts of
Count de Segur's history :

" By the middle of October, the Russian army at that point amounted
to 62,000 men, while ours was only 17,000. In thi3 number must be
included the 6th corps, or the Bavarians, reduced from 22,000 to 1800
men, and 2000 cavalry. The latter were then absent ; St. Cyr being

184 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

without forage, and uneasy respecting the attempts of the enemy upon
his flanks, had sent them to a considerable distance up the river"
Diina, " with orders to return by the left bank, in order to procure
subsistence and to gain intelligence.

" This marshal was afrjud of having his right turned by Wittgenstein
and his left by Steingell (Steinheil), who was advancing at the head of
two divisions of the army of Finland, which had recently arrived at Riga.
Saint Cyr had sent a very pressing letter to Macdonald, requesting him to
use his efforts to stop the march of these Russians, who would have to
pass his army, and to send him a reinforcement of 15,000 men; or if
he would not do that, to come himself with succours to that amount, and
take the command over him. In the same letter he also submitted to
Macdonald all bis plans of attack and defence. But IMacdonald did not
feel himself authorized to operate so important a movement without
orders. He distrusted Yorck, whom he perhaps suspected of an intention
of letting the Russians get possession of his besieging artillery. His reply
was that he must first of all think of defending that, and he remained sta-
tionary. In this state of affairs, the Russians became daily more and more
emboldened; and finally, on the 17th October, the out posts of St. Cyr
were driven into his camp, and Wittengenstein possessed himself of all
the outlets of the woods which surround Polotzk. He threatened us with
a battle, which he did Jiot believe we would venture to accept ♦ • • *.
The night which followed" the desperate engagement at the village of
Guravitchne* "was perfectly tranquil, even to Saint Cyr. His cavalry
brought him wrong intelligence ; they assured him that no enemy had
passed the Diina, either above or below his position : this was incor-
rect, as Steingell and 13,000 Russians had crossed the river at Drissa, and
gone up on the left bank, with the object of taking the marshal in the
rear, and shutting him up in Polotzk, between them, the Diina* and
Wittgenstein.

" The morning of the I9th exhibited the latter under arms, and making
every disposition for an attack, the signal for which he appeared to be
afraid of giving. St. Cyr, however, was not to be deceived by these ap-
pearances ; he was satisfied that it was not his feeble entrenchments which
kept back an enterprising and numerous enemy, but that he was doubtless
wcdtibg the effect of some manoeuvre, the signal of some important opera-
tion, which could only be effected in his rear.

•' In fact, about ten o'clock in the morning, an aide-de-camp eame in full
gallop from the other side of the river, with the intelligence, that another
hostile army, that of Steingell, was marching rapidly along the Lithuar
nian side of the river, and that it had defeated the French cavalry. He
required immediate assistance, without which this fresh army would speed-

• See Gilford's History of the Wars, Vol. I, p. 798.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 185

i ly get iu the rear of the camp, and surround it. The nctcs of this en-
gagement soon reached the army of fVittgenstein, where it excited the
jfreatest joy, wlule it carried dismay into the French camp. Their posi-
tion became dreadfully critical. Let any one figure to himself these
brave fellows, hemmed in, against a wooden town, by a force of trel)Ic
their number, with a great river behind them, and no other means of re-
treat but a bridge, the passage from which was threatened by another
army.

" It was in vain that St, Cyr then weakened his force by three regi-
menls, which-he despatched to the other side to meet Steingell, and whose
march he contrived to conceal from Wittgenstein's obserration. Every
moment the noise of the former' » artillery teas approaching nearer and
nearer to Polotzk. The batteries, which from the left siclc protected the
IVench camp, were now turned round ready to fire upon thi.snew enemy,
y/r tight or this, lond ahouti of joy burst out from the whole of Wittgen-
stein's line ; but that officer still remained immoveable. To make him
begin" (to act in concert) " it was not merely necessary that he should hear
Steingell ; he seemed absolutely determined to tee him make his ap.
pearance.

" Meanwhile, all Saint Cyr's generals, in consternation, were surround-
ing him, and urging him to order a retreat, which would soon become im-
possible. St., Cyr refused : convinced that the 50,0(J0 Russians before
him, under arms, only waited for his first retrograde movement to pounce
upon him, he remained immoveable, availing himself of their unaccountable
inaction, and still flattering hitnself that night would come on before Stein-
gell could make his appearance.

" He lias since confessed, that never in his life was his mind in such a
state of agitation. A thousand times, in the course of these three hours
of suspense, he was seen looking at his watch, and at the sim, as if he
could hasten his setting.

" At last, when Steingell was within half an hour's march of Polotzk,
when he had only to make a few efforts to appear in the plain, to reach
the bridge of the town, and shut out Saint Cyr from the only outlet by
which he could escape from Wittgenstein, he halted. Soon after, a thick
fog, which the French looked upon as an interposition from heaven, pre-
ceilcd the approach of night, and shut out the three armies from the
sight of each other.

" Saint Cyr only waited for that moment. His numerous artillery had
already silently crossed the river ; his divisions were about to follow it and
conceal their retreat, when Legrand, either from custom, or regret at
abandoning his camp untouched to the enemy, »et fire to it : the other two
divisions, fancying that this was a signal agreed upon, followed his exam-
ple, and in an instant the whole line was in a blaze.

" This fire disclosed their movement ; the whole of Wittgenstein's bat-
teries immediately began their fire ; his columns rushed forward, hit

186 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

shells set fire to the town ; the French troops were cblig-ed to contend
every inch of ground with the flames, the fire throvvinj? li^'ht on the en-
gagement the same as broad day-light. The retreat, however, was effect-
ed in good order ; on both sides the loss was great, but it was not until
three o'clock, on the morning of the 20th October, that the Russian eagle
regained possession of Polotzk.

" As good luck would have it, Steingell slept soundly at the noise of
this battle, although he might have heard even the shouts of the Rus-
sian militia *. He seconded the attack of Wittgenstein during that night,
as little as fVittgenstein had seconded his the day before. It was not until
Wittgenstein had finished on the right side, that the bridge of Polotzk
was broken down, and St. Cyr, with all his force on the left bank, and
then fully able to cope with Steingell, that the latter began to put him-
self in motion. But De Wrede, with 6000 French, surprised him in his
first movement, beat him back several leagues into the woods which he
had quitted, and took or killed 2000 of his men f."

It is but too true, that the fine Finland corps was cut up in
the manner described by de Segur, and that the French
troops were thus allowed to escape from nearly four times
their numbers. Among the prisoners taken by De Wrede
was Captain Willoughby, whose generous conduct on this
occasion entitles him to as much praise as any of his former
brilliant actions : — it is thus described in " Giflford's Memoirs
of Napoleon," vol. ii, note f at p. 199 et seq.-^

" Captain Willoughby displayed the greatest ability, as well as intre-
pidity ; but became a victim to his own generosity, so far as to fall into
the hands of the enemy ; for having observed two Russian soldiers badly
wounded, and who were attempting with bleeding and mangled limbs, to
withdraw from the scene of slaughter, he instantly dismounted, and order-
ing his attendant cossack to do the same, he actually placed the wounded
men upon the horses, and attended them upon foot, by which means he
fell into the hands of a party of French hussars.

" No sooner did the Emperor Alexander hear of this circumstance than
he directed a letter to be sent to Napoleon, requesting his exchange, and
offering ant/ French officer in his possession, in lieu : to which the invader
answered, that no Eholisiiman would he exchanged l''

• General Wittgenstein's army was chiefly composed of enthusiastic
patriots, very few of whom had ever before been called upon to face dan-
ger in the field of battle.

t See De Segufi History of Napoleon's Expedition to Ruttta, Vol. II,
pp. 182—189.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 187

Immediately after this unfortunate event, it vras repre-
sented to Captain Willoughby, that upon his signing a paper,
pledging his word of honor to use every despatch in proceed-
ing to France, by a route pointed out to him, he would be
idlowed to travel thither alone ; but that if he refused to give
such a pledge, he would be obliged to march with the other
prisoners.

Although then possessed of only a few ducats, and with no
prospect of being able to obtain money by bills oh England
until his arrival at Dantzic, Captain U'illoughby readily
signed the paper, thereby binding himself to proceed to
Mayence In the department of Mont Tonn^re : — our readers
will readily conceive, how great must have been his aston-
ishment and indignation, at finding that he was neverthelesb
ordered to march in company with the other prisoners. In
vain did he complain of this shameful imputation on his
honor ; and equally fruitless was his demand, that the paper
should be given up to him.

The limits of this work prevent us from giving a descrip.
tion of the extraordinary and heart-rending scenes, which
Captain \Villoughby witnessed during the retreat of the
French from Moscow ; neither are we able to enter into a
detail of what he himself suffered from cold, fatigue, and
hunger, while traversing the vast deserts of Russia and Poland,
amid the dreadful storm of men and elements that accele*
rated Napoleon's downfall.

After reacliing Minsk, Captain Willoughby was conducted
by a geii d'arme to Wihia, the capital of Lithuania, where he
arrived in the same shirt which he had worn ever since he
was taken prisoner, and the same outward garments in which
he had daily fought with the enemy, whilst marching from
Riga to Polotzk.

On his arrival at Wilna, Captain Willoughby, and the other
prisoners of rank, were ordered to appear before the gover-
nor. Count Horgeiidorf, who accosted him rather rudely, and
expressed his surprise at seeing a British naval oflScer serving
with such a people as the Russians; to which he replied, that
he did not care in what sort of cotnpany he fought, so long a

188 POSt-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

it was against the enemies of his country ! Nothing more
passed till the following day, when he again received a sum-
mons, but which none of the other captives did, to attend the
governor, who he was then surprised to find could speak as
good English as himself — their previous conversation having
been carried on in French. Count Horgendorf, it appears,
had also changed his manners with his language ; for after
acquainting Captain Willoughby, that he was a Dutchman by
birth, but compelled by the state of political affairs to become
a French General, he stated, that he had formerly had much
intercourse with Englishmen ; that he had the highest opinion
of their honor, and that he therefore felt happy to have an
opportunity of alleviating the sufferings of a British officer ; —
the Count concluded with an offer to supply his astonished
auditor with whatever money he might require, not only for
his present relief, but to render the remainder of his weari-
some journey, as comfortable as the circumstances of the war
would admit ! ! !

This unexpected generosity on the part of a political enemy,
was probably the means, under Providence, by which Captain
Willoughby escaped the fate of many thousands who were
endeavouring to reach a milder climate by the same route as
himself. It enabled him at once to put off his ragged and
filthy apparel, and to procure such articles of nourishment
and warm clothing as his enfeebled stomach and emaciated
frame required.

The horrible condition to which the unfortunate men just
alluded to were reduced before death ended their sufferings,
is thus spoken of by de Segur : —

" After leaving Malodeczno, and the departure of Napoleon (from
Smorgoni for Paris), winter with all his force, and doubled in severity,
attacked us. ■ * • • • *.

" Henceforward there was no longer fraternity in arms, there was an end
to all society, to all ties ; the excess of evils had brutified them. Hunger, de«
vouring hunger, had reduced these unfortunate men to the brutal instinct of
self-preservation, the only understanding of the roost ferocious animals, and
which is ready to sacrifice every thiug to itself: a rough and barbarous na-
ture seemed to have communicated to them all its fury. Like savages, the
strongest despoiled the weakest ; ihey rushed round the dying, and fre-
quently waited not for their last breath. When a horse fell, you might

post-cAin-AiNs OF 1810. 189

hare fancied you saw a famished pack of hounds ; they surrounded him,
they tore him to pieces, for which they quarreled amon^ themselves like
ravenous dogs.

" On the 6th December, the rery day after Napoleon's departure, the
•ky exhibited a still more dreadful appearance. Vou might see icy parti-
cles floating in the air ; the Itinis fell from it quite stiff and frozen. The
atmosphere was motionless and silent ; it seemed as if every thing which
possessed life and movement in nature, the wind itself, had been seized,
chained, and as it were frozen bv a universal death.

" The army was in this last state of physical and moral distress, when its
first fiigitivt ' Wilna. Wilna ! their magazine, their depot, the first

rich and inliu ■ y which they had met with since their entrance into

Russia. ••••••. For the space of ten hours (Dec. 9), with the cold

at 27 and even at 28 degrees, thousands of soldiers who fancied themselves
in safety, died either from cold or suffocation, just as had happened at the
gates of Smolensk, and the bridges across the Berezina t"

Such were the last days of Napoleon's "grand army," —
the greatest that has ever existed in modem warfare.

After passing through Grodno, guarded the whole of his
journey by a gen d'arme, Captain VVilloughby arrived at
Konigsberg, where he was confined to his bed with fever,
and totally blind, for seven weeks, during which long and
severe illness, he had the good fortune to be attended by Dr.
Motherby, an English physician, settled in that city, whose
professional abilities and constant kindness saved him. At
Konigsberg, he likewise found a British merchant, named
Smith, who kindly gave him money for his bills, and thus
enabled him to repay the benevolent Count Horgcndorf, by
means of his banker at Dantzic.

Captain VVilloughby did not leave the ancient capital of
Prussia until the cossacks were seen from its walls, when
nearly 20,000 French soldiers, all wounded or ill, like-
wise took their departure. He subsequently passed through
Dantzic, Stettiu, and many other strongly fortified places
still in the hands of the enemy, and at length entered Berlin,
where he had a personal conference with one of the King's

: De Segur, Vol. ii. pp. 341—351.

190 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

household, to w^hom he related all the disasters that had be-
fallen Buonaparte's legions, and which was the first true
account that ever reached the Prussian court.

The base conduct of St. Cyr, in retaining possession of the
paper signed by Captain Willoughby, at Polotzk, was most
sensibly felt by the latter after his entry into Prussia, as he was
not only often urged to make his escape, but even frequently
insulted by the officers of that nation, for refusing to follow
their advice : they argued, that as the French had broke the
contract, under which he affixed his signature to that instru-
ment, he was by no means bound to adhere to the promise it
contained j and they declared that he was not doing justice
to his country in going as a prisoner to France, when he
could so easily recover his liberty. Every one of them as-
sured him, that their King was ready to break his connection
•with Napoleon, and to join the Russians as soon as they ad-
vanced in force : on one occasion, during the momentary
absence of his guard, a party actually dragged him by
main force to an outhouse, from whence they would have
removed him to some secure place of concealment : all their
entreaties, taunts, and assurances, however, proved unavail-
ing J he had signed his name to the paper, and he was well
aware that, if he escaped, it would be gazetted, not only by
the French, but by every government under their influence,
that an English officer of rank had dishonorably broke his
parole, as had already been done in another case, under nearly
similar circumstances.

While passing through the Pnissian territory. Captain Wil-
loughby travelled slow ; and not a night passed without his
being invited to join parties, so eager were the subjects of
Frederick William III. to question him respecting the Rus-
sian campaign, the famed exjwse of which had not yet been
issued by Napoleon, but whose partisans were every where
employed fabricating and spreading accounts of dreadful
losses sustained by the Russians, both by the sword and the
severe winter*. As Captain Willoughby spoke with the

• Buonaparte's expos^ of the campaign of 1812, was the truest he ever
issued — in it, none of his disasters were disguised.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 191

greatest confidence of the almost total annihilation of the in-
vaders, and as the account he gave at one place always
agreed with what he had represented at another, the intelli-
gence received general credit, and spread like a fire-brand in
every direction, among the ill-treated and exasperated Prus-
sians, who were already ripe for any act of vengeance against
their oppressors, and who at length compelled their sovereign
to adopt decisive measures *.

Although, ou these occasions. Captain VVUloughby pur-
chased permission to spend his evenings unattended by the
gen d'arme, he was perfectly aware, that his constant com-
munication with those who were disaflfected to France, coul<i
not but be well known to him ; but as by so doing, he felt
that he was acting well in the great cause, and not infringing
the terms of the document, unjustly withheld by St. Cyr, he
wa3 quite indifferent aa to the notice that might be taken oC
hia conduct by the French government ; nor was he surprised
to find himself conducted to a prison the moment be had
crossed the Rhine.

At Mayence, Captain Willoughby was confined in the same
prison with three officftra who had been condemned to death,
and were in hourly expietalion of being called out to face a
file of musketeers : ikese unfortunate men had formerly be-
longed to the gallant corps under Frederick William, Duke oC
Brunswick, who, in his romantic retreat from Saxony to the
Weser (1809), was obliged to leave them, and all his other
badly wounded followers, to the mercy of an implacable enemy.
After remaining about six weeks at Mayence, Captain
Willoughby was removed to Metz, in Lorraine, where he en-
joyed the liberty of walking about the town unattended, but
under the surveillance of the police ; an indulgence, he now,
for the first time, obtained without money.

At the end of 12 or 14 days (April 20, 1813), Napoleon
Buonaparte likewise arrived at Metz, accompanied by Marshal
Bertbier, with whom he was proceeding to join the newly

• A treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, between the Enaperor of
Russia and the Kingr of Prussia, was signed by their respective plenipoten-
tiaries, Feb. 22, 1813.

192 POSt-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

organized army in Germany, having succeeded by extraordl
nary exertions in reviving the spirit, and calling forth the
vast resources of his empire. Scarcely had he entered the
town, when an order was issued for Captain Willoughby to
be hurried off, and confined au secret in the Chateau de Bouil-
lon, the birth place of Duke Godfrey, who first reigned over
the principality of that name, and who commanded the cru-
saders at the taking of Jerusalem.

This vindictive mandate was immediately obeyed ; and for
nine months from that period, he was confined au secret in
every respect, except being allowed to correspond with pome
friends, whom he had met with at Verdun, on condition that
the governor of the chateau should always see the contents
of his letters.

Bearing in mind the fate of poor Wright and many others,
we shudder at the thought of what might have been Captain
Willoughby's destiny, had not the triumphant advance of the
allies rendered it necessary for the enemy to remove all their
prisoners further from the frontier, and thus proved the means
of his deliverance from a French state prison.

On leaving the Chateau de Bouillon, Captain Willoughby
was conducted to Peronne, in which city he continued till
the arrival of the allies at Chalons, when he contrived to'
make his escape, and again join Earl Cathcart. '

We next find Captain Willoughby at Paris, where he wit-
nessed the entry of Louis XVIIL, and was presented by Earl
Cathcart to the Emperor Alexander, after which, he received
an intimation that he was immediately to be honored witii a^
Russian order ; but which has never yet been conferred uporfit
him. At a subsequent period, he received the following letterl
from Count Steinheil, in answer to one written some time*
after his return home, thanking that general for his kindness
to him, while attached to the Finland corps, and acquainting
the Count that he had conformed to the usual etiquette, in
being introduced to the Emperor and the Minister of War,
before he quitted his Imperial Majesty's service : —

"Monsieur le Capitalne, — \' ayant pas re<;u de vos nouvelles depuis !
temps lursquc vous fQtci fait prisonnier, votrc lettre du 5 Mars <ftk m' &p-

Post-captains op 1810. 198

prit que V0U9 dtes parmt les vivants et que vous vous trourez dans votre
patrie, m' a caus^ unc satisfaction particuli^re.

" Aprti3 mon retour d'une inspection, j'ai ordonnd d'abord de faire une
relation exacte de res services ; je I'ai communiqu^e sous le 31 Juillet,
vieux style, au ministre fonctionnaire de la ^erre. Monsieur le Prince de
GortzchakofT, avec la pribre de deinander de sa Majesty lmp<5riale pour vous,
en r^corapenae de vos m^rites, I'ordre de Ste Anne de la seconde classe.
Je ne doute pas que Sa Majesty Imp^-riale rendc justice aux raisons que
j'u eu le plaisir de pouvoir all^guer eo votre fnveur, conformdment k la
\int6.

** En vous Bouhaitant une restitution parfalte de votre maladic j'ai I'hon-
neur d' f trc avec cstirne. Monsieur le Capitaine, votre trds humble et
tr^ ob^^issant scrviteur.

" Abo, ce 4-6 Aoftt, 1815. " Stbinhbil."

" j4 Motuteur le Capitmne AT. J. mUoughbft ie k9Ut bord de la tnarine
Royal (fAngltjterre.*'

On the 4th Jan. 1815, a Supplement to the London Ga-
zette of the preceding day, announced that H. R. H. the
Prince Regent, being desirous of commemorating the auspi-
cious termination of the long and arduous contest in which
this empire had been engaged, and of marking, in an especial
manner, his gracious sense of the " valour, perseverance, and
devotion," manifested by the officers of his Majesty's forces
by sea and land, had thought it fit to advance the splendour
and extend the limits of the most honorable Military Order
of the Bath, to the end that those officers who had had the
opportunities of signalizing themselves by eminent services
during that contest, might share in the honors of the said
Order, and " that their names might be handed down to remote
posterity, accompanied by the marks of distinction which
they had so nobly earned."

Without wishing to refer invidiously to the honors which
were then bestowed on any of Captain Willoughby's brother
officers, every one of whom who had lost a limb or an eye in
battle, while holding post rank, was created a Knight Com-
memder, we may be permitted to say, that the dangers which
he has ever been forward to encounter, the hard fought actions
in which he has been engaged, the many dangerous wounds
which he has received, and the numerous honourable records
of his devotion to the service of his country, were sufficient

SUPPL. PART II. O

104 . F0St-CAPTAlNS OF 1810.

to exdte in him a hope, that in the distribution of honors,
forming as it were a scale by which professional merit wonld
necessarily be measured in the public esteem, a higher rank
/jnight have been allotted to him than that of a Companion.
We do not believe that there is an officer in either profession
vrho has ever exhibited greater " valour^ perseverance, and
levotion:" the foregoing recital of his services will prove
that he " 7iobli/ earned" the latter " mark of distinction^
on ten several occasions, while commanding the Otter and
Nereide : the loss of an eye in battle, after he obtained the
command of a frigate, was in itself sufficient to constitute a
fair claim to the higher honor of K. C. B. — added to this, he
received two other nearly mortal wounds when serving as a
Post-Captain ; and the College of Surgeons, as we have before
observed, officially reported that, in addition to the loss of
his eye, he had sustained injuries more tlian equal to that of
a limb. We, therefore, cannot but consider, that in two
points, wherein others were deemed entitled to that superior
rank, he was unfairly excluded. Altogether, Captain Wil-
loughby has received five nearly mortal wounds, besides
others more trifling.

It is no less worthy of remark, that although Captains Pym,
Lambert, and Curtis, were all appointed to frigates soon after
their return from captivity at the Isle of France, Captain
Willoughby did not succeed in getting another command un-
til Sept. 1818, when he received a commission for the Tri-
bune 42 ; in which ship he served for some time on the coast
of Ireland, and afterwards conveyed Rear-Admiral Fahie to
the Leeward Islands station. This, his last appointment,
he held tillJuly 15, 1822.

It affords us much gratification to add, that one of the first
acts of H. R. H. the Lord High Admiral, was to sooth the
wounded feelings of Captain Willoughby, who had endured,
for twelve years, that which to an honorable mind is nearly
analogous to disgrace. Estimating the gallant captain's ser-
vices by their own circumstances, rather than by the measure
of honorary reward which had been allotted to them in
1815, H. R. Highness was graciously pleased to obtain him
the honor of knighthood, June 30, 1827. More than this the

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810, 195

august Prince could not do, as none beneath the rank of Gene-
ral and Flag-officers are now admitted to the honor of K. C. B.

One of Sir Nisbet J. Willoughby's brothers, a captain in
the 50th regiment of foot, was drowned at the debarkation of
the British army, under Earl Cathcart, near Copenhagen,
August 16, I8O7. His youngest brother Ferris, perished in
the Sylph sloop, off Long Island, Jan. 17, 1815.

There is an excellent full length portrait of Sir Nisbet J.
Willoughby (by Barber) at WoUaton, the principal scat of
the head of his family, Henry Lord Middleton : the same
mansion also contains one of Admiral Sir Hugh Willoughby,
who was frozen to death in a desert part of Russian Lapland,
when endeavouring to discover a N. E. passage to China, in
the year 1553 •.

EDWARD WALLIS HOARE, Esq.

This officer is related to Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert
Stopford, K.C.B. He was made a Lieutenant in Aug. 1/96;

• Dr. Robertson says : — " Richard Chancelour, the captain of the other
vessel, \na more fortunate ; he entered the White Sea, and wintered in
safety at Archanjfcl. Though no vessel of any foreign nation had ever
vi-iti'tl that quarter of the globe before, the inhabitants receired their new
visitors with an hospitality, which would hare done honor to a more
polished people. The English learned there, that this ^ras a province of a
vast empire, subject to the great Duke, or Cxar of Muscovy, who resided
in a great city, 1200 miles from Archangel. Chancelour, with a spirit
becoming an officer employed in an expedition for discovery, did not hesi-
tate a moment about the part which he ought to take, and set out for that
distant capital. On his arrival in Moscow, he was admitted to audience,
and delivered a letter, which the captain of each ship had received from
Edward VT, for the Sovereign of whatever country they should discover, to
John Vasilowitx, who at that time filled the Russian throne. John,
though he ruled over his subjects with the cruelty and caprice of a bar-
barous despot, was not destitute of political sagacity. He instantly per-
ceived the happy consequences that might flow from opening" an inter-
course with the western nations of Europe ; and, delighted with the fortu-
nate event to tchich he wis indeUed for this unexpected benefit, he treated
Chancelour with great respect ; and, by a letter to the King of England
invited his subjects to trade in the Russian dominions, with ample pro.
miscs of protection and favor."

o 2

Ififtg POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

advanced to the ranE of Couimg^ider Sept. 25, 1804 j and, j
posted into the MInden 74, at Bombay, Oct. 16, 1810. ^

III the spring of 1811, Captain Houre was despatched front'
Maxlras to the coast of Java, with two companies of troops
on hoard, in order to await the arrival of the expedition then
fitting out at the different ports of India for the attack of thatj,
island, the only colony in the Eastern hemisphere still pos-^|
sessed by the enemy ; and to whiph so nuich iiiiportance was
attached, that the Governor-Gener;J, Lord Minto, had re-
solved to accompany the expedition in person. The follow-
ing extracts of an ofl&cial letter, contain an account of a battlQv,
between 200 seamen, marines, and soldiers, landed from the
Minden, and 500 of the enemy's European and native troops,
near Bantam, in which the latter were routed and dispersed,
with a loss of above 50 killed and 100 wounded.

" Minden, off Point St. Nicholas, June 6, ISI I.

" Sir, — I beg leave to acquaint you, that the detachment I some time
since landed opposite the Minden, for the purpose of keeping open the
cornmuriication with the Pangorah, and procuring supplies for the scjuadron,
was yesterday niorning, a few minutes after day-light, uncxpectetlly attacked
by a considerable budy of the enemy, un their right, within pistol-shot,
which was sustained on both sides, for the space of fifteen minute*, with
much obstinacy ; when the enemy were repulsed, and retired in (;onfusion,

" During the attack, I landed from the Minden, the remainder of the
detachments of the i4th and S.9th regiments, with the seamen trained to
areall arms, to support our brave fellows ; whom they had scarcely joined,
when our little army, consisting in all of 200 meiv were a f'econd time
attacked on their left by a fresh body of the enemy coming on in force,
and with remarkable steadiness, reserving their fire till within fifteen paces ;
when a 8{)irited contest commenced, which was in a short time decided iii
our favor, the enemy finding it impossible to withstand the steady deiei>{.
mined fire of British troops • • •. It is impossible. Sir, after so severe a
contest, but to expect some loss, and I littve to lament that ours has becu
considerablef • • •. From information I have just receivetl, it appeara
the enemy have retreated to Chcriegong, a post ubont fifteen miles to thft
eastward o( this place. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Sigued) "E. W.IIoark"

** To George Sayer, Esq. Senior Offiitr

of H M. squadron off Datuviar

Great praise appears to Iw due to Captain Watson of the
14th regiment, Lieutenant Dunscombc of the 89th, and Cap-

t ii marines killed ; 1 seaman, 12 marines, and 10 soMiers, wounded.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. 107

tiin Robert Whitr, R. M. together with the officers and merf'
under their respective commands, for the gallantry and zrtfl
displayed by them on this occasion. " The enemy's defeat,**
says Captain Sayer, " was so complete, that they left behind
many of their arms, drums, and military apparatus, evert
their hats ; not thirty of them being able to escape in a body
toi^ether."

On the 30th of the following month, Fort Marrack, situ-
ated on a promontory to the westward of Batavia, mounting
fiftif'four hravif gunSy and garrisoned by 180 soldiers, be-
sides the crews of two g\m-boats, was mo«t heroically
stoniied and carried by Lieutenant Kdniund Lyoiw, of the
Minden, at the head of only 2 midshipmen (one of them'i/'
mere child in years) and 32 men. The particulars of this
very brilliant achievement will be given in our memoir of that
gallant and enterprising officer, — u Post-Captain of 1814.

AgeiUs, — ^Icbsrs. Stilwell.

WILLIAM ELLIOT, Esq.

A Companion of the Mott Honorahle MUitanf Order of the liath, and
Knig-ht Commander >f thv Hoyal PoptHgnete Order of^the T&%eer and
Strord*.

This officer was born at Cawsand, in Cornwall, Dec. 15,
J/i^J and he entered the naval service, Feb. 21, IJ^-^t wKH
no better prospect than that of ultimately becoming a purser;
his only professiooal friend being Mr. P. Eller)', captain *»-
clerk of the Irresistible 74, comumiMled by the late Admiral
John I^igh Douglas, who allowed liim to join that ship as an
assistant to hh* amanuensisf. ''"^

In the action off KOrient, June 23, 1796, we find ^^r.
Elliot serving as a volunteer of the first class, and receiving
a wound, Mhich, although not dangcnnis, was of such a
nature as to render it necessary for him to be sent home in
the hospital-ship attached to Lord Bridport's fleet. Some
time after his recovery, he was removed from the guard-ship
at Plymouth to the Carnatic 74, Captain Richard Grladail,

* Captain EUiot'3 name is roi^-spelt iu the Admiralty List.
t Admiral J . L. Douglas died in Montague Square, Loildoi^Wov! W, IfilO.

198 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

whom he Buccesslvely followed into the Colossus and Russel
third rates, in which latter ship he continued as a midship-
man, mider the respective commands of Captains Grindall*,
Archibald Dickson, Henry Trollope, Herbert Sawyer, and
William Cuming, until she was put out of commission, at
Plymouth, in the spring of ] 802 j after sharing in two of our
most brilliant naval engagements, under Duncan and Nelson,
off Camperdown and Copenhagen, Oct. 11, 1797> and April
2, 1801 1.

After passing the usual examination, Mr. Elliot was or-
dered by Earl St. Vincent to join the Audacious 74, then
about to sail for Jamaica, where he received his first com-
mission, dated Mar. 17, 1802, and from whence he returned
home in la Nereide frigate.

Lieutenant Elliotts next appointment was to the Plantiige-
net 74, in which ship he assisted at the capture of a large
French privateer, and a beautiful corvette mounting 22 guns J.
In 1805, he was appointed first of the Rattler sloop, com-
manded by Captain Francis Mason, with whom he afterwards
joined the Daphne 24, at the particular request of that very
respectable officer.

In our memoir of Captain Mason, we have already
noticed the dreadful weather encountered by the Rattler,
when proceeding to Newfoundland | ; but without men-
tioning the circumstance of her falling in with a raer-
^ phant-brig belonging to Poole, lying on her beam ends, and
her crew, with two women, lashed to the weather side, ex-
pecting each succeeding moment to be their last. These poor
creatures, 9 in number, were rescued from their perilous
situation, through the intrepidity and great personal exertions
of Lieutenant Elliot, who volunteered to attempt their deli-
verance, notwithstanding it then blew a perfect hurricane,
and success appeared impossible. The Rattler first lowered

• Captain Grindall commanded the Irresistible in Lord Bridport's ac-
tion, on which occasion he bore a distinguished part, and was severely
wounded : he resigned the Russel on account of ilUhealtb ; commanded the
Prince 98, at Trafalgar; was nominated a K. C. B. in 1815 ; and died at
Wickham, Hants, May 23, 1820, aged /O years.

f Sec Vol. I., pp. 1 5() et seq., and note at p. 84/.

: See Vol. II.. Part I., p. 175. h See Suppl. Part I, p. 60, Par. 3.

PIHT-CAPTAINB OF 1810. lUi)

her jolly-boat, but she was instantly swamped : tlie yawl
was then launched overboard, and altliough only 6 volunteers
ctjuld be procured out of the whole ship's company, Lieute-
nant Elliot proceeded to make his daring attempt. At 10 P.
M., he succeeded in getting under the lee of the brig ; but the
sea ran so high, and beat so heavy on her, that he found it
impracticable to get alongside till day-light, when the wea-
ther moderated, and he had the happiness of fully accom-
plishing his object : — In less than an hour afterwards^ the
vessel went to the bottom ! Lieutenant Elliot's courageous
perseverance ou thi:> occasion, was thus acknowledged by tlie
master of the ill-fated brig, in a letter addressed to Dr.
Hawes, the Treasurer of the Royal Humane Society ;—

" Po^U, Jajniaty27, 1S06.

*' Sir,—- 1 be^ leave to recomuiead to tke notice uf the Royal Iluinaoe
Society, Lieutenant \N*iirjain Elliot, for rcstulnf^ me and my crew from the
wreck of the merchant brig Success, who, though intreatcd not to hazanl
his life, still persisted in the attempt. Permit me to say, that I think
Lieutenant Elliot not unworthy of your notice, and by laying the particu-
lars before the R. H. S. you will oblif^e, &c.

(Signed) " J. 0. Robinson."

On another occasion, whilst in the Rattler, Lieutenant
Elliot saved the lives of three men, who could not swim, by
jumping overboard after them, at sea. We have not been
able to find a copy of Captain Mason's letter to the above in-
stitution, but we are informed, that its honorary medallion
has been twice presented to the subject of this memoir.

In October 1806, the Daphne accompanied the naval and
military reinforcements sent to Buenos Ayres ; and Lieute-
nant Elliot commanded a party of her seamen at the storming
of Monte Video, Feb. 3, 1807 *• The particulars of a very
gallant exploit afterwards performed by him on the Baltic
station, are thus detailed in an official letter from Captain
Mason to Rear- Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, dated off Lcssoe : —

" Sir, — Judging from the cargo of the sloop destroyed on the22d, that
the rest of the enemy's vessels at Fladstrand were also loaded with provi-
sions, and destined for the relief of Norway, I conceived it to be an object
to attempt getting them out ; and the officers and crews of both ships
having volunteered, I, last night, sent three boats from this ship, and the
Tartarus two, all under the direction of Lieutenant William Elliot, first of

* See Vol. I, p. 666 *, and note at the bottom.

300 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

the Daphne, accompanied by Mr. Hugh Stewart, master; Lieutenant
Boger, R. M. ; Messrs. Beazeley, Dureil, Elliot, Moore, and Ayton,
midshipmen; and Lieutenants Gittins and Patterson ; and Messrs. Sept-
ford, Lussman, and Andrews, midshipmen of the Tartarus. They were
towed near the shore by the Forward gun-brig. They found the vessels
moored close under the foot of the castle, which mounts 10 guns, with
hawsers fast to the shore ; and immediately on getting to them, the alarm
was given by some Danish boats : the enemy instantly forsook the vessels,
and the castle and three other guns began, and kept up a heavy fire of
round, grape, and musketry ; many of the shot went through the hulls
and sails of the vessels, notwithstanding which, the five boats cleared the
harbour of all but two brigs, both light, and one of them with neither
sails nor rudder. As no credit can accrue but to those who planned and
executed this enterprise, I trust, Sir, I may be allowed to express to you,
my admiration of the steady valour and good conduct of Lieutenant Elliot
(whose behaviour at all times led me to expect it from him), as well as
every oflScer and man employed in it. He speaks in the strongest terms
of the courage and steadiness of the officers, petty officers, seamen, and
marines of both ships. I am happy. Sir, to add, that the loss is very
trifling on either side, which I am surprised at, having observed from the
ship the heavy fire kept up by the enemy. A Danish boat, with 5 men in
, it, having the temerity to persist in endeavouring to retake one of the
vessels, although repeatedly warned by Lieutenant Elliot, the latter was
obliged with his people to fire in their own defence, and 3 of the 5 fell ;
on our side there were 3 wounded by the enemy, and one by mistake, but
none badly. Amongst the former is Lieutenant Elliot, which, with his
being an old Lieutenant, and a very deserving oflicer, will, I trust, be an
additional inducement with you, to recommend him to the notice of my
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I enclose a list of the wounded.
• * * *. All but my first Lieutenant and one seaman are able to do duty."

On this occasion. Lieutenant Elliot received a severe con-
tusion in the middle of the right thigh, by a splinter, when on
board one of the enemy's vessels ; and a seaman belonging to
the Daphne was wounded in the neck by a shipmate, who had
mistaken him for an enemy. The prizes consisted of 5 brigs,
3 galliots, 1 schooner, and 1 sloop ; the whole of which, ex-
cept one galliot, were deeply laden with grain and provisions,
as the captain of the Daphne had anticipated.

As a reward for his distinguished conduct. Lieutenant
Elliot was once more sent to the West Indies on promotion,
and directed to proceed thither as a passenger on board the
Brazen sloop of war. — From that vessel he removed into the
Castor frigate, for the purpose of joining Sir Alexander Coch-
rane, commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station.

POST-CAPl'AINB OF 1810. 901

On the IGth April 1809, the Castor assisted at the capture
of the Hautpoult, a French ship of 74 guns, and 680 men :
during the pursuit, Mr. Elliot was ordered by her captain to
do duty as first Lieutenant, an appointment which was im-
mediately afterwards confirmed by the Admiral, who had
joined in the chase, but, owing to the bad sailing of his flag-
ship, was rendered incapable of affording any assistance *.

Captain Fahie, in his official letter to Sir A. Cochrane,
says, that at 3-30 A. M., the Castor succeeded in getting
within shot of the Frenchman, and soon after began a smart
cannonade, which was immediately returned by the enemy,
who, in yawing to bring his guns to bear, gave the Pompee
an opportunity of ranging up abreast of him. We have been
told by an officer who wiis present, that the Huutpoult's tiller-
ropes were shot away by the Castor. The latter ship, com-
manded by Captain William Roberts, had one man killed
and six otliers wounded.

in August following. Lieutenant Elliot was appointed act-
ing Commander of the Pultusk sloop of war, in which vessel
he made several captures off the north end of Guadaloupe.
Towards the close of the same year, he assisted Captain
George Miller, of the Thetis frigate, in an attack upon a
French national brig, lying at anchor in the port of Dea
Hayes ; but after a warm action of about two hours, it was
found impossible to make any impression on the fort by
which she was defended. During this attack, the Pultusk was
repeatedly hulled, and indeed nearly sunk, two of the enemy's
shot having passed between wind and water, after her pumps
had been rendered useless.

The next step adopted by Captain Miller, in order to ob-
tain possession of the enemy's vessel, was to place a party of
seamen under the orders of his first Lieutenant, whom he
directed to land after dark, and try to storm the fort ; but that
officer, not finding a convenient landing place, and being fired
upon by some troops posted behind rocks, was speedily ob-
liged to retreat. Captain Elliot, who, when consulted by the
senior officer, had confidently predicted the failure of the
attempt, if made by night, now offered his services to con-
• SeeVol. I, p. 717.

202 POgf-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

duct an attack the following day*; and his proposal behig
acceded to by Captain Miller, a landing was accordingly
effected at noon, about 6 miles from the fortification ; the
Pultusk having previously towed the boats, containing about
90 officers and men, within musket shot of the shore.

The difficulties Captain Elliot and his brave followers sur-
mounted in finding their way through an almost impenetrable
wood, over a high hill, without any path or guide, afford
another instance of the perseverance and intrepidity of British
seamen and marines. While on their march, most of the
officers and men lost their shoes, canteens, &c. ; and when
only half-way through the wood they heard a detachment of
French soldiers on their right, proceeding towards the spot
where they had disembarked. This rendered it necessary to
halt for a few minutes, and it was nearly 6 o'clock before
they arrived near the fort. Having no time to lose, as it was
probable that the above mentioned troops would soon return.
Captain Elliot then formed his party close to the edge of
the wood, and proceeded singly to ascertain where the en-
trance of the fort was situated. After making one turn to
his left by a hedge, he discovered the drawbridge, partly
drawn up, and a centinel, who advanced and challenged him.
Receiving no answer, the Frenchman turned suddenly round,
walked back about 20 yards, and, screening himself behind
the corner of a wall, fired at, but missed his pursuer, whom
he afterwards attempted to bayonet : in this design, however,
he was fortunately prevented by Captain Elliot, who shot
him with his left hand pistol, at tlie moment they were com-
ing into close contact.

The Frenchman, although he instantly fell, was still capa-
ble of doing mischief, for on Captain Elliot turning round to
order the storming party forward, he managed to get up un-
perceived, and aimed a tremendous blow at him with his
musket, the butt-end of which inflicted a severe contusion on
the chest, whilst the cock of the lock, as the piece descended,
was literally driven into the knee of our gallant and unsus-
pecting countryman. Both parties now came together to the
ground, but not before Captain Elliot had used his cutlass so
effectually as to seal the fate of his antagonist.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. M^

1(1 five minutes after thit) occurrence, Captain Elliot and the
whole of his men were within the walls of tlie fort, he him-
BCif having been assisted over the drawbridge by a non-
commissioned officer of marines. The French garrison
(amounting, by the account of a prisoner, to 300 men) were
completely taken by surprise : — some jumped over the para-
pets, and concealed themselves among tlie surrounding bushes;
some defended themselves unth becoming spirit ; and others
were token in tlic barrack, without resistance ; their arms,
piled in front of the building, being previously secured by tlie
British. Tlie drawbridge was then hauled up, the guns
towards the road loaded with grape, and those to seaward di-
rected against the brig, which was immediately compelled
to surrender.

No sooner had the enemy afloat announced their submis-
lapli, by hailing, than Captain Elliot directed all the ordnance
to be thro>vn over the walls, and a train laid to destroy the
magazine and barrack. He then went oflf in a French boat
and took possession of his prize, which proved to be le Nisus,
a new brig, mounting 18 thirty-two pounders, with a com-
plement of 150 men, many of whom had jumped overboard
and swam to the shore on finding the guns of the fort turned
against them. The remainder of the business on shore was
conducted with great zeal and abihty by Mr. Nathaniel Bel-
hier, first Lieutenant of the Thetis.

Le Nisus had recently arrived at Des Hayes with a supply
of provisions from I'Orient, and when captured was waiting a
favorable opportunity to sail for France with a return cargo of
coffee. Captain Elliot found her aground ; but a breeze spring-
ing up, he got| her off without difficulty ; and she was after-
wards commissioned as the " Guadaloupe " sloop of war.

On the 18th Dec. 1809, Captain Elliot was present at the
destruction of two large French frigates in Ance le Barque,
together with a heavy battery by which they were defended*.
We subsequently find him commanding the Hazard sloop,
and greatly distinguishing himself, both afloat and on
shore, during the siege of Guadaloupe, on the surrender of

• .See Vol. I. p. 878 et teq.

204 P08T-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

which island he was ordered to convey the bearers of the na-
val and military despatches to England f.

On his return home (March ISIO), Captain Elliot received
an official letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, acquaint-
ing him, that in consequence of his meritorious services in
the West Indies, the Lords Commissioners had been pleased
to order a minute to be made for his promotion to post rank,
to take place at the expiration of twelve months, from the
date of his confirmation as a Commander ; and in December
following, on his arrival from Newfoundland, he had the
gratification of receiving a commission, dated, according to
promise, Oct. 16, in the same year.

From the above period. Captain Elliot was obliged through
ill-health, occasioned by his wounds and repeated change of
climate, to remain on shore tillJune 1812, when, considering
himself sufficiently recovered to serve again afloat, be applied
for employment, and was immediately appointed to the Cro-
codile of 28 guns, in which ship he continued, on the Guern-
sey and Lisbon stations, till she was ordered to be paid off
in June 1815.

Captain Elliot was nominated a C. B. in 1815 : his next
appointment appears to have been September 5, in the same
year, to the Florida 20 ; and from her we find him removed
April 8, 1816, to the Scamander frigate, fitting for the West
Indies, where he evinced great zeal in protecting British
commerce, and preventing the principles of omt trade from
violation, by seizing ten vessels of different descriptions, for
various breaches of the navigation laws.

On the 2l8t Oct. 1817, Captain Elliot encountered a most
destructive hurricane, near Barbadoes, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that the Scamander e8caj)€d its dreadful
ravages. — For his subsequent exertions in saving numerous
vessels which had been dismasted and driven ashore in Car-
lisle Bay, he received a very flattering letter from the mer-
f The Hazard led Commodore Ballard's scjuadron into Auce le Uarqve,
and assisted in taking possession of the eoemy'$ batterios, wbicU eiiaUled
the troops under Brigadier-General Harcuurt, to land without oppo:iitiou.
Captain Elliot was afterwards attached to the second division of the army.
— Soe the extract of Sir George Beckwith's General Orders, inserted at
p. 879 of our tirst volume.

POST CAPTAINS OF 1810. 206

chants of Uiat ishind, whose brethren ut 'rrinidnd also voted
him their thanks for rescuing considerable property belong-
ing to thcni, which had fidlen into the hands of some Spanish
pirates, and been carried into la Guiara. The Scamander was
paid off at Portsmouth, in November 1818.

Captain Elliot's last appointment was, Nov. 22, 1823, to
the Lively of 46 guns, in which frigate he escorted Don
Miguel, then an exile, from Lisbon to lircst : on his return
to the Tagus, he was honored with the compaiiy of King
John, tlic Infantas of Portugal, and the Ministers of State,
all of whom had been invited to a grand fete given on
board the Lively, and which his Portuguese Majesty declared
it) be the most splendid entertainment he ever witnessed.
Among other honors distributed by the happy monarch, to
coniiuemorate his restoration to power, was the insignia of a
Knight Commander of the Tower and Sword, set in diamonds,
presented to the subject of this memoir, who has since re-
ceived his own sovereign's most gracious permission to accept
and wear the same.

On the 2d Jan. 182(5, the Lively arrived at Plymouth from
Vera Cru/, with despatches, announcing the surrender of the
castle of St. Juan d'UUoa to the Mexican forces. On her
being paid off, the officers gave a splendid dinner to Captain
Elliot, at the Royal Hotel, Devonport, " to evince their sense
of his kindness to them, while under his command, and as a
mark of their high esteem for the man and for the officer."

Captain Elliot married, first, in 1806, Lucretia, daughter of
the Rev. John Harries of Newfoundland ; and by that lady,
who died at Barbadoes, in 1818, he had four children, all of
whom are deceased : 2dly, Sarah, daughter of John Parkin,
Esq., ship-builder at Frank Quarry, co. Devon, by whom he
has issue two sons and one daughter. He has three brothers
in the naval service, viz. — John, a Purser ; and Thomas and
James, Lieutenants. One of his sisters is married to Lieu-
tenant Lapidge, R. N.

ytgents^-^Mcasra. Stilwell.

206 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

JAMES COLLINS, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant early in 1781 ; and promoted to
the rank of Commander, at the latter end of 1796. He com-
manded the Meteor bomb, in the expedition against Constan-
tinople, and at the defence of Rosas ; in 1807 and 1808: on
the former service, his vessel had both her mortars burst, and
sustained a loss of 8 killed and wounded : on the latter occa-
sion, he ** conducted the bombardment with great ability, and
was indefatigable in the annoyance he gave the enemy by it."
So says Lord Collingwood, in an official letter to the Ad-
miralty, dated Dec. 1, 1808 : the following mention is made
of his meritorious conduct by Captain John West, under
whose orders he was first employed in Rosas bay : —

" I bc^- leave to conclude this despatch to your Lordship, by expressing
how hi:,'hly satisfied I have been willi the conduct of the ofllccrs and com-
pany of the ¥liip I have the honor to command, as likewise of those of the
Aleteor and Lucifer bombs, commanded by Captains Collins and Hall,
whose ^eat exertions, during the arduous and most fatiguinpf service they
have imperiously been called upon to perform, reflect the greatest credit
upon them •."

Lord Cochrane, when reporting the capitulation of Rosas,
informed the commander-in-chief, that he ** also felt in-
debted to Captain Collins for his aid f." Whilst engaging the
enemy between the 7th and 20th Nov. 1808, the Meteor ap-
pears to have had 6 men wounded.

Captain Collins subsequently commanded the Columbine
of 18 guns, in which brig we find him serving at the period
of his advancement to post rank, Oct. 21, 1810. He ob-
tained the out-penaion of Greenwich Hospital, Aug. 24, 1812.

JOHN CllISPO, Esq.

Received his first commission at the close of the Spanish
annament, 1/90; and subsequently commanded the Alert
schooner, employed conveying the mails to and from New
York and Halifax, which vessel he lost on St. John'», now

• iVav. Chron. v. 21, p. 167.
t Sec Memoir of Captain Frbdkrick Marrtatt, C. U.

POST-CAPTAIWS OF 1810. 20/

Prince Ed\7ard'8, Island, when returning from Quebec to
Nova Scotia. In Aug. 17TK>, wc find him commanding the
Telemachus hired cutter, on the Channel station, where he
captured la Margueritta and le Requin, French privateers :
the former of 4 guns and 48 men ; the latter armed with
swivels, and carrying 22 men. His promotion to the rank of
Commander took place eariyjn l/Q?- During the latter part
of the revolutionary war, he was actively employed in com-
mand of the Resource troop- ship.

Captain Crispo's last appointment was, about May 1808,
to the Little Belt, of 18 guns ; in which sloop he sailed for
the West Indies, June 22, 1809. Hia post commission bears
date, Oct. 21, 1810.

urgent — John Copland, Esq.

ROBERT KEEN, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in 1783 ; appointed to the Penelope
cutter in 1793 ; and promoted to the rank of Commander in
1797.

On the 21st June, 17^» Captiin Keen, then commanding
the Chapman hired armed ship, joined a squadron of frigates
under the orders of Sir Thomas Williams, employed in co-
operation with the King's troops near Wexford ; and was
directed by that officer to anchor close in shore, for the pur-
pose of covering the boats of the squadron, which had been
sent to block up the entrance of the harbour, the Irish rebels
having collected a number of vessels, in order to secure their
retreat if hard pressed by the royalists. At the same time.
Captain Keen was ordered to land, and endeavour to possess
himself of a fort at the entrance ; which service he performed
with great promptitude and alacrity, compelling 200 rebels
to fly, with the loss of their colours and three pieces of can-
non; Finding the fort in his possession, the boats imme-
diately pushed up the harbour and secured the enemy's
vessels. General Lake having in the mean time obtained a
signal victory over their main body at Vinegar Hill, and a de-
tachment from his army having entered W^exford so oppor-
tunely as to prevent that town from being laid in ashes.

208 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

Captain Keen's subsequent appointments were, to the Spit-
fire sloop, the Rye district of Sea Fencibles, and the Echo, a
new brig, in which vessel he captured the French lugger
privateer Capricieux, of 16 guns, near Dieppe, March 11,
1810. His advancement to post rank took place Oct. 21, in
the same year.

jigent — John Copland, Esq.

JOHN LAWSON, Esq.

Commanded the Thracian brig, of 18 guns, whni pro-
moted to post rank, Oct. 21, 1810.
Agent.— i. Dufaur, Esq.

CHRISTOPHER WATSON, Esq.

Received his first commission about Juno, 1782; and
served as senior Lieutenant of the Lancaster 61, Captain (now
Sir John) Wells, at the defeat of the Dutch fleet, noarCamper-
down, Oct. 11, 1797*; immediately after which he was
promoted to the rank of Commander. His post commission
bears date Oct. 21, 1810; and we subsequently find him
employed in the transport service, at Ramsgate. He died in
Nov. 1823.

THOMAS WHITE, Esq. {h)

Was made a Commander in the summer of 1708,and posted'
whilst serving in the Avenger sloop, Oct. 21, 1810.
^^-cw^.— Sir F. M. Ommanney.

GEORGE SAYER, Esq. {h)

Obtained the rank of Lieutenant, in 1790 ; and served a»
first of the Ethalion frigate, at the defeat of Mons. Bom-
pard, by Sir John B. Warren, Oct. 12, 1798 f. The following
is an extract of his captain's oflicial letter, reporting the cap-
ture of la Bellone : —

• See Vol. I, Part f, p. 2?^. t Sec Vol. I, Part 1, p. 171.

MST-CAPTAINS Ot 1810. 209

** After the Hochc struck, we pursued the weathermost frii^ate, who
was making off, and sailed very fast. After a considerable chase, we came
up with and engaged her; she made au obstinate re8i;itance for an hour
and fifty minutes, after we got abreast of her, when she struck her colours,
ujost of her sails having come down, and five feet water in her hold. She
proved to be the Bellone, of 36 guns, 12-pounders, having 3(X) soldiers on
i)oard, besides her crew •. The squadron chased to leeward, and of course
we separated, being obliged to remain by the prize.

" I cannot speak too highly of the bravery and conduct of all my officen
during the action, as well as of their extreme vigilance in watching them t
for 1 7 days. Mr. Sayer, first Lieutenant, is in the prize, and I can with
pleasure say, his Majesty has not a more zealous or a better ofiicer. We
had one man killed aad three wounded : the enemy appear to have had
twenty killed J.

(Signed) " Georob Codktcss^.**

Immediately after this action, Lieutenant Sayer was pro-
moted ; and we subsequently find him commanding the
Ulysses 44, armed en flute, on the Mediterranean station ;
where he received the Turkish gold medal, at the close of the
Egyptian campaign.

After the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, Captain Sayer held
a command in the Ramsgate district of Sea Fencibles. His
ne.xt appointment was to the Raleigh brig, of 18 guns, on the
North Sea station. In Feb. 1810, he captured, off Beachy
Head, la Modeste, French lugger privateer, of 4 guns, pierced
for 18, and 43 men.

On the 23d May following, being then off the Scaw, in
company with the Alban and Princess of Wales, cutters, the
Raleigh engaged seven Danish gun-vessels, one of which was
blown up, and the others obliged to disperse, greatly da-
maged. On the 2d Nov. in the same year, Captain Sayer
captured the Admiral Neil Suul, Danish privateer schooner
pierced for 16 guns, but with only 10 mounted, and a com-
plement of 28 men. He also, the same day, recaptured a
valuable American ship, from St. Petersburgh, bound to Lon-

• Total 519 men. The Ethalion was an 18-pounder frigate, rated at 38.
t M. Bompard's squadron. X And -15 wounded.

% Died a Rear-Admiral, inlSll . To his judicious management in keeping
sight of the enemy from the moment of their leaving port, and sending in-
telligence thereof to Sir J. B. Warren, the success of the above day is, in
a great measure, to be attributed.

SUPPL. PART II. P

210 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

don. Captain Sayer's promotion to post rank took place
twelve days previous to the capture of the above schooner ;
from which period we find no mention of him, until his ap-
pointment to the Antelope, a 50-gun ship, fitting for the flag
of Rear-Admiral John Harvey, August 22, 1815.

This oflBcer married, in 1/99, the daughter of Mr. Law-
rence, Storekeeper at Keyham Point. Two of his sons died
in the naval service.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

JAMES ANDREW WORTH, Esq.

Son of the late Superannuated Rear-Admiral James Worth.
This oflBcer was made a Lieutenant in 1 794 ; and we first find
him commanding the Stag armed cutter, in which vessel he
captured la Zelie privateer, Jan. 5, 1798. He was subse-
quently appointed to the Telegraph hired brig, mounting 14
eighteen- pounder carronades, and 2 long sixes, with a com-
plement of 60 oflBicers, men and boys. The following is a
copy of his official letter, to the late Admiral Sir Richard
King, reporting the capture of another French cruiser : —

" Telrg-raph, Torlnnj, March 19, 1799.

" Sir, — I have the honor to inform you, I arrived here at 7 o'clock this
evening, with i'Hirondelle brig corvette, mounting 16 guns, long nines
and six-pounders, and 89 men, when she sailed from St. Maloes tliree days
since, but having captured an American schooner, and an English sloop,
reduced her complement to ,7'2. I discovered I'Hirondelle on Monday
morning, at day-light, on the lee bow, the Isle de Bas S. E. 9 leagues :
she immediately tacked and stood towards me. At half-pust 7, being
close alongside, an action commenced, which continued for three hours and
a half i and after several attempts to board on both sides, she being totally
unrigged, she struck, and proved to be the vessel above described. Five
of her crew were killed and 14 wounded : the Telegraph had 5 wounded.
I am proud to say, the company of the Telegraph behaved as English
sailors always do on such occasions ; and to acknowledge the very able
assistance I received from Mr. George Gibbs, the master. I shall return
to Plymouth the moment the wind will allow me *.

(Signed) " J. A. Worth."

For this service, Lieutenant Worth was promoted, March

♦ Mr. James calls I'llirondellea privateer ; and we are inclined to be-
lieve that he is right, particularly as the name and rank of her commander
b not stated in the above letter.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 211

29, 17^; from which period we lose sight of him, until his^
appointment to the Helena sloop, on the Irish station, about
March 1806. In 1809, he captured the following French
privateers : —

VAugutte, of 2 ^n« and 24 men, Feb. 28; le Jason, lOjjtins, 44 men,
Sept. 1 ; and le Revenge, pierced for 16 ^uns, 61 men, Nov. 13.

On the 19th April, 1810, after a chase which continued
from day-light until 9 P. M., Captain Worth likewise cap-
tured le Grand Napoleon, a new and well-appointed brig pri-
vateer, of 280 tons, mounting 12 English 18-poundcr carron-
ades and 4 long guns, with a complement of 124 men. His
advancement to post rank took place Oct. 21, in the same year.

During the latter part of the war. Captain Worth succes-
sively commanded the Bulwark and Venerable 74*s, bearing
the flag of Rear-Admiral (now Sir Philip) C. Durham, on the
North Sea, Channel, and West India stations. In Dec. 1813,
the latter ship captured le Jason French letter of marque,
pierced for 22 guns, mounting 14, with a complement of 54
men : this prize was laden with silks, wines, and various
other articles of merchandise, from Bourdeaux bound to New
York. The following are copies of the Rear-Admiral's pub-
lic letters to Mr. Croker, reporting the capture of two very
fine frigates, a few days after that of le Jason : —

" Fenerahle at Sea, Jan. 16, 1814.

*' Sir, — I have the satisfaction of stating, that thb day, at 9 A. M., the
Cyane •, made a signal for two strangers in the N. EL, which were imme-
diately given chase to ; and owing to the very superior sailing of the Vene-
rable, I was enabled to come up within gun-shot of them at the close of
the day, leaving the Cyane far astern. On ranging up with the leeward-
moat (the night was too dark to distinguish her colours), desirous of sav-
ing her the consequences of so unequal a contest, I hailed her twice to
surrender; but the evasive answer returned, obliged me to order the guns
to be opened, as they would bear : upon this the enemy put his helm up,
and, under all sail, laid us on board, — for wtuch temerity he has suffered
most severely.

" The promptitude with which Captain Worth repelled the attempt to
board, was not less conspicuous than the celerity with wliich he passed his
men into the enemjr's frigate, and hauled down her ensign. I have much
pleasure in naming the petty officers who distinguished themselves on this

• Captain Thomas Forrest.
p 2

212 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

occasion, viz., Messrs. Maltman, Walker, and Knevill, master's mates j
and Mr. Grey, midshipman,

" This ship proves to be the Alcmene, a beautiful French fngate, of 44
guns, having a complement, at the commencement of the action, of 319
men, commanded by Captain Ducrest de Villeneuve, an officer of much
merit, and who was wounded at the time of boarding.

" To his determined resistance, aided by the darkness of the night, the
other frigate for the present owes her escape ; but I have every hope that
the Cyane will be enabled to observe her, until I have shifted the prisoners,
and repaired the trifling injury done to the rigging, during the period of the
enemy being on board.

" Our loss consists of two seamen killed and four wounded ; that of the
enemy, two petty officers and thirty seamen killed, and fifty wounded.
Lieutenant George Luke, whom I have placed in the frigate, is an old and
very deserving officer, who has served twenty years under my command."

" January 20, 1814.
" It affords me much pleasure to communicate to you, for their Lord-
ships' information, the capture of the French frigate that escaped on Sun-
day night.

" The vigilance of Captain Forrest, enabled him to keep sight of her
during the night, and two following days, when, having run 153 miles, in
the direction I judged the enemy had taken, the Venerable's superior sail-
ing gave me the opportunity of again discovering the fugitive, and, after
an anxious chase of 19 hours, to come up with and capture her.

" She is named the Iphigenia, a frigate of the largest class, commanded
by Captain Emeria, having a complement of 325 men, and, like her consort
the Alcmene, perfectly new.

** Every means to effect her escape had been resorted to, the anchors cut
away, and her boats thrown overboard. On our coming up we had run
the Cyane out of sight from the mast-head.

*' These frigates sailed in company from Cherbourgh ou the 20th Octo-
ber last, and were to cruise for six months.

" It becomes me now to notice the very meritorious conduct of Captain
Forrest, not only in assiduously keeping sight, but repeatedly offering
battle to a force so superior; nor less deserving of my warmest approba-
tion is Captain Worth, of this ship, whose indefatigable attention during
the many manoeuvres attempted by the enemy, in this long and arduous
chase, was equalled only by the exemplary behaviour of every officer and
man under his command. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) "P. C. Durham."

One of Captain Worth's sons is in the navy ; another, a
captain in the 84th Regiment, died at Port Royal, Jamaica, 1827.
yfgents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

POST-CAPTiMNS OF 1810. 213

JAMES SLADE, Esq.

We 6rst find this officer serving as senior Lieutenant of
the Latona frigate, Captain (now Vice- Admiral) Sotheron, by
whom lie was entrusted with the command of a detachment
of boats, sent to co-operate with Captain Adam Mackenzie,
in an attack upon a Dutch gun-brig, two armed schooners, a
row-boat, and several merchant vessels, lying between Schier-
monikoog and the main land of Groningen. The manner in
which this service was executed has been fully described at
p. 235, et seq. of Vol. II, Part I. The following is an extract
of the official letter written by Captain Sotheron, when trans-
mitting Captain Mackenzie's report of his proceedings :—

" I am happy to say he makes most honorable mention of my friend and
first Lieutenant, Mr. Slado, who is upon all occasions, a truly deserving;
and active officer. The Juno and Latona not being able to act, I may
without vanity say, as we were only spectators, it baa been as gallant an
achievement as ever was recorded."

Lieutenant Slade shortly afterwards witnessed the capture
of the Helder, and the consequent surrender of the Dutch
squadron, under Rear-Admiral Storey*: his promotion to
the rank of Commander took place, Sept. 2, 1799 ; on which
occasion he was appointed to I'Espi^gle sloop, employed on
the North Sea station.

Captain Slade's post commission bears date Oct. 21, 1810;
and from that period until the end of the war, we find him
commanding the Experiment, receiving-ship at Falmouth.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

WILLIAM WILLIAMS FOOTE, Esq.

Was posted Oct. 21, 1810. He married Miss Hill, of
Upminster.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford and Son.

THOMAS INNES, Esq.

RECEI^^ED his first commission in Nov. 1790 ; and was
made a Commander into the Pomona armed ship^ on tb9
• See Vol. L Part I, oote at p. 414 «/ teq.

214 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

North Sea station, Dec. 26, 1799. On the 7th Aug. 1804,
being then in the Rambler brig, he attacked a French convoy
near Isle Dieu, captured two vessels, and drove the remain-
der on shore. He was afterwards actively employed in the
Childers brig, and Myrtle ship-sloop, until his advancement
to post rank, Oct. 21, 1810.

Captain Innes's lady is a bister to Captain George Sayer, C.B.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

RICHARD JAMES LAWRENCE O'CONNOR, Esq.

Nephew to Admiral Sir Edmund Nagle, K. C. B.

This ofl&cer was made a Lieutenant in Dec. 1793 ; and
promoted to the rank of Commander, about the latter end of
April 1800. In Nov. 1804, he had the misfortune to lose the
Hannibal armed ship, that vessel having parted her cables
in the Downs, and drifted on shore near Sandown Castle,
where she was totally wrecked.

In Oct. 1807, Captain O'Connor obtained the command of
the Leveret j and on the 18th of the ensuing month he was
tried by a court-martial for the loss of that sloop, near North
Yarmouth.

" The Court having carefully and deliberately inquired into the conduct
of Captain O'Connor, his officers, and ship's company, were unanimously
of opinion, that the loss of the Leveret, on the 10th Nov., proceeded
solely from the zealous perseverance of her commander to assist and sec
the Waldemaar, a Danish 84, safe into port, the service oa which he
was previously ordered ; and as it appeared that every exertion was made
by Captain O'Connor, together with his officers and crew, to save the Le-
veret after she struck, the Court felt it their duty to severally aud respec-
tively acquit them."

No sooner had this enquiry terminated, than Captain
O'Connor was again tried, upon a charge exhibited against
him by Rear-Admiral Wells, commander-in-chief at Sheer-
ness, for " having been deficient in his duty on the evening of
the 10th Nov. 1807, inasmuch as he did not afford, or cause
to be afforded, any assistance to a frigate which he saw on
her beam -ends on shore on the Long Sand." The following
will shew the result of this second investigation :

" Having heard the evidence produced in support of the charge, and what
the prisoner had to offer in his defence, and having very maturely and de~

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 21S

liberately \fel£fhed and considered the whole »nd every part thereof ; the
Court is of opinion, that the charge is not proved ; and are further unani*
roously of opinion, that no possible blame whatever attaclies to Capiaia
O'Connor ; and do therefore fuUy acquit hina."

We subsequently find Captain O'Connor commanding the
Ned Elven brig, on the Baltic station, where he captured le
General Kapp, French privateer, of 8 guns and 41 men, in
Dec. J80S. His next appointment was to the Bonne Citoy-
enne corvette, in which vessel he continued actively employed
until promoted to post-rank, Oct. 21, 1810.

In April, 1814, Captain O'Connor assumed the com-
mand of the Prince Regent, a 58 gun-ship, built at Kings-
ton, on hake Ontario, and bearing the broad pendant of
Sir James L. Yeo, commodore of the naval force employed in
defending the Canadian frontier. The following is a copy of
that officer's official letter to Mr. Croker, reporting the suc-
cessful result of an expedition against Oswego, situated on the
river of the same name, near its confluence with the above lake.

" H. M. S. Prince Regent, Mtty 9, 1814.

" Sir, — My letter of the loth April last will have informed their lord-
ships, that H. M. ships Prince Regent and Princess Charlotte were launched
on the precedin^f day. I now have the satisfaction to acquaint yoo, for
their Lonlships' information, that the squadron, by the unremittinjf exer-
tions of the officers and men under my command, were ready on the 3d
instant, when it was determined by Lientenant-General Drumroond and
myself, that an attack should he made on the forts und town of Oswego,
which, in puint of position, is the most formidable I have seen in Upper
^' ' here the enemy had, by river navij^tion, collected from the

i ' heavy gims and naval stores for the ships, and large depots

of provisions for their army.

** At noon, on the 5th, we got off the port, and were on the point of
landing, when a heavy gale from the N. W. obliged me to gain an offing.
On the momin;^ of the 6th, every thing beinif ready, 140 troops, 200 sea-
men armed with pikes, under Captain Mulcaster, and AQO marines, were
put into the boats ; the Montreal and Niagara took their stations abreast,
and within a quarter of a mile of the fort, the Magnet opposite the town,
and the Star and Chanvell to cover the landing, which was effected under
a most heavy fire of round, grape, and musketry, kept up mth great spirit.
Our men having to ascend a very steep and long hill, were consequently
exposed to a destructive fire ; their gallantry overcoming every difficulty,
they soon gained the summit of the hill, and throwing themselves into
the fosse, mounted the ramparts on all sides, vying with each other who
should be foremost. Lieutenant Laurie, my secretary, was the first who

116 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

gained tfaa ramparts ; and LieuteDant Hewett climbed the flag-staff under
a heavy fire, and in the most j^allant style struck the American colours,
which had been nailed to the mast.

" My gallant and much esteemed friend, Captain Mulcaster, led the
seamen to the assault with his accustomed bravery ; but I lament to say,
he received a dangerous wound in the act of entering the fort, which I ap-
prehend will, for a considerable time, deprive me of his valuable services :
Mr. Scott, my first Lieutenant, who was next in command, nobly led them
on, and soon gained the ramparts.

" Captain O'Connor, of the Prince Regent, to whom I entrusted the
landing of the troops, displayed great ability and cool judgment, the boats
being under a heavy fire from all points.

" Captain Popham, in the Montreal, anchored his ship in a most gal-
lant style, sustaining the whole fire until we gained the shore. She was
set on fire three times by red-hot shot, and much cut up in her masts,
sails, and rigging. Captain Popham received a severe wound in his right
hand, and he speaks in high terms of Mr. Richardson, the master, who,
from a severe wound in the left arm, was obliged to undergo amputation
at the shoulder joint.

" Captain Spilsbury of the Niagara, Captain Dobbs of the Chanvell,
Captain Anthony of the Star, and Captain Collier of the Magnet,'be-
haved much to my satisfaction.

" The 2d battalion of royal marines excited the admiration of all ; they
were led by the gallant Colonel Malcolm, and suffered severely. Captain
Holtaway, doing duty in the Princess Charlotte, gallantly fell at the head
of his company.

*' Having landed with the seamen and marines, I liad great pleasure in wit-
nessing not only the zeal and prompt attention of the officers to my orders,
but also the intrepid bravery of the men, whose good and temperate con-
duct under circumstances of great temptation (being a whole night in the
town, employed loading the captured vessels with ordnance, naval stores,
and provisions), most justly claim my high approbation and acknow-
ledgment ; and 1 here beg leave to recommend to their Lordships' no-
tice the services of all ; of my first Lieutenant, Mr Scott, and of my aid-
de-camp, acting Lieutenant Yeo, to whom I beg leave to refer their Lord-
ships for information ; nor should the meritorious exertions of acting Lieu-
tenant Griffin, severely wounded in the arm, or Mr. Brown, both of whom
were attached to the storming party, be omitted.

" It is a great source of satisfaction to me to acquaint their Lordships,
that I have on this, and all other occasions, received from Lieutenant Ge-
neral Drummond, that support and attention which never fail in securing
perfect cordiality between the two services.

*' I herewith transmit a list of the killed and wounded, and of the ord-
nance, naval stores, and provisions, captured and destroyed by the com-
bined attack on the 6th instant. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) "James Lucas Yeo."

P08T-CAPTAIN8 OF 1810. 217

The total loss sustained by the squadron, and marine bat-
talion, was 9 killed and 37 wounded : of the troops, 8 were
slain, 29 wounded. The British carried away with them 7
long guns, 32 and 24-poundera, a quantity of ordnance-
stores, 70 coils of large rope, 2400 barrels of bread, flour,
pork, and salt, three schooners, and 60 prisoners. Three
long 24-pounders, one 12, two sixes, a schooner, the barrack,
bridge, and all other public buildings were destroyed. One
of the captured schooners mounted three heavy guns, and
was commanded by a Lieutenant in the United States' navy.
Besides the above, a quantity of cordage, various other naval
stores, and three long 32-pounders, were sunk in the river by
the Americans themselves. From this period we lose sight
of Captain O'Connor.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

FRANCIS DOUGLAS, Esq.

Eldest son of the late Francis Douglas, Esq., many years
a Purser R. N.

This otlicer was bom at Portsmouth, June 9, 1772; and
he entered the navy as a midshipman, on board the Trimmer
brig, Captain (now Sir Charles) Tyler, in Oct. 1786. We sub-
sequently find him serving in the Adamant 50, and Alcide 74 5
the latter ship commanded by his father's first cousin. Sir An-
drew Snape Douglas, of whom mention is made at p. 54, of
Vol. II, Part I. While belonging to the Adamant, Mr. Douglas
was lent, with 20 of her crew, to the Alert schooner. Lieu-
tenant (now Captain) John Crispo ; in which vessel he had
the misfortune to be wrecked on St. John's, now Prince Ed-
ward's Island, when returning from Quebec to Halifax, 1791.

Mr. Douglas next joined the Lizard of 28 guns, and after-
wards the Inconstant 36 ; from which latter frigate he removed
to the Victory, a first rate, bearing the flag of Lord Hood, by
whom he was made a Lieutenant, and appointed to command
the St. Croix schooner, on the Mediterranean station, April
5, 1794.

218 POST-CAFFAINS OF 1810.

In that vessel, Mr. Douglas assisted at the reduction of
Bastia ; and the Swallow lugger, to which he was then re-
moved, bore a part in the subsequent operations against
Calvi *. He afterwards commanded the Sincerity cutter,
and served as second Lieutenant of the Bedford 74, Captain
(now Sir Davidge) Gould, at the capture of the Ca Ira and
Censeur, French line-of-battle ships, near Genoa, March 14,
1795 t' On this occasion, the Bedford had 7 men killed, and
18, including her first Lieutenant (Thomas Miles) wounded.
All her rigging and sails were much cut, and her bowsprit,
fore-mast, fore-)'ard, main-top-sail-yard, and mizen-top-mast,
shot away.

Mr. Miles being promoted in consequence of the above
action, Lieutenant Douglas became first of the Bedford, pre-
vious to Vice-Admiral Hotham's skirmish with the Toulon
fleet, off the Hieres islands, July 13, 1795 ; and he continued
as such until her return to England, under the command of
Captain Augustus Montgomery, in Oct. 1796. An account
of her rencontre with a French squadron off Cape St. Vincent,
is given at p. 610 of Vol. I, Part II.

Lieutenant Douglas's next appointment was to the Repulse
of 64 guns. The manner in which that ship effected her es-
cape from the mutinous fleet at the Nore, is thus related by a
contemporary : —

" Tlic Leopard of 50 gnns, under the command of Lieutenant Robb,
(the Captain having been sent on shore), had the distinguished honor of
being the first to abandon the cause, after the infamous proposal of goinjif
over to the enemy was made known. This ship h;ul been one of the most
violent :•••♦•.

" The example of the Leopard was soon followed by the Repulse of 64
guns ; but this ship lay too far to the westward, to weather the Nore sand,
and gain the river Tliamcs ; she was tiiercfore obliged to mn for Sheemess
harbour. Unfortunately, the tide at that moment did not serve,— it was
about three o'clock, and there was not sufficient water to carry her over
the shoal, — this the pilot in vain represented to the seamen, who, in this
ship were nearly all in favour of the government ; and flying suddenly from
one extreme to the other, insisted upon the cables being cut and sail made :
this was done j but as the pilot had foretold, the ship groimdcd very soon

• See Vol. I, Part I, p. 251, et leq. f See id, note at p. 540.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 219

after, and lay exposed to the fire of the \Thole fleet, for the space of one hour
and twenty minutes ; those ships whose pins could not otherwise be brought
to bear, got springs on their cables, with a degree of celerity, that would
have gained theiii immortal honour ia a better cause : among these were
(teas) the Directorof sixty-fourguns, commanded by Captain William Bligh*
if he could be said to command her under such circumstances. The officers
of the Repulse now saw, that every energy was required on their part to
save the ship's company, who had thus rashly committed themselves ; the
latter seemed also determined, by their cuolaess aud goud conduct, to
atone for their past misdeeds*

" The water in the hold was started, the casks stove, and a strong party
sent to the pumps. In this manner the ship was lightened ; and, as the
tide rose, she floated off, and ran into the harbour, having received no
other damage tbau the destruction of her lower and running rigging, some
shot in her hull and masts, and only one person wounded. Lieutenant
George Augustus Delano, who lost his leg. From this time the cause of
mutiny rapidly declined ; the ships deserted, oue after the other, in quick
succession f."

Lieutenant Douglas's conduct during the mutiny was so very
exemplary that Admiral Duncan immediately afterwards took
him into his own flag-ship, the Venerable 74. The mer-
chants of London presented him with a sword value 100/. ;
and tlie Admiralty ordered a Commander's commission to be
made out for him, but cancelled it in consequence of not
knowing how to draw a line, and in order to avoid establish-
ing a precedent !

On the ever memorable 11th Oct. 1/971, the Venerable
sustained a loss of 15 killed and 62 wounded : among the lat-
ter was Lieutenant Douglas, severely in the head and hand.

From that ship, the subject of this sketch followed Lord
Duncan into the Kent 74, Captain (now Sir William) Hope,
under whom he continued to serve until his promotion to the
rank of Commander, June 2, 1800.

In Jan. 1805, Captain Douglas was appointed to the Cy-
clops frigate, armed e)i fiute, and stationed as a guard- ship
off Lymington. His post commission bears date Oct, 21,
1810 J at which period he commanded the Peruvian brig, of
18 guns.

• Bounty Bligh, see Vol. II, Part II, pp. 747-/86.

■f Brenton's Nav. His. Vol, I, p. 436,

\ See Nav, Biog. Vol. I. Part I. note at pp. 150—151.

230 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

Since 1815, Captain Douglas has enjoyed a pension of 250/.
per annum for the severe wounds he received off Camper-
down. His brother, William Henry Douglas, is a Com-
mander of 1813.

Agents— Sii F. M. Ommanney.

JOHN HUDSON, Esq.

Obtained the rank of Lieutenant Nov. 22, 1/90 ; and was
made a Commander about Sept. 1800. His subsequent ap-
pointments were to the Bellona armed ship. Spy sloop, the
Sea Fencible service in Ireland, and Regulus 44, armed en
Jiute.

Captain Hudson's post commission was dated Oct. 21,
1810. He died at St. Omer, in France, Feb. 1823, aged 58
years.

ROBERT BROWN TOM, Esq.

Entered the navy in 1/81, as a midshipman on board the
Royal George, a first rate, bearing the flag of Sir John Lock-
hart Ross, Bart, commander-in chief on the North Sea sta-
tion ; from which ship he removed to the Ocean of 90 guns,
and, in her, was present at the relief of Gibraltar, by Lord
Howe, 1782.

After the peace of 1783, Mr. Tom successively joined the
Assistance 50, flag-ship of Sir Charles Douglas ; Thisbe 28,
Echo 16, Fly 16, Tisiphone 12, and Amphitrite 24; from
which latter ship he was promoted into the Conflagration fire-
vessel, at Toulon, in Nov. 1793.

During the operations against Calvi, Mr. Tom served on
shore as a volunteer ; the Conflagration having been burnt at
the evacuation of Toulon. From Corsica he returned home
passenger in the Aquilon frigate ; and we subsequently find
him serving upwards of five years as second Lieutenant of
the Polyphemus 64, bearing the flag of the late Sir Robert
Kingsmill, Bart, on the Irish station.

Lieutenant Tom's next appointment was to be first of tho

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 221

Glatton 54, in which ship he assisted at Dhe capture and des-
truction of the Danish line of defence before Copenhagen,
April 2, 1801. TheGlatton's loss on that occasion amounted
to 18 killed and 37 wounded. His promotion to the rank of
Commander took place on the 27th of the same month.

During the late war, Captain Tom successively commanded
the Royalist defence ship, stationed in the Downs ; the
Gorgon 44, employed as an hospital-ship in the Baltic ; and
the Castilian brig, of 18 guns, from which vessel he was
posted, Oct. 21, 1810.

Agent, — J. Hiuxman, Esq.

JAMES LILLICRAP, Esq.

This officer is a native of Plymouth. He entered the
navy at an early age, and his first voyage was to America, as
a midshipman on board the Racehorse sloop, Captain Tho-
mas Wilson, in 1784. On her return from thence, that ves-
sel was sent to the coast of Scotland, where she continued,
employed in the suppression of smuggling, until ordered to
be paid off in Mar. 1787. Whilst belonging to her, Mr.
Lillicrap had an extraordinary escape, a pony that he was
mounted on, for the purpose of riding from Deal to Sand-
wich, having taken fright and backed over into the moat
surrounding Sandown Castle, a depth of more than 20 feet.
Strange to say, although the poor beast was killed, he himself
escaped without any material injury.

After leaving the Racehorse, Mr. Lillicrap successively
joined the Termagant sloop. Captain Rowley Bulteel ; Cum-
berland 74, Captain John Macbride; Syren frigate. Captain
John Manley ; and St. George 98, flag- ship of Rear- Admiral
Phillips Cosby, commander-in-chief at Plymouth.

The Cumberland bore a French Admiral's flag at the sham
fight off Plymouth, June 18, 1789 ; on which occasion.
King George III. and his august consort were present in the
Southampton frigate. She also formed part of the squadron

222 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810.

sent to the West Indies, under Rear-Admiral Cornish, durmg
the Spanish armament, 1790.

In the spring of 1/03, Mr. Lillicrap followed Rear-Admiral
Cosby into the VA'indsor Castle 98, and proceeded with him,
as signal midshipman, to the Mediterranean, where he was
removed to Lord Hood's flag-ship, the Victory of 100 guns.
We next find him serving as Lieutenant of la Mozelle, a 20-
gun ship taken at Toulon, and placed under the command of
Captain Richard Henry A. Bennett.

Shortly after the evacuation of that place. Lieutenant Lilli-
crap was taken prisoner whilst making a reconnoissance of the
harbour ; a service which he had volunteered to perform in
la Mozelle's jolly-boat, with a midshipman * and four men.
This misfortune was owing to the sudden clearing up of the
weather, and the wind blowing hard from the S. E., with a
heavy sea, which rendered it impossible for him to escape
after he was once discovered.

On landing at the arsenal. Lieutenant Lillicrap and his
companions were surrounded by a guard and conducted be-
fore the revolutionary tribunal, where Napoleon Buonaparte
was then witnessing the trial of the unhappy Toulouese who
had declared in favor of Louis XVII. From thence, after
having been denounced as spies, the British captives were
marched to a miserable prison, receiving on their way thither
the grossest insults from an infuriated mob, some hundreds
of whom were busily engaged in erecting guillotines at the
corners of the different streets : fortunately for theviy how-
ever, la Mozelle was likewise captured in the evening of the
same day (Jan. 7> 1794), and after some strong remon-
strances on the part of Captam Bennett, they were at length
allowed to join tlieir shipmates as prisoners of war.

From Toulon, la Mozelle's late officers, passengers, and
crew were marched to Valence in Dauphine, where Lieute-
nant Lillicrap remained until exchanged, in 1796 : he then
embarked at Marseilles, proceeded to Genoa, and return-
ed home overland, via Cuxhaven, bringing witli him des-

• Mr. Robert Houltou, made a Lieutenaut May 18, 1797.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810.

patches from Mr. Drake the British minister, by whom he
had been treated with much kindness and attention during
his short residence in the Genoese capital.

liieutenant Lillicrap's next appointment was to the Trusty
of 50 guns. Captain John Osborne ; which ship, after being
» 1 in a variety of services, was ordered to convey Lord

J . ney to his government, the Cape of Good Hope.

During the mutiny in the squadron on that station. Lieu-
tenant LiUicrap was selected by Rear-Admiral Pringle to
command the Rattlesnake sloop ; which vessel he succeeded
in placing close under the guns of the Amsterdam battery.
Table bay, where the ringleaders of her crew were obliged to
surrender. After witnessing the punishment of these men
and their accomplices, he resumed his station as first of the
Trusty, and returned home under the command of Captain
Andrew Todd ♦, in 1799.

T' '!' ^ ' ' ^ then paid off. Lieutenant LiUicrap was
imm ^ ^^ led to the Venerable 7^, Captain Sir W.

George Fairfiix ; under whose gallant successor, the late Sir
Samuel Hood, K. U. he bore a part in the battle off Algezinis,
July 6, 1801 f. Tlie Venerable, on that occasion, sustained
a loss of 8 killed and 25 wounded.

The subsequent destruction of two Spanish S-deckers, and
the capture of a J-i-gun ship, in the Gut of Gibralter, have
been correctly related at p. 271 of Supplement Part L The
Vencrable's very gallant action with the ship which had re-
cently borne the flag of Mons. Linois, but who was then on
board a Spanish frigate, is thus noticed by Sir James Sauma-
rez, in his public letter of July 13, 1801 :

" The Venerable and Spencer having at this time come up, I bore away
after the enemy, who were carrying a press of sail, standing out of the
Straits, and lost sight of them during the night. It blew excessively hard
till day-light, and in the morning, the only ships in company were the Ve-
nerable and Thames, a-head of the Caesar, and one of the French ships at
some distance from them, standing towards the shoals of Conil, besides
the Spencer a-stern coming up, — All the ships immediately made sail with
a fresh breeze j but, as we approached, the wiud suddenly failing, the Ven-

• See Vol. II, Part I, note at p. 420.
t See Vol. I, Part I, p. 187 et teq.

224 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

erable was alone able to bring her to action, which Captain Hood did in
the raost gallant manner, and had nearly silenced the French ahip, when
his main-mast Cwhich had been before wounded), Avas unfortunately shot
away, and it coming nearly calm, the enemy was enabled to get off with-
out any possibility of following her. The highest praise is due to Captain
Hood, the officers and men of the Venerable, for their spirit and gallantry in
the action, which entitled them to better success. The French ship was an
84, with additional guns on the gangway. This action was so near the
shore, that the Venerable struck on one of the shoals, but was soon after
got off, and taken in tow by the Thames, but with the loss of all her
masts. The enemy's ships are now in sight to the westward, standing in
for Cadiz."

The following is Captain Hood's account of his engage-
ment with the Formidable :

*'H. M. S. VenerabUy at Sea, July 13, 1801.
** Sir, — ^You must have observed my giving chase to an enemy's line-of-
battle ship, at day-break this morning. At seven, she hoisted French colours,
and I could perceive her to be an 80 gun-ship ; at half-past, being within
point blank shot, the enemy commenced firing his stern-chase guns, which
I did not return for fear of retarding our progress, until the light and baf-
fling airs threw the two ships broadside to, within-musket-shot, when a
steady and warm conflict was kept up for an hour and a half, and we had
closed within pistol-shot, the enemy principally directing his fire to our
masts and rigging. I had at this time the misfortune to perceive the main-
mast to fall overboard, the fore and mizen-mast nearly in the same state,
and since gone : the ship being near the shore, close to the Castle of Sancti
Petri, the enemy escaped. It was with much difficulty I was enabled to
get the Venerable off, her cables and anchors all disabled ; and it was only
by the great exertion of the Thames, with the boats you sent me, she was
saved, after being on shore some time •. I shall have no occasion to
comment on the bravery of the officers and ship's company in this action,
who had with much patience and perseverance, suffered great fatigue by
their exertions to get the ahip to sea, and not five hundred men able to go
to quarters ; but I beg leave to add, I have been most ably supported by
Lieutenant Lillicrap, second of the V'enerable (Jirst absent) t, all the other
officers and men, who have my warmest recommendation : and have to

• The Thames was commanded 6t/ Captain Aitkew Ptfard Hollit, who
is saidbtj Mr. James, to have poured a raking broadside into the Formida-
hie, shortly after the Venerable had been laid alongside of her.

t Lieutenant Thomas Collis, taken prisoner when going to assist the
Hann.bal in the action of July 6. He is now a Knight of Windsor, and
Ciovemorof that establishment.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 225

iMMOt the lots of Mr. \VilIiams, master, an excellent officer, Mrith nianf
other valuable people killed and wounded, a list of whom I have the honor
to enclose •. l am, &c.

(Signed) "S. Hood."

" To Sir Jnmft Snumarez, Bart.^*

On his return to Gibraltar, Sir James Saumarez issued the
following General Memorandum : —

" Ctetar, Rotia Bay, July 15, 1801.

•' Rear-Admtral Sir James Saumarez, Bart, has the happiness to offer
his most heartfelt congratulations to the captains, officers, and men, of the
ships he has the honor to command, on the signal success with which it
h;i ' ' 'hty God to crowB their xeaious exertions in the ser-

*•■

" To the discipline and valour of Britbh seamen, is to be ascribed their
great siuperiority over the enemy, who, although treble the force of the
English squadron, in number of guns and weight of metal, have been so
singuli! •«»d.

" Til \iiiniral has not failed to transmit, in his late despatches, a

report uf the unparalleled exertions of all the officers and men in refitting
his Majesty's ships after the battle of Algeziras (where their conduct and
bravery n-ere equally conspicuous,) which has led to the late glorious
success."

The Venerable*9 captain, officers, and crew, had afterwards
the satisfaction of receiving the particular thanks of the Ad-
miralty, in addition to the general vote of thanks from Par-
liament, for their great and extraordinary exertions, by which,
in conjunction with those of the otlier ships. Sir James Sau-
marez was enabled to make an attempt, the splendour and
astonishing success of which are not exceeded by any of
those heroic achievements which formed and fixed the charac-
ter of the British navy in the late glorious wars. Posterity
will scarcely credit, that the squadron under that gallant and
most worthy officer, disabled as it had been in action only
six days before f, could be in a condition to follow, and de-
termined to fight, the combined squadrons, amounting to two
first rates, one other 3-decker, three 80-gun-ship3, and three
74*s, exclusive of the Hannibal their prize. Not all the fami-
liarity of the British navy with brilliant success — not the
memory of the battles of a Duncan or a Nelson — not the

• 18 killed, 87 wounded. t See Vol. II, Part I, p. 265.

5UPPL. PART If. Q

226 POST.CAPTAINS OF 1810.

knowledge of the victory of July 13th itself, can make one con-
template without emotion, the disparity of the English, whose
enterprising chief had resolved, with five 2-deckers, four of
which were already crippled, and only one an 80-gun ship, to
pursue the enemies' united force, and, if possible, prevent a
part of them from reaching Cadiz.

In consequence of this glorious success, and the high terms
in which Captain Hood spoke of him. Lieutenant Lillicrap,
upon whom the greater part of the active duty of refitting the
Venerable must necessarily have devolved, was immediately
made a Commander ; but his commission did not reach him
until after he returned to England, as will be seen by the
following letter : —

** London, 22dJan. 180.'.
" My dear Liilicrap, — Sir James Saumarez not having sent home your
commission, I have obtained from the Admiralty this day a duplicate one,
which, that it may be the more gratifying, as your name is not in the new
list, I have taken up and enclosed. I have the njore satisfaction in doing
this, by knowing it was never more deservedly merited than in your con-
duct under my command; and it will be ever the greatest happiness of my
life in hearing of your future welfare. I remain with much esteem, dear
Lillicrap, yours very sincerely,

(Signed) "Samu. Hood."

** To Captain J. Lillicrap, Plymouth."

About this period. Captain Hood expressed an earnest de-
sire to introduce his late first Lieutenant to Earl St. Vincent ;
and after doing so, he presented him at court, using the most
handsome terms of commendation on each occasion.

On the I2th of April, 1804, Captain Lillicrap was appointed
to the Vesuvius bomb, employed on the Boulogne station,
under the orders of Sir W^. Sidney Smith.

\\\ Nov. 1806, that heroic officer meditated an attack upon
the flotilla in Boulogne roads : — every thing was prepared,
the bomb-vessels had taken their appointed stations, and Sir
Sidney removed from his flag-ship to a sloop of war, in
which, as she drew but little water, he meant to conduct the
business in person ; — the signal was itiade for the gun-brigs
to lead in, and a volley of rockets already discharged, when,
on a sudden, the wind shifted round to the N. W., and in a

POBT-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 22/

few minutes increased to a gale, which rendered his design
abortive. On this occasion, the Vesuvius had one of her
crew killed, and several very badly wounded.

Captain Lillicrap's next appointment was to the Despatch,
a fine 18-gun brig; in which, after performing a variety of
services on different foreign stations, he sailed from the
Downs in command of a light squadron, and with a large
fleet of transports wnder his protection, embarked in which
were two divisions of the King's German Legion. These
trfx>p9 were safely landed in the island of Rugen, at the time
when a French army was besieging Stralsund, the capital of
Swedish Pomcrania : and Captain Lillicrap continued to carry
on the duties as senior officer in Pert Bay, until the arrival of
I'Africaine frigate, having on board Lord Cathcart, comman-
der-in-chief of the land forces, to be employed against
Copenhagen.

After the departure of TAfricaine, Captain Lillicrap re-
sumed the command of the small squadron stationed off
Rugen, to protect the British troops, and, if necessary, to
cover the retreat of King Gustavus, who ultimately embarked
on board a Swedish frigate, and sailed from thence accom-
panied by the Rosamond sloop of war.

During her continuance on that station, the Despatch stood
over to the main land, with the Mutine and Censor in com-
pany, reconnoitred the coast, and fired several broadsides at
the French out-posts near Griefswald.

At length. Captain Lillicrap received orders to escort the
last division of troops under Lord Rosslyn, from Rugen to
Zealand ; and to superintend their debarkation in Kioge
Bay. This latter service was accomplished on the 21 st Aug.
180/ ; five days after the first landing of the army had been
effected at Wibeck *.

On joining Admiral Gambler, off Copenhagen, Captain
Lillicrap was directed to receive and mount 4 long 18-poun-
ders, for the purpose of rendering his brig more effective
against the Danish flotilla; and from that period we find

• See Suppl. Part 1, small type at tlie foot of p. 238.
Q 2

228 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

him, as the senior commander of the inshore squadron under
Captain Puget, almost daily engaged with the enemy ; parti-
cularly on the 3 1st Aug., when the Charles armed transport
was blown up close to the Despatch, by a shell from the
Three Crowns battery ; and the British sustained a loss of
10 killed and 21 wounded. Strange as it may appear, al-
though 17 commanders, many of them junior to himself, were
included in the general promotion that followed the surrender
of the Danish navy. Captain Lillicrap did not obtain superior
rank until more than three years afterwards. Tlie subjoined
correspondence will enable our readers to judge whether he
was entitled to claim advancement.

" London, 18th Nov. 1807.

" Sir,— Having, to our great disappointment, not found your name
among the promotions of the officers of the royal uavy who were on the
late expedition to Rugen and Copenhagen, we have great reason to fear,
that the essential service you rendered by your indofatij^able exertions
and active measures, when superintending the disembarkation of the 1st
and 2nd divisions of the King's German Legion at Rugen, are not suf-
ficiently known ; and we therefore now consider it a particular duty (as
the respective Generals then in command of the said divisions) to assure
you in tbis public manner, that the reports we received during the afore-
mentioned disembarkation from the different commanding officers of regi-
ments and battalions, as also from the Assistant-Quarter-Master-Gencral,
Lieutenant Colonel Offeney, are so highly to your credit that we shall feel
happy in bringing it to the knowledge of the Right Honorable the Lords of
the Admiralty, should this letter not sufficiently answer that purpose. We
have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem. Sir, your most obe-
dient humble servants,

(Signed) " Charles Baron Linsinoen, . . Major-General.

" Frederick Baron Dreckfel, Major-General.

*' To Captain Lillicrap, R. N."

" Portsmouth, 22'nd Nov. 180/.

" Sir, — We beg leave to address you expressive of our sincere thanks
for the able manner in which you conducted the fleet under your convoy
from the Downs to the islands of Rugen and Zcalarid ; and we should con-
ceive ourselves wanting in justice if we omitted to notice your great exer-
tions in the disembarkation of the troops under our command, which from
the judicious manner of your arrangements greatly facilitated the service.
We further add, that it will give us great pleasure in our recommendations
of you to the Lords of the Admiralty, if at any future period we should

posT-cAPrAiNs or 1810. 229

be perinitled an opportunity. We have the hoDor to be. Sir, your much
obliged and obedient servants,

(Signed) " Geo. Driebeko, Cohnel, ) Commanding

" P. du Plat, .... Colonel, > Brigades.

" To Captain Lillicrap, R. N."

" East Sheen, 26th Nov. 1807.

" Dear Sir,— ISJr Tyrwhitt hath promised to send me the result of hi*
communication with the Secretary of the Admiralty j uicaning, I believe,
to abide by his advice. Your letter doth not say whether you have seen
the Rrst Lord. Depend on it, more may be done by yotjr enforcing your
claim in strong but respectful terms, than by any other channel. No one
is better able to do so than yourself, and few have justice more uneijuivo-
cally on their side. I told IVIr. T., that I was ready to attend his summons,
and I conclude I shall hear from him. In the mean time, do not omit
seeing the First Lord, and urging the claim you have, and tl»e injustice you
and the service will suffer, if you are so neglected. You may rely on it,
such representation comes «ith double force from the person injured than
it doth from any second person who hath not a commanding influence.
Yours sincerely,

(Signed) " C. M. Polk."

" To Captain LiUicrap, R. N."

" Edinburgh, Dec. 23, 1807.

•* My dear Sir, — I can assure you, that it has neither proceeded from
neglect nor from any indifference to the object of your wishes, that I have
not written directly to yourself before this.

" The moment I learnt from Captain Bouverie, that you thought my
application to Lord Cathcart, and his Lordship's recommendation, could
be of any use to you, I did not fail to state in writing to his Lordship
how much the service was indebted to your care and exertions in the re-
cmbarkation of the troops from Rugen, and the landing in Kioge bay. I
referred his Lordship to my former letter, written at the time ; and I took
the liberty to impress very strongly the great advantage to the army and
to the public interest in general upon conjunct expeditions, that those offi-
cers of the navy who had shewn great and marked attention to the other
branch of the service should feel that we were grateful, and that the Gene-
rals were disposed to exert any little interest they might possess in assist-
ing their promotion.

" I stated my own sentiments, as they applied to you, as I had before
done j and I am sorry to add, that if Lord Cathcart's interest cannot pre-
vail, I have very little hope from my own ; indeed, I should be almost
afraid that any recommendation that could be supposed to infer political
friendship, or personal connexion, would be prejudicial.

" I saw Lord Cathcart yesterday, who has promised me to state the
case upon the grounds upon which I put it ; and from his manner, I flatter

230 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

myself he will give it all the effect he can. He haS assured me that he
will let me have the answer,

" I shall be very aorry if the promotion your merit and services entitle
you to expect does not take place ; but I can assure you, that I shall regret
it also very much upon public grounds.

" If, however, you wish me to do any thing else, and you should desire
me to speak or \vrite to Lord Muigrave, I will do it ; but I think that had
better be deferred till I come to town, or at least till I know the result of
Lord Cathcart's application. Yours faithfully,

(Signed) " Rosslyn.*'

" To Captain Lillkrap, R. N."

" East Sheen, Jan. 3, 1808.

'• Dear Sir, — Lord Ilosslyn's letter is indeed a very handsome and satis-
factory testimony of your services, at least as far as your friends and you
are concerned, and I really do not see how you can be excluded from pro-
motion, without the greatest injustice to the service, as well as injury
to you. Your claim is so good, that with the assistance of Lord
Cathcart, added to the letters from those commandiug corps, which you
have in your possession, I should advise you to renew your application
to Lord Muigrave, and the Board, enclosing to each another memo-
rial. I am not, by this recommendation, endeavouring to avoitl the awk-
wardness of attending your petition to the first Lord ; but I am stating
wliat I think the be.it plan for you. I can have no other objection to the
attending JNIr. Tyrwhitt, than a conviction that the doing so will not serve
you; but sure I am that you ought to he protected. Faithfully yours,

(Signed) " C. M. Pole."

Notwithstanding all the exertions made in his favor by
Lord Cathcart, the Earl of Rosslyn, Sir Charles M. Pole,
and the commanding officers of the German Legion, Captain
Lillicrap did not obtain a post commission until Oct. 21,
1810; at which period he had been serving upwards of two
years on the Jamaica station, generally in command of a de-
tached squadron. When proceeding thither with a fleet of
merchantmen under his convoy, he captured la Dorade French
privateer, and retook a British merchantman.

During his continuance in the West Indies, Captain Lilli-
crap had frecjuent conferences with the two contending Hay-
tian chiefs, Christophe and Petion ; with the former of
whom he travelled into the interior of St. Domingo, and
visited Fort Ferricr, an extensive fortification on the top of a
very high mountain, scarcely accessible to any but the na-

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 281"

lives, very few Europeans being able to sustain the fatigue of
auch a journey. This fortress was intended by Christophe as
a place of refiige for himself and his adherents, should Petioa
prevail against him, or the French ever attempt, during his
reign, to regain the island. It had upwards of I7O guns
mounted, a magnificent palace within the walls, and a sub-
terraneous space of suflicient extent to contain 6000 meu,
with a repository of provisions for the support of that num-
ber for eighteen months.

In March 1811, Captain Lillicrap received the official noti-
fication of his promotion ; and finding that he was not ap-
pointed to any post ship, he returned home as a passenger on
board the Naiad frigate. Some time after his arrival, he
received another friendly letter from Sir Samuel Hood, of
which the following is a copy : —

*' London, \2thAug. 1811.

" My dear Sir, — I con^n^tulate you on your promotion, and am truly
sorry you have been bid by. It is hard after the lonjj and trying serviced
you have experienced. I should ut any time he most happy to have you
under my • ; hut I have so many applications to make, that I can-

not say a \\ ut it to the Admirahy. 1 am just appoinle<I to the East

India command ; if you can ^et a ship and come there, I shall be rejoiced
to do all I can for you. Very many thanks for your obli^ng congratula-
tions, and believe me, in great haste, yours very truly,

(Signed) " Samuel Hood."

Captain Lillicrap's next appointment was, Jan. 25, 1815,
to the Hyperion 42, in which frigate he visited Lisbon, and
escorted home a large fleet of merchantmen from Oporto.
On his return from thence, he was superseded by her proper
commander. Captain W. Prj'ce Cumby ; and at the same
time appointed to the Eurotas 46, on the Irish station.

The Eurotas was lying in Plymouth souud when Napoleon
Buonaparte arrived at that anchorage in the Bellerophon, and
Captain Lillicrap received orders to take a station as near to
the 74 as possible, in order to prevent the numerous vessels
and boats, crowded with curious spectators, from approach-
ing too near. On the 29th July, all the boats of the fleet
were placed under his directions by Lord Keith, and ordered
to assemble alongside his frigate every evening during the

232 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

General's stay there, for the purpose of being distributed as
guard-boats.

After witnessing the removal of Napoleon to the Northum-
berland, off Berry Head, Aug. 7, 1815, Captain Lillicrap
returned to Plymouth, in company with Lord Keith ; and on
the l/th of the same month, he received Generals Savary and
Lallemand, three Colonels, and several other officers, late be-
longing to Buonaparte's suite, as passengers to Malta, where
he delivered them into the charge of Sir Thomas Maitland, on
the 19th Sept. The Eurotas was paid oflF on her return from
that service.

In April, 1821, Captain Lillicrap obtained the command of
the Hyperion ; and on the 19th Sept. following, he sailed for
the Cape of Good Hope, with Lord Charles Somerset and
suite passengers. Finding on his arrival there, that Rear-
Admiral Lambert had proceeded to England, he hoisted a
broad pendant, agreeably to orders received from the Admi-
ralty, and continued in the command on that station until
relieved by Commodore Nourse, in 1822. Previous to his
departure from thence, he rendered a very important service
to the East India Company, the nature of which will be seen
by the following handsome acknowledgment of the Hon.
Court of Directors : —

" East India Houte^Nov. 1, 1822.

" Sir, — Representation havin^^ been made to the Court of Directors
of the East India Company, of the great promptitude and exertion dis-
played by yourself and tlie officers and seamen employed under your
command, in rescuing the Company's extra ship Albion, Mr. Charles
Weller, Master, homeward bound with treasiu-e and a valuable cargo of
merchandise, from the situation of extreme peril in which she was placed
on the 10th of June last, off the Cape of Good Hope, when in a strong
gale of wind she broke from her anchorage in Simon's Bay, and drove to
within the distance of a few fathoms from the rocks ; — I have received the
Court's commands to acquaint you, that they have resolved to present you
with the sum of Five Hundred Pounds for the purchase of a piece of plate,
as a token of the Court's appreciation of your meritorious conduct upon
this occasion, whereby so many lives and so much valuable property were
preserved from imminent danger.

" The Court also adverting to the successful exertions of the officers
and seamen of His M^esty's navy, who were employed in rendering a*.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.,

sistaoce to the ship, under your directions, bare farther resolved to present
them with the undermentioned sums ; and the Court request, that you mil
divide the same proportionately with your estimation of their respevtive
services: namely —

" To the Officers, Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds.
" To the Men, Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds.
" I have the honor to be. Sir, your mo6t obedient, humble Senrant,

(Signed) " J. Dart, Secretary."

" To Commodore Lillicrap, H. M. S, Hyperion."

On referring to the Minutes of the Hon. Court, we find that
the Albion had on board, " treasure to the amount of up-
wards of 100,000/." Many females were among her pas-
sengers.

During the same gale, two Russian men of war were like-
wise rescued from imniinent danger, for which service, Cap>
tain Lillicrap received a letter of thanks from their com-
manders.

Captain Lillicrap subsequently visited St. Helena and As-
cension ; left stores, Sec, at the latter island ; and from thence
proceeded to join the squadron under Sir Charles Rowley, on
the Jamaica station. By that officer, he was sent with a de-
tachment under his orders, to cruise off Cuba for the sup-
pression of piracy ; and whilst thus employed, he had many
official conferences with the Captain-General of that island,
and the Spanish Admiral at Havannah ; as well as much cor-
respondence on the same subject, with the principal local
authorities along the coast ; occasioned by his having sat as
one of H. M. Commissioners at Jamaica, for the trial of
numerous pirates, many of whom were condemned and
executed.

On the 24th Oct. 1823, Captain Lillicrap was appointed to
the Gloucester 7^, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Edward
W. C. R. Owen, with whom he returned to England, March
13, 1824. Since the 27th of that month, he has not been in
commission.

Captain Lillicrap married, Dec. 30, 1811, Frances Adams,
second daughter of Giles Welsford, of Plymouth, Esq. by
whom he has had a numerous family. Two of his nephews

234 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

died in the naval service — one a midshipman, the other a
Lieutenant, R. M. ; — their only survivincf brother, Mr. J. L.
Marchant, is now serving as Purser of the Zebra sloop.
Agent, — Sir F. M. Ommanney.

WALTER GROSETT, Esq.

Uncle to John Rock Grosett, Esq. M. P. for Chippenham.

This officer entered the navy, Nov. 1/79? J^s a midshipman
on board the Sandwicli 90, flag-ship of Sir George B. Rod-
ney, under wliom he shortly afterwards sailed to the relief of
Gibraltar, and from thence to the Leeward Islands. He was
consequently present at the capture of the Caraccas convoy,
the defeat and surrender of Don Juan de Langara, and three
actions with Mons. de Guiciien, off Martinique ; in the first
of which (April 17, 1780) the Sandwich had 18 men killed,
and 51, including two Lieutenants^ wounded*. We subse-
quently find him serving under Captain John Rodney, in the
Boreas of 32 guns, Sybil 28, and Anson 04 f.

In Feb. 1784, Mr. Grosett joined the Thisbe 38, Captain
George Robertson, fitting for the Newfoundland station,
where he continued nearly three years. His promotion to
the rank of Lieutenant took place in Oct. 3794 ; previous to
which he had served for some time as mast^r's-niate of tin
Boyne 98, flag-ship of Sir John Jervis j and distinguished
himself on many occasions, when employed ashore in co-
operation with the army during the sieges of Martinique, St.
Lucia, and Guadaloupe.

Lieutenant Grosett's first appointment was to the Quebec
32, in which frigate he served under Captains Josias Rogers,
Janxes Carpenter, and John Cooke Xy on the West India and
Channel stations. Previous to his departure from the Lee-

• See Vol. I, Part I, note f at p. 3 et teg. and note f at pp. 103—105.
f The Sybil was one of Admiral Rodney's repeaters on the glorious
12th April,' 1782.

: SeeVol.II. Parti. p.21.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. 236

ward Islands^ he received the thanks of the President and
Council of Grenada, for having " veiy materially contributed
to the preservation of that colony, and restored it to a state
of tranqtiillity," by his able and gallant conduct, when com-
manding a detachment of about 150 seamen and marines,
landed from the squadron under the orders of Captain
Rogers.

Early in 1797> Lieutenant Grosett was appointed to the
Success frigate, Captain Philip Wilkinson (now Vice-Admi-
ral Stephens) ; in Nov. following, to the Hector, 74, Captain
Peter Aplin, then at Lisbon ; in Feb. 170v:^> to el Mahonesa
32, Captain John Giffard ; and in June, same year, to the
Centaur 74, Captain John Markham.

The latter ship formed part of the squadron under Commo-
dore Duckworth, at the reduction of Minorca, Nov. 15, 1798;
and was afterwards sent to cruise on the coast of Catalonia,
where she captured la Vierga de Kosario Spanish privateer,
mounting 14 brass 12-pounders, with a complement of 90
men.

On the 16th Feb. 1799, the Centaur, Argo, and Leviathan,
attacked the town of Cambrelles, and the Spaniards having
quitted their battery, the boats were sent in under the com-
mand of Lieutenant Grosett, who dismounted the guns,
burnt five settees, and brought out a similar number ; laden
with staves, wine, and wheat.

Shortly after the performance of this service. Lieutenant
Grosett was removed to the Ville de Paris, a first rate, in
which ship, successively bearing the flags of Earl St. Vincent
and the Hon. William Cornwallis, he served on the Mediter-
ranean station and oflf Brest, until appointed to the Royal
Charlotte yatch, in May, 1801. His promotion to the rank
of Commander took place Oct. 6, in the same year.

From this period Captain Grosett remained upon half- pay
till Aug. 1802, when he was appointed to the Port Mahon
brig, on the Guernsey station, in Mar. 1803, he was re-
moved to the Trent 32, armed en Jiute, which ship, whilst
under his command at Cork, successively bore the flags of

236 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

Admiral Lord Gardner, Pear- Admiral William O'Brien Drury
and Vice- Admirals Whitshed and Thornbrough, as command-
ers-in-chief on tlie Irish station.

Captain Grosett's post commission bears date Oct. 21,
1810. Previous to his leaving Cork, the mayor and corpora-
tion held a special meeting for the purpose of voting him the
freedom of that city ; the committee of merchants also as-
sembled and voted him their unanimous thanks for his great
attention to their interests, whilst commanding the guard-
ship, a period of upwards of seven years.

From the foregoing sketch it will be seen that Captain
Grosett twice served under the immediate eye of Earl St.
Vincent, who so highly approved of his conduct on every oc-
casion as to present him with a medal, — a convincing proof
of the esteem in which he was held by that celebrated chief-
tain. While in attendance upon the royal family at Wey-
mouth, between May and Oct. J 801, the subject of this brief
memoir had likewise the honor of being most graciously no-
ticed by our late revered monarch. Since his advancement
to post-rank he has not been able to obtain any employ-
ment.

Captain Grosett's only son died at Jamaica, in 1824, aged
22 : his daughter is married to W, Hudson Heaven, of Pen-
ridge House, CO, Somerset, Esq.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford and Son.

FRANCIS JOHN NOTT, Esq.

Acted as Lieutenant of the Leviathan a third rate, at the
defeat of the French fleet by Earl Howe, June 1, 1794* j
and was wounded on board the Sans Pareil 80, in Lord Brid-
port's action off I'Orient, June 23, 1795 f. He was made
a Commander into the Cura9oa sloop, on the Jamaica station,
at the latter end of 1801 : and subsequently appointed to

• See Vol. II, Part I, p. 103, et aeq.
t See Vol. I Part I. p. 246.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 23/

the Childeni and Hover brigs, in which latter vessel he con-
tinued until promoted to post-rank, Oct. 21, 1810.

Captain Nott obtained the out pension of Greenwich Hos-
pital, June 19, 1822.

LEWIS SHEPHEARD, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in Jan. 1797 ; promoted to the
rank of Commander, in Jan. 1802; and afterwards appointed
to the Thisbe 28, armed at Jlute, in which ship Lieutenant-
Gencral Whitelocke sailed from England, for the purpose of
assuming the chief command of H. M. forces in the Rio dc
la Plata, where he arrived May 10, 1807-

In 1808, Captain Shephcard was appointed to the Brazen,
a new sloop, fitting for the Jamaica station, and of which he
retained the command until his promotion to post-rank, Oct.
21, 1810.

yfgents. — Messrs. Chard.

JOHN THOMPSON, Esq. (a)

Obtaixbd the rank of Commander in April, 1802 ; and
was very actively employed in the Fly sloop of war, during
the operations against Buenos Ay res, June and July, 1807.
His post-commission bears date Oct. 21, 1810.

ROBERT EVANS, Esq.

Youngest son of the late Meredith Evans, Esq. by Mary,
daughter of Benjamin Beal, Esq., a gentleman possessed of
considerable property at Bridgewater, co. Devon, a staunch
adherent of the unfortunate Charles I, and father of Captain
Beal, who served as first Lieutenant of the Ludlow Castle
frigate, at the siege of Carthagena, in 1741. This officer's
uncle, Evan Evans, Esq., married the first cousin to Miss

238 POST-CAPTAHffi OF 1810.

Vernon, of Hanbury, co. Worcester, wife of Henry Cecil,
Esq., afterwards Marquis of Exeter, whose marriage was dis-
solved by Act of Parliament, in June, 1791.

The above mentioned Meredith Evans, Esq., was the 1 6th in descent
from Madoc, one of the sons of Ririd Vlaidd, Lord of Penllyn, Pennant,
and Bryn, extensive districts in the county of Merioneth, which were
eventually divided and sub-divided by the law of Gavel, among his
progeny.

Ririd Vlaidd lived in lO/O, and acquired great reputation by his distin-
guished intrepidity in many conflicts, in which he defended his country.
He was also Lord of the Eleven Towns, in Shropttliire ; but his favorite re-
sidences were Rhiwaedog, Neuaddau, Gleision, &c., all in the vicinity of
Bala, CO. Merioneth. From this chieftain was descended David Lloyd,
Es(j., whose son married the only daughter and heiress of Sir Alexander
Myddlelon, constable of Mont:romery castle, from which marriatje are de-
scended the Myddletons of Gwacnunog, near Denbigh ; and of that house
was the enterprising and patriotic Sir Htigh Myddleton, who brought the
New River to Lon«lon : — his brother, Sir Thomas Myddleton, founded the
branch of Chirk Castle, and was also Lord iMayor of the British metro-
polis :— from the same origin sprung another David, son of Griffith, of
Pen-y-ralt, who married Lowry, daughter of Howel Vaoghan, of Glan-y-
Lynn Tegid, and took the name of Vaughan.

In 1672, Edward Vaughan of Glan-y-Lyrm Tegid, son of another Howel
Vaughan, married Mary, daughter of John Purcell, of Llangedwynn. In
Nov. 1715, Ann, co-heiress of the said Edwanl Vaughan, married Watkiu
Williams Wynn, Esq., eldest son of Sir William Williams, Bart.

Thomas Evans, cousin to Edward Vaughan, married the only daughter
of Edward Eyton, of Wyniistay, Esq. The Lloyds are connected by mar-
riage with the Wynnes of Hazlewood, co. Sligo. Ririd's coat armorial
will be found among the quarterings of the most respectable famflies in
North Wales.

Captain Evans, whose services we are about to notice, is the 13th in de-
scent from Jeaun Vlaidd, whose tomb is in the church of Llanuwchlyn,
and thereon his figure in armour, having a conic helmet, &c. &c. The
patrimony of this branch is Pen'r allf, in the parish of Llanvawr. The
cognomen of Evans was first borne by Evan, son of Evan Lloyd, grand-
father of Meredith Evans, and nephew to Robert Price, Baron of the Ex-
chequer, who made a distinguished figure, both as a senator and a judge,
in the reign of William HI. The said Evan Evans fought, as an officer of
cavalry, at the battle of Dumblain, in 1715.

The subject of this memoir commenced his naval career,
under the patronage of Lord Dudley and Ward, uncle to the
present peer. He first embarked in J 782, as a midshipman.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 239

on board the Blenheim 99, Captain (afterwards Lord) Dun-
can ; which ship formed part of Earl Howe's fleet at the
relief of Gibraltar, and was his Lordship's second in the sub-
sequent action off Cape Spartel * : her loss on the latter
occasion consisted of 2 men killed and 3 wounded.

On the return of peace, Mr. Evans joined the Trusty 50,
fitting for the flag of Sir John Lindsay, Bart. ; and during
the winter of 1783, we find him in the Orestes sloop, Captain
James Ellis, employed on Channel service.

After assisting at the capture of several large and power-
fully armed smuggling vessels, one of which defended herself
nntil several men were killed and wounded on both sides,
Mr. Evans proceeded to Newfoundland, as a paj^senger on
board the Merlin sloop, and from thence, in the Thisbe frigate,
to Halifax, where he joined the Assistance 50, flag-ship of
Sir Charles Douglas, then commanding on the American
station.

Li 1/86, Mr. Evans returned home, and was removed into
the Astraea frigate. Captain Peter Rainier, with whom he
proceeded to Ferrol, Madeira, and the West Indies, where
he continued for a period of three years, during which the
Astfcea visited all the British islands, and most of the French
and Spanish colonies.

Whilst off St. Domingo, our young officer appears to
have had a very narrow escape, a boat in which he was going
to Isabella Bay, having upset in a squall, and remained bottom
upwards for more than three hours before she was discovered,
and then only by accident. On this occasion, Mr. EvanS
saved the lives of two men who could not swim, by giving
each of them an oar, after they had let go their hold of the
boat, in consequence of the alarm excited by another mid-
shipman speaking about sharks, several of which monsters
were in fact seen immediately after the launch of the frigate
had arrived to their assistance.

In 1789, having then completed his time as a midshipman,
Mr. Evans returned to England, in charge of a large and va-
luable merchant ship, which had lost both her master and

• See Vol. I, Part I, pp. 17, 106—108.

240 POST'CAPTAINS OF 1810.

chief mate. On his arrival in England, he passed the usual
examination, and immediately afterwards joined the Director
64, Captain Thomas West, under whom he served until his
promotion into the Repulse 64, at the close of the Spanish
armament.

In April, 1791> Mr. Evans received an appointment to the
Racehorse sloop. Captain David Mackey ; and on that vessel
being paid off and re-commissioned, after the Russian arma-
ment, he was appointed first Lieutenant of her, at the parti-
cular request of the same commander.

From this period, Lieutenant Evans served in the Race-
horse, under Captains Mackey, George Hope, and James
Leakey, until the commencement of the French revolutionary
war, when he was removed into la Concorde frigate, Captain
Thomas Wells.

The following anecdote of a British sailor, appears to us
worthy of being here recorded : —

Shortly after Lieutenant Evans joined la Concorde, he was sent with a
boat's crew to impress men from the homeward bound Baltic fleet. The
first ship he boarded was searched for a considerable time before any of
the crew, who had concealed themselves, could be discovered ; but at len/;th,
ten prime sailors were found stowed away in the run : one of them was im-
mediately rccojjniscd by Lieutenant Evans, wiih whom he had formerly
served in the Racehorse ; and on his saying " lam t-rry glad to see you, ffil-
liam Search," the poor fellow surlily replied, " I am very sorry to sec you
though!" After a little conversation, however, he became more good
humoured, and consented to enter for the frigate : — " Then," continued
Lieutenant Evans, " as I know you to he a good man, you shall go with
your shipmates in my boat, board the nejct ship, and get all you can for me"
— " That's what I will " said the tar, " come along my boys ;" — away they
went, and the boat soon returned with seven other men. From that mo-
ment, William Search constantly served in the same ships with Lieutenant
Evans, until, through his recommendation, he was at once promoted from
Rear-Admiral Raiuier's flag-ship, to be boatswain of a 64, on the East
India station.

In one of her cntises, la Concorde encountered a heavy gale
of wind, and the ship laboured so exceedingly, that only the
quarter-masters and gunner's crew would venture to go
aloft : seeing this, Mr. Evans, then junior Lieutenant, took
the lead, followed by a single midshipman, for the purpose of

posT-c\PTAiNS or 1810. 241

handing the main -top- sail, but scarcely had the party got
above the top when the mast went, by which accident the
midshipmen and four men perished : Lieutenant Evans and
the remainder of his followers, fortunately saved themselves
by clinging to the wreck, from whence they were extricated
without sustaining any material injury.

The part borne by la Concorde in an action with a French
squadron, near Guernsey, April 23, 1794, has already been
described in our memoir of Sir Richard J. Strachan, by whom
she was then commanded * : the following is an extract of
that orticer's official letter, reporting the capture of I'En-
gageantc frigate : —

** The zealous, cool, and steady conduct of the oflicere and ship's com-
pany, was hij^hly meritorious in the action ; and their efforts in refitting
the ship, after the fatigue they had experienced, exceciicd any exertion I
ever saw before. As the first Lieutenant, Charles Apthorp, was mostly
with me, I had an opportunity of observing^ the spirit of enterprise which
pervaded his conduct ; and am convinced also of the good conduct of Licu'
tenants Boys and Evans, who commanded on the main-deck."

During the spirited action to which we have alluded. Lieu-
tenant Evans was wounded by a splinter, and his hearing
much injured by the unexpected discharge of a gun on which
he was resting, as he looked through the port, to ascertain
the enemy's exact position, the smoke being then so very
thick, that, although but a few yards distant, she could not
be distinguished. It is worthy of remark, that the only person
killed outright on board la Concorde, was a youth who had
run away from Westminster school, and entered as a common
sailor under a fictitious name. Another poor fellow who had
been confined to his hammock, but insisted upon going to his
quarters, was shot through the head whilst speaking to Lieu-
tenant Evans.

From this period, we find no particular mention of la Con-
corde imtil March 1/95, when she was commanded by Cap-
tain Anthony Hunt, and employed under the orders of Sir
Edward Pellew, who, having received information that a
convoy was about to leave Brest, placed his squadron as near

• See Vol. I, p. 286, et. teq.
»UPPL. PART II. »

242 i»6iST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

the Pcnmarks as possible, and at day-light on the 7th, sa\r
twenty- five sail close among the rocks, protected by one
small armed ship : fifteen of this number were taken and
destroyed ; the remainder ran between the rocks, in such a
manner as rendered any attempt to pursue them fruitless.
Out of eight brought off, two were laden with ship-timber,
one with bale goods, and one partly with sugar, indigo, and
linen. Several of those destroyed were set on fire by Lieute-
nant Evans, who, on entering the cabin of one, found a slow
match burning, and a train laid from it to a barrel full of
powder : when about to quit another, he was surprised to
see twelve well-armed Frenchmen come up from the hold,
where they had secreted themselves in hopes of being able
to recover possession of their vessel.

In June, 1795, la Concorde accompanied the expedition
under Sir John B. Warren, to Quiberon Bay, and Lieutenant
Evans was entrusted with the command of the seamen and
liiarines, la;ided from her to assist at the reduction of fort
Penthlevrc, a strong work commanding the peninsula, of
which possession was obtained on the 3d of the following
month. He subscciuently commanded a di\ ision of boats in
an expedition up the Morbihan river, under the orders of
Captain Albemarle Bertie, whose thanks he received for his
gallant conduct in boardhig, near Vannes, a 24-gun corvette,
a cutter of 10 guns, and an armed lugger, the whole of which
vessels were carried and destroyed.

Several merchantmen being captured on the same occa-
sion. Lieutenant Evans took charge of a large brig, which
he brought out under a tremendous fire of musketry, from at
least 600 republican troops, then posted at every point of the
river. We should here observe, that in the course of the
above service, he was accidentally but severely wounded by
a pike, and that his conduct throughout the whole affair
was very highly approved by the commander of the expe-

dition

»

• On arriving at a certain point of the Morbihan, Lieutenant Evans
found himself oI)liged to go so close to the shore, that every person on
aoard il»e prize would inevitably have been picked off by the enemy, had

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 243

La Concorde was subsequently sent to Isle Dieu, with a
brig under her protection, the latter having on board arms,
ammunition, and military stores, for the use of the royalists in
la Vendue : the landing of this cargo was entrusted to the
superintendence of Lieutenant Evans, the Greyhound cutter
being at the same time ordered to convey him in shore,
and to remain there for his support luitil the service was
effected.

The transport being anchored in a convenient station near
the main land, Lieutenant Evans immediately went on shore
with 4000 ball cartridges, and was making arrangements for
the debarkation and security of the whole cargo, when a large
republican force marched out from St. Gilles, cat off his
retreat to the boat, and reduced him and two of his crew to
the necessity of swimming for their lives. Fortunately Lieu-
tenant Wilkinson, of the Greyhound, was keeping a good
look out J the cutter immediately stood in, opened a heavy
fire, and succeeded in rescuing them ; but not before Lieu-
tenant Evans had received a ball in the fleshy part of his
arm : his escape under such circumstances, however, may
be considered miraculous, as he was the whole time exposed
to a continual fire of at least 1500 muskets. The enemy
were shortly aftenvards attacked, and defeated with immense
loss, by the royalists, under General Charette, whose force
greatly exceeded what the enemy had expected, but with
only six rounds each man, including the supply received from
Lieutenant Evans; who, immediately resuming his task,
had the pleasure of seeing the whole cargo landed, and cleared
away from the beach, in less than three hours. On his re-
turn to la Concorde, he received Captain Hunt's hearty con-
gratulations on his safety, and warmest thanks for his zealous
conduct, which was afterwards reported in the most flattering
terms to Sir John B. Warren.

not the Pelter ^n-vessel promptly anchored, brought her broadside to
bear, and kept up a heavy fire until the brig was clear of danger. We
mention this circumstance injustice to Lieutenant (now Captain) Nicholas
Tomlinson, who then commanded the Pelter.

R 2

244 POST-CAPTAiNS OP 1810.

We next find this officer serving on shore at the occupa-
tion of Isle Dieu, and subsequently assisting at the capture of
I'Eveilld French national brig, mounting 18 guns, with a
complement of 1(X) men *.

La Concorde continued to be actively employed in co-
operation with the French royalists until Nov. 1795. In Jan.
following, Lieutenant Evans again signalized himself by his
intrepid and humane endeavours to succour the crew of the
Hon. E. I. C. ship Dutton, when driven on shore under the
citadel of Plymouth, in a tremendous gale of wind. The
manner in which the crew and passengers were saved, after
every attempt made by the boats of the fleet had proved
aJ)ortive, has been described at p. 215, of our first volume.

On the 9th April, 1796, la Concorde assisted at the capture
of about twenty-five French merchantmen, and also at the
destruction of la Volage, a national ship, mounting 26 guns,
lu the course of the same month, she likewise contrii)uted to
the capture of two fine frigates — 1' Unite, 38 gvuis, 255 men ;
and la Virginie, of 41 guns and 340 men f-

During this cruise, Lieutenant Evans had two more narrow
escapes: — the first was, when setting fire to one of the cap-
tured merchant vessels, a random shot from la Concorde cut
a rope which he had accidentally laid hold off; the second,
when employed landing arms, &,c. by night, between I'Orient
and Quiberon, the weather very dark and tempestuous, his
flat-bottomed boat dragged her grapnel, drifted into a heavy
surf, and capsized over him, by which means he was kept un-
der water until some of the royalists, commanded by General
Georges, providentially came to his assistance. Another mi-
raculous escape, which he experienced about the same period,
is also worthy of notice :

Cruising olT Brest, in a heavy gale of wind, la Concorde
brought to a large Frciich ship, which Captain Hunt resolved
to take possession of, although he was told that no boat could
live in such a sea as was then running : the boat being lower-
ed, the crew descended into her, and were immediately

• L'Evcille WM taken by Sir J. B. Warren's squadron, Oct. 15, 1795.
+ See Vol. I,p.2l6,ett^q.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 245

followed by Lieutenant Evans, who had scarcely done bo
when bhe swamped, by which accident, cverj' one of the
poor men met with a watery grave ; but fortunately he him-
self succeeded in reaching a rope, and thereby escaped a simi-
lar fate.

Shortly after the capture of la Virginie, Captain Hunt was
removed to that frigate, on which occasion he invited Mr.
Evans to become his first Lieutenant, expressing himself
briefly as follows :

** Dear Sir, — Wc have been some time together, and I hope we may not
separate : I am appointed to la Virginie, and shall be happy to apply for
you to be my first Lieulenaut. Direct to me at Sir T. Rogers, M, P.
Yours truly,

(Signed) " A. Hunt."

Having accepted this flattering aiul totally unexpected
offer, Lieutenant Evans was immediately appointed to la
Virginie, then just out of dock, with a clear hold, and only
25 seamen on board ; with which small number, assisted by
about 30 marines, he not only rigged the ship, but stowed
the hold, and got her completely ready for sea, in sixteen
days after his removal from la Concorde : his Captain absent
during all that period. The following short statement will
shew, that she was shortly afterwards saved from destruc-
tion, through his timely interference, judicious advice, and
seaman-like exertions.

Lit Virginie sailed on her first cruise in company with the
Jason frigate, Capt^iin Charles Stirling. After touching at Fal-
mouth and Cork, both ships proceeded along the Irish coast
to the northward, but were separated in a gale, when not far
from Carlingford. The weather at this period was very thick,
and la Virginie on a lee shore, with her fore-top-mast gone,
which induced Lieutenant Evans to recommend that she
should be kept close hauled until day-light, particularly as
Captain Hunt was then ill in his cot. After seeing every
thing made snug, and the wreck lashed to the ship's side, in
hopes of saving the spars and rigging, Lieutenant Evans,
having been on deck the whole of the night, went below at
4 A. M., in order to put on dry apparel ; but he had scarcely
reached his cabin, when the oflBcer of the watch came to in-

346 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

form him that the master, an ignorant old man, had prevailed
upon the Captain to bear up, thereby exposing the ship to
imminent peril. Surprised at this intelligence. Lieutenant
Evans hastened to Captain Hunt, explained the dangerous
situation of the frigate, and obtained permission to act ac-
cording to his own discretion. At day-light, land was seen
both a-head and a-stem, and rocks with tremendous breakers
appeared at no great distance on the lee-bow. The wreck was
now necessarily cut away, and as much sail set as the ship
could possibly bear ; but, owing to the heavy sea then run-
ning, her safety was long doubtful.

Subsequent to this narrow escape, la Virginie proceeded to
Carrickfergus roads, and Lieutenant Evans was sent to Bel-
fast, for the purpose of obtaining a spare top-mast : returning
from thence in a post-chaise, he was fired at by some mis-
creant, whose ball passed through the windows of the vehicle,
but luckily did him no harm.

Having rejoined the Jason at Lough S willy, la Virginie
returned with her along the west coast of Ireland, and when
off Cape Clear gave chase to a large ship, which proved to
be a French transport, having on board between 500 and
600 cavalry, 20 field pieces, 3000 stand of arms, 50 tons of
gunpowder, and a large quantity of military stores.

After securing this very valuable prize, the Jason and Vir-
ginie stood to the westward, the Frenchmen having informed
Captain Hunt, previous to his consort coming up, that they
had sailed from Brest as part of a formidable expedition,
destined to assist the Irish rebels. At midnight the enemy's
fleet was discovered, and the British frigates ran close under
the stem of a ship bearing an Admiral's light : no notice
being taken of them, they then ran a short distance to lee-
ward, and there hove to j but at day light nothing was to be
seen, although the wind was then blowing hard from the
eastward. Captain Stirling thereupon determined to make
the best of his way to Spithead, where, shortly after the
arrival of the two frigates, Captain Hunt received orders to
prepare for the reception of the Marquis Cornwallis, who
was then preparing to assume the government of India.

PQSr-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 9l^

La Virginia waa quite ready for sea, and tlic whole of his
lordship's eflFects were embarked on board lier, when the des-
linatiun of both was changed, in consequence of the mutiny
at Spithead, and other circumstances of a poUticid nature.

Unsuspicious of such an event as the former being about
to take place, Captain Hunt was on nliore attending to his
private business, and preparing to receive the Marquis, when
the general cheering took place at Spithead, and the flag of
J^rd Bridport was lowered by his officers, under a sense of
shame to see it accompanied by the symbol of mutiny,
which the delegates had hoisted ou visiting the Royal
George.

During the conferences that took place between the Board
of Admiralty and the ringleaders, the greater part of la Vir-
ginie's crew were obedient and respectful to Lieutenant
Evans, with whom many of them had sailed in other ships
previous to their being drafted into that frigate. Their con-
duct after the renewal of the mutiny was also deserving of the
highest praise ; for on being directed to follow the fleet to St.
Helen's, they requested him to give his orders as usual, pro-
mising that every thing should be carried on according to his
wishes, and expressing their regret that they durst not dis-
obey the mandate of the delegates (as to la Virginie's removal
from Spithead) there being about 23 or 30 disaffected fellows
on board, who reported everything to them, and possessed suf-
ficient influence to get any man taken out of the ship and
Hogged who should venture to declare his principles different
to their own. As a proof of the sincerity of those loyal but
overawed men, one or other of them regularly rcpprted to
Lieutenant Evans, before 4 A. M., the whole of what had
passed at the seditious meeting of the preceding night. This
exemplary behaviour on their part was greatly promoted by
"the conduct of a gunner's mate, whose life Lieutenant Evans
had saved by jumping overboard after him, for which humane
action the poor fellow was ever afterwards grateful ; and as
he happened to be a great favorite with his shipmates in ge-
neral, his counsel was always listened to with very great
attention. Of the few insubordinate characters on board la

24B POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

Virginie, we shall have occasion to speak hereafter, but merely
for the purpose of proving that they were the very scum of
her crew. The following verbatim copy of a curious docu-
ment, now lying before us, will tend to corroborate part of
what we have just stated :

** To the Ship's Company ofH. M. Ship Firginie.

" Whereas you are fitted for Foreign Service, and your coming to St.
Helen's has happened through Mistake.

*' You are hereby required to obey the Orders of your officers in every
respect. You have had no part in the present DiflFerences, nor is any
blame to fall on you for what has happened.

" Given under our Hands this 9th Day of May, 1797-

(Signed) "The Delegates of the Fleet."

Notwithstanding this order, la Virginie, when returning to
Spithead, was hailed by the Defiance 74, and threatened with
a broadside if she did not immediately anchor. Perceiving
that the mutinous crew were preparing to carry their menace
into execution, and knowing that some time must elapse be-
fore they could open a fire from the stern, Lieutenant Evans
pretended to obey them by giving orders to shorten sail and
bring the ship to an anchor; but no sooner had he passed the
74's quarter than he directed her three masts to be kept in
one, by which adroit manoeuvre la Virginie was enabled to
get out of range before a single gun could be brought to
bear upon her.

The only man of war then lying at Spithead was the La-
tona frigate. Scarcely had Lieutenant Evans anchored there,
when the delegates from that ship came on board la Virginie,
harangued her crew from the forecastle, and endeavoured,
both by persuasions and threats, to prevail upon them to
cheer, — this, however, they unanimously refused to do ; and
they even requested LieutenantEvanstolaythemalongsidethe
Latona, assuring him that if he would stand by them, neither
her nor any other frigate should induce them to repeat an
act so repugnant to their true feelings.

Captain Hunt now occasionally came on board, and was
always well received, the men being much attached to him,
and indeed to all their ofi&cers. At length the baggage be-
longing to the Marquis Cornwallis was landed, and la Vir-

POST-CAPTAINS OF J 810. 249

ginic received orders from the Admiralty to convey the
present Queen of Wirtemberg from Harwich to Cuxhaven.
When passing through the Downs, she was cheered by the
flag-ship and a frigate ; but still her crew continued steady,
and only one solitary symptom of insubordination ever after-
wards appeared amongst them.

On the evening after the royal passenger was landed at
Cuxhaven, two men were put in irons for disorderly conduct,
and the following morning Captain Hunt was proceeding to
punish them, when, at the very first lash, a fellow standing
behind him called out " Stop !" Lieutenant Evans instantly
turned round, dragged him forward by the collar, and the
punishment proceeded. It is almost needless to add, that
the audacious offender was in his turn tied up, — by which
prompt measure good order was permanently restored.

During la Virginie's passage to the Elbe ; Lieutenant
Evans had the honor of being kindly noticed by his monarch's
eldest daughter, but although that Princess condescended to
recommend him to the favorable consideration of the Admi-
ralty, the first Lieutenant of the senior officer's ship alone
obtained promotion *.

On her return to the Downs, la Virginie assisted in quell-
ing a mutiny on board the Beaulieu frigate, by warping
close alongside of her, with the band playing " God save the
King," and every thing prepared for action, whilst 30 ma-
rines went on board and enabled the officers to disarm and
secure the crew, who had already opened a fire upon them.

After this affair, la Virginie was sent to cruise between the
Kentish Knock and the North Foreland, for the purpose of
intercepting such of the delegates of the North Sea fleet as
might attempt to escape from the Nore. We subsequently
find Lieutenant Evans making a very judicious selection of
persons to assist at the execution of several mutineers, by
manning two boats with those who had been in the habit of

• La RevoIutioDDaire conveyed the Duke of Wirtemberg to Cuxhaven,
sailing in company with la Virginie, and the Melampus. The former
frigate was commanded by Captain Francis Cole, the latter by Captain
(now Sir Graham) Moore.

250 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

holding nightly consultations at Spithcad ; and not allowing
any others to be disgraced by accompanying them : strange
as it may appear, not one of those fellows could even row an
oar, and it was actually found necessary to send other boats
to tow them back when the executions were over.

At the latter end of 17^7 1 la Virginie received orders to
convey Sir Hugh C. Christian to the Cape of Good Hope, and
the Earl of Mornington to Bengal. After touching at Ma-
dras, she proceeded to Diamond harbour ; and Captain Hunt
accompanied the Governor-General to Calcutta, from whence
that meritorious young officer was destined never to return.
In a very few days subsequent to his departure, 120 of the
frigate's officers and crew were reported sick, /^ t>f whom,
including the surgeon, died before she left the Ganges, at
which period 100 men were confined to their hammocks, and
30 more unfit for duty. Tlic cause of Captain Hunt's decease
is stated in a letter from the Governor- General to Earl
Spencer, of which the following is a copy :

*• Fort mUiam, /lufr. 24, 1/98.

" My Lord, — It is with the c^rcatest concern I coimnuuicate to your
Lordship the melancholy event of the death of Captain Hunt, of la Vir-
ginie frij^te : he died in Fort William, after a short illness, occasioned by
his own unfortunate imprudence, in exposing himself to the sun in the
heat of the day. It is my duty to acquaint your Lordship, that Captain
Hunt's attention to ine durinjj my passage was in every respect perfectly
satisfactory to me. His character was so amiable, and his manners so
pleasing, that his loss has been a subject of real grief to me and to all his
acquaintance at this place.

" La Virginie proceeded to Madras on the 22ml of this month, and from
thence to join Admiral Rainier's squadron. Mr. Evans the first Lieute-
nant has been entrusted with the charge of the ship, by Captain Edwarf
Cooke, now commanding in this river. I take the liberty of recommending
Mr. Evans to your Lordship's protection and favor : it would give me
great pleasure if your Lordship should find it compatible with the public
service to forward his promotion. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " MonNiNeTON.**

Having obtained 50 or 60 men from the Hon. Company's
ships, to assist in navigating his own. Lieutenant Evans pro-
ceeded to Madias, and continued to command hi Virginie uu-
till superseded by Captain George Astle, who had been scut

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 251

. from England on promotion. With that officer he went
to Malacca and China, for the purpose of affording protection
to the homeward bound trade, the whole of which was escort-
ed clear of the bay of Bengal by the Intrepid, Arrogant, and
Virginie, without receiving any molestation from a very supe-
rior French and Spanish force which appeared in sight just
as the British mercliantmen were leaving the Canton river.
Whilst on this service la Virginie lost her mizen-mast, in a
typhone, oflF the Pelew islands.

On his return from China, Lieutenant Evans was appointed
first of Rear-Admiral Rainier's flag-ship, the Suffolk 74 ; and
in 1799, he was ordered by the same officer to act as captain
of the Orpheus 32, which frigate he took from Madras to
Bombay, by the southern passage, under circumstances of
the most trying nature, the weather being very tempestuous
during the whole voyage, and the ship exceedingly shattered
and leaky, consequently requiring the pumps to be kept in
continual motion for a period of seven weeks.

On approaching Bombay island tlie Orpheus was crossed
by a water- spout, which burst immediately over the fore-
castle, split tlie fore-top -sail, and sliook tlie ship very much,
filling the fore part of her with water, whilst all abaft re-
mained perfectly dry. On this occasion, the watch below
rushed upon deck in their shirts, and those officers and mea
aiready there fell down motionless : amongst the latter num-
ber was Captain Evans, who had just before directed the top-
gallant sails to be taken in, and a gun to be fired at the ap-
proaching black column, the suction of which, however,
prevented the gunner's mate from obeying the latter order.

The wind still continuing to blow with much violence, and
it being impossible to procure a pilot under sucli circumstan-
ces. Captain Evans instantly decided upon running into the
harbour; trusting entirely to his own slender knowledge
thereof, acquired during the short time he served on board
the Suffolk. In tliis he succeeded without the least accident
occurring ; but to his great mortification, he soon found that
it was impossible to allow his almost worn-out crew any rest,
as owing to the state of the tides the ship could not be docked

252 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

until the following springs, unless dismantled and cleared of
all her stores in less than 48 hours.

No time was to be lost ; Captain Evans therefore assembled
his people on the quarter deck, proposed to them to work
watch and watch by night, and all hands by day, as the only
means of bringing their labours to a speedy termination, and had
the satisfaction of being answered with three hearty cheers :
lighters were immediately sent for, one of which was swamped,
with a number of guns in her, when proceeding to the shore ;
but notwithstanding the unfavorable state of the weather, the
work was completed without a murmur, and the ship safely
docked within the time appointed, the crew thereby saving
themselves from the task of constant pumping for at least
another fortnight.

Never did any ship enter the dock in a worse state than
the Orpheus — every one wondered how she could have been
kept afloat so long : the first and second futtocks might have
been dug out with shovels -, — when the planks of the main-
deck were taken up, the bolts across the ends of the beams
were visible j— every part of her was quite rotten, ;md conse-
quently every thing had to be replaced.

Having seen the Orpheus rebuilt with teak, prepared new
rigging, and made every arrangement for speedily rendering
her again effective, Captain Evans once more had the morti-
fication to be superseded by an officer sent from England ;
but, although thus deprived of the command of a frigate, he
was immediately appointed by Vice- Admiral llainier to the
Hobart sloop, then employed in the Eastern Seas. His com-
mission as a commander, however, was not confirmed until
April 29, 1802.

On joining the Hobart at Amboyna, Captain Erans found
that that ship was also in a very rotten state, and making two
feet water an hour whilst lying at anchor. From thence he
sailed for Ternate, and after beating for some time between
Batyang and the rocks and shoals to the westward, without
being able to find any anchorage, he was at length drifted
iu an irresistible manner towards a passage, or rather a water-
fall, between two small islands near Giliolo, so narrow, that

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 253

if the Hobiirt had l>een carried broadside on, she would have
nearly touched the opposite shores at the same moment, and
in the event of her grounding, every one of the crew must
have j)eri8hed, as the current was then ruiuiing at the rate
of ten knots, and nothing could have prevented her from fall-
ing over. To avoid this catastrophe, and being then in
soundings. Captain Evans let go an anchor, which fortunately
brought her head to the rapid stream ; and then, by heaving at
the capstan occasionally, so as to allow the flukes to trail the
ground, he succeeded in keeping her stern to the narrow
opening, until she drifted through, and thus escaped the
threatened danger. This tedious operation occupied more
than two hours : the anxiety felt by all on board, during that
awful period of suspense, can only be conceived by those who
have been in situations of equally imminent peril.

The passage tlirough which Captain Evans thus skilfully
conducted his vessel, was afterwards accurately surveyed by
him, and liis chart lodged in the Hydrogniphical Office, for
the benefit of his Majesty's service : charts of many other
surveys which he had made during a continuance of two years
in tiic Eastern Seas, were at the same time deposited there.

From Ternate, Captain Evans proceeded to the Celebes,
and working up Goonongtalla river, against a very strong
current, moored the Hobart head and stt>rn within 30 yards
of the eastern bank. He then, having obtained leave for that
purpose from the Sultaun, landed the marines, carpenters, and
blacksmiths ; pitched tents, mounted two 6-pounders on a
commanding height, set up the armourer's forge, and com-
menced felling trees, in order to construct a launch ; all his
boats except one, and she of little service, having been lost
in a recent gale. Owing to the total want of iron, bolts were
driven out of the ship's sides to make nails ; but notwithstand-
ing every disadvantage, a capacious boat was completed, and
84 large bullocks collected, ready for embarkation, in the
short space of 10 days *.

♦ The Hobart was a ship of about 700 tons, originally an English West
Indiaman ; she had been captured by the Dutch, and sent with a cargo Ut
Java, where she was retaken by the Arrogant and Orpheui.

254 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

During this period, the Hobart was visited by the Sultaun,
whom Captain Evans received with an appropriate salute, and
entertained as sumptuously as his means would admit. In
return for this friendly reception, all the British officers were
invited up to Goonongtalla, which town they found to be
most delightfully situated.

Knowing the treacherous character of these people, and hav-
ing nearly accomplished the object of his visit to the Celebes,
Captain Evans would now have felt no regret in taking his
final leave of the Sultaun ; but as the latter expressed a wish
to see the boat launched, he considered it prudent not to ob-
ject thereto, whilst so completely in his power, at the same
time, resolving to have every thing brought off from the
shore, and the Hobart riding by her anchor in the stream,
before the hour fixed upon for the ceremony to take place.
We should here observe, that several of the chiefs had cast a
longing eye towards the boat, and had even been heard to
say, that she would be of great service to their Sultaun. Cap-
tain Evans also bore in mind the fate of Lieutenant Oakes,
commander of a tender, m ho had put into the same river, and
was basely attacked in the dead of the night by a party of the
natives, whom he was then sheltering from the fury of the
weather*.

After saying that the boat should be put afloat about noon
the next day, and that he should be happy to give the Sul-
taun, his son, and principal courtiers another feast, after their
curiosity had been gratified, Captain Evans returned on board*
and made every arrangement for baffling any sinister design
which they might have conceived. Before 6 o'clock the fol-
lowing morning, every thing except the boat was removed
from the shore, and his suspicions were soon afterwards
strengthened by the appearance of a royal canoe, which had
evidently been sent to reconnoitre, as she came out from a

* Lieutenant Oakes \va3 mortally wounded ; but his assassin met with
condign punishment, a quarter-master who had charpe of the deck havinj*
cut off his sword-arm with one stroke of a cutlass, and cleaved his skull
vr'iih another. The remainder of the Malays were overi>owcrcd after a
desperate strugffle.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 255

place well calculated for concealment, and paddled with great
swiftness up the river. Scarcely was the boat launched and
hoisted in, the ship released from the trees to which she hail
been secured, and her bower cable fairly taut, when about
1000 Malays were discovered marching over the hills, and
nearly 200 canoes dropping down the river.

The surprise of the Sultaun was doubtless very great, par-
ticularly when, on his nearer approach, he observed a number
of armed men stationed in each of the Hobart's tops : jifter a
short pause, however, he ventured ' lo, and was re-
ceived as before, with every mark of l: .iip and respect;

nor was it until the Hobart had weighed, and got more than
two miles into the offing, that he could be prevailed upon to
depart, although continually urged to do so by several of those
alwut him, who, probably fearing that some treacherous in-
stention of their own had been discovered, appeared particu-
larly anxious to regain the river. On 1- ihe Hobart,
and being <igain saluted, the Sultaun gave tl.. v . ^ . ad cheers, an
example which was followed by nearly 100 canoes, then lying
on their paddles ; and it is but reasonable to suppose, that
this 1^ '- ceremony was returned by the English crew,witli
at leu _ a\ good will and sincerity.

From the Celebes, we find Captain Evans returning to
Amboj-nn, where he took charge of the Princess Charlotte,
an East indiaman, laden with spices ; which ship he escorted
clear of Coupang, in the island of Timor.

After encountering numerous difficulties, and escaping
many da ' cution of the services assigned to

him in ti, : — , the Hobart daily becoming more

and more defective, and all his officers being sick, himself
and the gunner keeping watch and watch, Captain Evans ran
through the straits of Lumbuck, the adjacent seas, the straits
of Banca and Drion, to Malacca, and from thence to Prince
of Wales's island, where the sloop was repaired, as well as
circumstances would allow. From thence she sailed for Ma-
dras ; but in crossing the bay of Bengal, her leaks increased
to six feet per hour ; which induced Captain Evans to return,
and forward a letter to the commander-in-chief, informing

256 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

him of his distresses, and that it was his intention to heave
the Hobart down, in hopes that he should still be able to
patch her up sufficiently for the voyage.

Not having heard of him for a very considerable period,
Vice-Admiral Rainier had already expressed great anxiety for
his safety ; and on the receipt of the above despatch, he im-
mediately sent Captain Evans directions to sell the Hobart,
if he found, on examination of her bottom, that she was unfit
to proceed to sea, under the escort of another vessel ap-
propriated to that service.

The laborious task of heaving the ship down, was per-
formed by her crew alone, according to Captain Evans's ex-
pressed intentions ; and although it was scarcely prudent to
commit himself in such a defective vessel, yet, finding that
government would sustain a very great loss by the sale of her
hull, stores, &c., at Prince of Wales's island, he resolved to
sail from thence in company with the Victor sloop, which
vessel had been sent to escort him across the bay.

Previous to his final departure from that island, Captain
Evans discovered that the Americans were carrying on a
smuggling trade, by loading at Madras or Bengal, clearing
out for America, and, instead of proceeding thither, disposing
of their cargoes, under various fraudulent pretexts, at Pulo
Penang, a settlement then in its infancy. Ever anxious to
maintain the interests of his country, Captain Evans imme-
diately resolved to put a stop to this illegal traffic, and he
accordingly seized a brig named the Roebuck, commanded by
Mr. James Bishop, who had arrived there on the 8th Sept.
1802, broke bulk (without first obtaining permission) on the
9th, sold part of his cargo for 6820 dollars on the 11th and
12th, and completed the clandestine landing of the whole on
the 19th of the same month ; thereby infringing the treaty of
amity, commerce, and navigation, concluded between Great
Britain and the United States, in 1/83. The condemnation
of the Roebuck, after much litigation, and consequent anxiety
on the part of Captain Evans, led to the formation of a
government at Prince of Wales's Island, similar to those of
Madras and Bombay.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 367

Having crossed the bay of Bengal without any accident.
Captain Evans joined the commander-in-chief, and accom-
panied him to Point de Galle, from whence he proceeded to
the Malabar coast, unattended by any vessel whatever. While
on her way thither, the Hobart again made six feet water an
hour, and the leak was gaining fast upon the pumps, when
the Sheemess 44, Captain J. S. Cardcn, providentially fell in
with, and towed her to Bombay.

After the Hobart had been examined by the dock-yard
people, her safety was every where spoken of as quite a mi-
racle ; for it was found that, in addition to the frame of the
vessel being generally much decayed, the white ant had been
so busily at work that, but for her copper, she must have
foundered. Many of the main-deck beams were crumbled to
dust, and literally held together by the paint that covered
them ! ^

On the occasion of the great fire at Bombay, in Feb. 1803,
Captain Evans particularly distinguibhed himself ; having
persevered in his endeavours to pull down some buildings
until they were literally surrounded with the flames, which
left him no other chance of escape than that of leaping from
the top of a house already on fire, and afterwards making his
way through them. The very great exertions of the nayjl ^
during th^t awful conflagration were thus officially acknow- ^
ledged :

" H. M. S. Trident, Bombay Harbour, Feb. 28, 1803.

" Sir, — ^The Honorable the Govenior in Council at this Presidency
liaring by letter of the 26th inistant, expressed to me the great importance
of the vigorous exertions of yourself, officers, and crew, in opposing and
finally terminating the proj;ress of the dreadful and destructive fire that
lately broke out in this capital, 'tis mth much satisfaction I herewith
transmit, at their request, a copy of their letter to me on this occasion,
and I desire you will be pleased to cause the same to be read to the offi-
cers and men of the ship you command. I remain. Sir, &c.

(Signed) "Petbr Rainier."

" To Captain Robert Evans."

Enclosure.
" PiMic Department,^ Bombay Castle, 26 Feb. 1803.

*• Sir, — It is a duty which we owe to your Excellency, to express the
very high sense we entertain of the particular and most useful assistance

SUPPL. P.\RT II. S

258 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

derived from the preacnce of your Excellency on tlie occasion of the ca-
lainitoua event of tlie 17th instant, and of the captains, officers, and uieii
of his Majesty'8 squadron under your Excellency's command ; from whose
active interposition, and uncommon exertions, every practicable oppo-
sition was made to the extension of the conflaorration ; hut for which we
mijjht have had to lament far greater devastation, than what has unhap-
pily occurred.

" Under the most grateful impressions from the zeal and cordiality of
the aid thus experienced, we have the honor to offer to your Excellency
personally, our most heartfelt acknowledirments of the advanta«fe thus
derived to our capital by your presence in it, at the season of this disas-
ter; and to re<juest that your Excellency will be pleased to convey to the
commanders, officers, and men, who exerted themselves so meritoriously
on this awful occasion, our sincerest thanks for the preat fatigue they so
cheerfully underwent, the memory of which must be coeval, in this set-
tlement^ with its duration as a British possession. We have the honor
to be, &c.

(Signed) "Jon. Duncan.

•• J. W. Cherrt.

" Tv H. E. yke-/ldmiral Rainier •." " Thomas Lechmerk.*'

The Hobart was shortly afterwards sold out of the service ;
and as all the ships of war, that were ordered home, in con-
sequence of the peace, had sailed for Europe, Captain Evans
proceeded to Madras, where he embarked as a passenger
on board the United Kingdom Indiaman, then on the point
of departing for England.

Soon after his arrival at St. Helena, he heard of the re-
newal of hostilities ; and as the Hon. Company's »hips were
directed to wait there for convoy, he agreed with his fellow
passengers, Major-General Baird and seven others, to remove
into a whaler, the master of which undertook to run them
home for 1000/. sterling ; each paying an equal proportion f.

This ship was captured off Cape Clear, by le Vaillant
French privateer, of 30 guns and 240 men J, conmianded by

• Among the officers who particularly distinguished themselves on the
above occasion was Captain J. S. Garden. Sec Vol. II, Part II, p. lOOl^

t Captain Evans's passage from Madras to England cost him altogellier
500/., the whole of which was a dead loss to him, as the Admiralty refused
to grant him any remuneration.

: See Vol. II, Part I, p. 392.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 259

Mons. Eticnne, who generously allowed the passengers to
remain in her, as prisoners of war, on their parole, his own
ship not affording suitable accommodation for so many gen*
tlemen of rank.

After beating about for 21 days, the French prize-crew
came aft one night, confessed that they did not know in what
quarter the land lay, and requested Captain Evans to take
charge of the navigation. This being approved of by Major
General Baird and the other prisoners, he complied with their
wishes, directed them how to steer, and at day-light next
morning pointed out the coast of Spain, near Cape Finie-
terre.

Owing to the light and variable winds, 24 hours more
elapsed before the ship arrived near Corunnaj and when
stretching off in order to fetch that port, a frigate was disco-
vered, which Captain Evans very soon made out to be Bri-
tish. He then advised the prize-master, as escape was im-
possible, to hoist the English colours, union downwards ; but
whilst the Frenchman was deliberating, a shot from the
stranger passed through the gangway netting, not more than
a foot from the heads of the British, (who happened to be
assembled there) and went out through the breastwork on the
opposite side.

The frigate proved to be the Sirius, commanded by Captain
William Prowse, and attached to the squadron employed oflf
Ferrol, under the orders of Sir Edward Pellew, who immedi-
ately granted Major-General Baird and his companions a cut-
ter for their conveyance to Falmouth, where they were all
landed in safety, at the commencement of Nov. 1803 *.

In April, 1804, the twelve judges having decided that the
commander of a privateer had no right to take the parole of
his prisoners, Captain Evans was appointed to a command in

• As another instance of the vicissitudes of fortune, we cannot refrain
from stating that Dr. Coley, now an eminent physician at Cheltenham, waa
surgeon of the whaler in which Captain Evans sailed from St. Helena ; and
that on their being recaptured by the Sirius he begged him to speak to
Sir Edward Pellew in his favor. This request Captain Evans complied
with ; the young man waa instantly received on boanl the Tonnant, and in
little more than a year he became a full naval surgeon.

s 2

260 POST-CAPTAIMS OF 18K).

the Dooeg^ distilct of Sea Fencibles, which he continued to
hold, being unable to obtain more active employment, for a
period of four years.

In April, 1H08, through the kind interference of Sir Arthur
Wellesley, now Duke of Wellington, Captain Evans was ap-
pointed to the Leveret brig, employed on the Baltic station.

Whilst in that sloop, he convoyed a fleet of nearly 300
sail to Carlscrona, and returned from thence with an equal
number under his protection, passing through the Belt each
time without losing a single vessel, although constantly
watched and harassed by numerous Danish gun-boats.

His next appointment was to the Satellite, of 16 guns ; in
which brig, after serving for some time off Flushing, he as-
sisted in escorting about 400 sail of merchantmen from Spit-
head to Barbadoes ; and was then ordered to afford protec-
tion to 120 of the same fleet, bound to St. Vincent's, Gre-
nada^ Cura9oa, and Jamaica ; on which latter station we find
him very actively employed, under the orders of Vice- Admi-
ral B. S. Rowley, who had been directed by Ix)rd Mulgrave
to place him at the head of the Admiralty list for promotion.

Early in May, 1809, a merchant ship arrived at Port Royal,
with intelligence of several French privateers having commit-
ted great depredations on the south side of St. Domingo, and
afterwards taken shelter within the islands of Beata and de
Vache. On the preceding day, {'Hmrsday) the Satellite had
returned from a four months* cruise, during which she had
sprung her main-mast so badly as to require it to be replaced.
There being no other man of war then in port, the Vice-Ad-
miral enquired by telegraph when she could be got ready for
sea, and was told in reply, that every thing depended upon
the dock-yard. On that and the ensuing day, the decks were
caulked, the shipwrights' and carpenters* work completed,
the new main-mast taken in, and three months' provisions
and stores, received and stowed away : on Sunday morning
she went out of harbour, with her men on the yards bending
uails J and on Wednesday following tlie enemy, seven in
nuiMbar, were discovered in their nest, between Beata and the
niaiji.

POST-CAPFAIXS OF ISIO. 261

On seeing rtie Satellite working up towards them, two ef
the largest privateers came out to engage her, but fleil after
receiving a few broadsides, effecting their escape through the
passage between Altavella and Beata. Two others were cap-
tured by Captain Evans ; but the remainder were enabled to
get off, owing to his brig's inferior sailing. He had the satis-
faction, however, of knowing that this formidable force was
dispersed through his exertions, and that the trade of St.
Domingo was never again molested whilst he continued on
the coast.

During the very short period that elapsed between the Sa-
tellite's departure from Port Royal and her arrival off Alta*
vella. Captain Evans had to regret the loss of his first Lieu-
tenant, Master, Purser, and several men, all of whom fell
sick, and died, in consequence of the excessive fatigue and
great exposure to which the emergency of the service had
subjected them : the rest of his officers and crew were also
very sickly.

Towards the latter end of the same year. Captain Evans had
the mortification to find that, notwithstanding Lord MuU
grave's directions, the commander-in-chief had put one of
his own followers into an Admiralty vacancy ; and unfortty-
nately for him, a letter of complaint which he felt it his duty
to write on the occasion, did not reach home until after that
nobleman had retired from the Board. In 1810, he was or-
dered to convoy the trade from the bay of Honduras to Eng-
land, which vexatious arrangement deprived him of the hope
he had still cherished, of being promoted abroad, and thereby
kept in active employment.

Oi entering Bcllize bay, in charge of a pilot, the Satellite
took the ground, but was not supposed to have received any
damage until her arrival in the gulf of Florida, when it was
discovered that she did not answer her helm as formerly,
which induced him to put into the Havannah ; and on lighten-
ing the brig, he found that two gudgeons and two pintles
were knocked off. This took place on a Sunday ; the rudder
had to be landed at the dock-vard, and after it was re-

262 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

hung, nearly the whole of the stores, water, and provisions
were to be hoisted in, notwithstanding which the Satellite
was again at sea on Monday afternoon.

The remainder of the voyage to England was very tem-
pestuous ; and the Satellite suffered so much during the first
gale as to render it necessary for part of her guns to be put be-
low, a measure that was scarcely adopted when a second storm
commenced, which it is impossible she could have weathered,
had not so much dead weight been removed from aloft.

Captain Evans arrived at Spithead in Nov. 1810, and found
that he had been promoted to post-rank on the 21st of the
preceding month. He was there superseded in the command
of the Satellite, by the Hon. Willoughby Bertie, who perished,
with all his officers and crew, on the very night that he first
went to sea in her !

Since that period Captain Evans has applied for employ-
ment regularly every year, and has often been strongly re-
commended by persons of high consideration, but hitherto
without effect. The following is a copy of a letter, which he
received from Lord Amelius Beauclerk, in Jan. 1812: —

" My dear Sir,— I should have been very happy to have shaken you l)y
the hand when you was in town, after so long an absence. I hope, should
you come to this part, you will do me the favor of a call. I must return
you my sincere thanks for your offer of service, and feel myself much flat-
tered by the 8arae;'a previous engagement obliges me to declihe it, otherwise
I should have been happy to comply with your wishes. I remain, my dear
Sir, yours very sincerely,

(Signed) "A. Bkacclerk."

Among the many distinguished characters who have ex-
erted themselves in favor of Captain Evans, no one has more
strongly supported his claims for employment, than the no-
bleman whose signature is attached to the letter, we are now
about to transcribe :—

" Ijondon, May 18, 1820.

** Sir, — May I request to be permitted the liberty of recommending to
his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, for his approbation. Captain Evans
of the royal navy, to command the yacht. I should not presume to lay
Captain Evans's name before his Excellency, were I not informed Captain
Saurm's appointment had not taken place. Captam Robert Evans's name

FOST-CA^PTAINS OF 1810. 2C8

is well kno>vn at the Admiralty, as a good officer-— and be Is a perfect gea>
tlcinan. — I therefore cannot resist hia solicitation in applying w his favor«
which rau8t plead my apology for troubling you with this letter. 1 have
the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) ** Conyngiiam."

" Right Hon. Charles Grant, J^c Sfc. 4-e."

In Feb. 1823, the s.'iine nobleman applied in Cuptaln Evans's
favor to Viscount Melville, who returned the following

answer : —

«• Admiralty, 28M Feb. 182.3.
" My dear I>ord, — I have received your Lordship's letter of the I8th In-
stant, and shall not fail to note your application in favor of Captain Robert
Evans, to be brought under consideration whenever a proper opportunity
may offer. I return Captain Evans's letter, and I have the honor to be,
my dear Lord, your Lordship's very faithful, &c.

(Signed) " Melvijulk."

*' To the Marquis Conygham.*'

Having now concluded our account of Captain Evans's
professional services, we must return back to Dec. 27, 1807,
on which day he addressed a letter to Lord Mulgrave,
pointing out the impossibility of a continued intercourse be-
tween the Malay traders and Prince of Wales's island, should
ever Malacca be alienated from the British Crown ; and
therefore recommending the formation of a settlement at Dil-
ha, in the island of Timor, to which port they would at aU
times be able to resort for commercial purposes, without run-
ning any risk of being intercepted and enslaved by the Dutch.
In the same letter he also recommends the establishment of
a British settlement between Malacca and the China seas,
and mentions Sincapore as very eligibly situated with rela-
tion to the whole Eastern archipelago, to China, and to India,
for an extended commerce, if held as a free port under Bri-
tish protection. For this, and a second communication res-
pecting Dilha, he received his Lordship's thanks, in two let-
ters, dated Jan. 9, and Mar. 18, 1808 ; and had he addressed
himself to the Board of Controul, instead of to the Admiralty,
we have no doubt that Sincapore would have been taken
possession of long before the year 1819; and that the wild
project of colonizing Melville island, in the gulf of Carpenta-
ria, as a place well situated " for the encouraging of trade

264 POST-CAPTAINS OF I8I0.

and communications with the Malays," would never have
been entertained *.

The population of Sincapore, previous to its occupation
by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Feb. 29, 1819, did not
amount to more than 200 souls ; but in less than two years
from that date it exceeded 10,(XX). During this short period,
not less than 2889 vessels are stated to have entered the
port, of which 383 were owned and commanded by Euro-
peans, and 2506 by natives. Their united tonnage ex-
ceeded 200,000. The value of its commerce in the first two
years was estimated at five millions of dollars. In the year
1822, it had augmented to 8,568,171 dollars ; and in 1823, to
13,268,397 dollars. The natives of all the neighbouring
states resorted to it in abundance with goods or bullion, and
many of them have erected large warehouses on the island,
together with suitable habitations for themselves.

The advantages to be obtained by establishing a settlement
at Dilha, are set forth in a letter from Captain Evans to one
of his Majesty's late ministers, dated June 24, 1824, of which
the following is an extract :

** In the year 1807, 1 recommended to the English government, to form
a settlement to the east of Malacca, in order to have a place for the
Malays to trade, when Malacca and the Dutch Islands were g\ven up ; for
I observed the situation was such, that it would be impossible for the
prows to pass through the Straits to Prince of Wales's Island. I was
aware at the time of the terms on which we held Malacca and all the
Dutch Islands, and therefore, thought it highly necessary to form a port to
the eastward, and also another port east of the Straits of Seylere. I
mentioned Dilha on the island of Timor. In consequence of the hatred
and revengeful disposition of the Dutch, the poor Malays, when Malacca
and the islands were given up, wonid not be able to trade : now things are
changed relative to Malacca. Sincapore is allowed to be a good place for
China ships to stop at, going and returning ; and in time of war, a small
fort in the straits of Drioo, would secure the straits of Malacca
from enemy's cruisers. Sincapore, however, will only be of service to a
few Malay prows from the west coast of Borneo and the straits of Drion ;
and these may be prevented by the Dutch cruizers. Not a Malay will be
able to pass from the straits of Macassar to Sincapore : — this is well known
to the Dutch government.

* See memoir of Captam James J. G. Bremer, C. B.

P06T>CAJ»TAIMS OP IBIO. 9V

Oq examining the charts, it will be seen that it is in the potvcr of the
Dutch to prevent Malays from going to Sincapore. The AJalay trade
should be protected : by encouraging these poor people, you would briug
all the eastern trade to your port.

What I proposed in the year 1807, and what I would now recommend,
is, to get possession of the east end of Timor from the Portuguese, and
to establish a settlement at the port of Dilba : this nould secure the whole
of the Malay trade in the Malacca seas. You might have had, and may
yet, if not too late, the west end of Timor (belonging to the Dutch,) for
Bencoolen. Your having Sincapore, Malacca would have been deserted.
Timor is of no value to the Portuguese, and may be of some consequence
to us. Sincapore rendered Malacca of no value to any one. Brncoolen
should have been given (if it was to be parted with,) for the west end of
Timor. The port of Dilha on the N. E. side of Timor, a most excellent
harbour, easy of access, may be fortified at a trifling expense, and defended
from any surprise by a small force. The Malays in thoce seas have not a
place to trade with, and dread leaving their creeks and rivers, through fear
of the Dutch. I found them much inclined to trade, and considered they
woidd in a short time be rendered folly independent of the Dutch, provided
we had the port of Dilha, in the island of Timor. All the Malays who
are taken by the Dutch, are reduced to slavery. The port of Dilha would
embrace the Straits of Macassar, Seylere, Gilolo, east end of the island
<»f Borneo, Celebes, Amboyna, Ceram, Banda, and all to the eastward of
Tava, would be opened to your trade in a short time. Two-thirds of the
spiers would centre at the port of Dilha, and it would not be in the power
of the Dutch to prevent them. lu the N. W. and S. E monsoons, the
Malay prows could reach Dilha, and return in the space of two or three
weeks, exchange spices for opium and Bengal goods, or Enjjlish manufac-
tures. You would have suflicient in a short time to supply England, even
South America. India ships trading to New Holland would call there ; also
Americans and Spaniards, if allowed, may go there : — the island abounds
with ship timber. ••••••. The winds will not allow the

Malays to go to Melville Island ; and as the distance is very great, the
Dutch may have a favourable opportunity of taking them."

To this statement the following answer was returned, July
30, 1824:—

" Dear Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th
June, stating the advantages which would result from a British settlement
at the port of Dilha, on the Island of Timor, and to return you my thanks
for the suggestions which it contains. I do not, however, think, that as
our negociation with the government of the Netherlands is now brought to
a close, it would be desirable to re-open it, and it seems to me that most
of the benefits which would be likely to result from it, will arise from the
settlement now forming at Port Essington, on the north point of New
South Wales. Tremain, dear Sir, most faithfully yours,

(Signed) " C. W. Willums Wtnn."

206 POST- CAPTAINS OP 1810.

The failure of the attempt to colonize Melville Island was
predicted by Captain Evans_, in a letter addressed to the eame
Right Hon. Gentleman, of which the following is an extract:

*' I am sorry to find that a settlement is about to be formed on Melville
Island, in Carpentaria Bay : — you may depend it will not succeed, and the
expense will be great. It will not answer any one purpose : — the Malays
will not be able to go there to trade, it is too fur for them— during tlie S. E.
winds it will be impossible for them to go, and the N. W. winds will pre-
vent them from returning. Sir Thomas Raffles could not have known much
about the place, when he recommended it for such a purpose."

In another letter, dated Aug. 24, 1824, Captain Evans says :

" The monsoons are different to what you find in the China seas and bay
of Bengal. You have strong S. E. winds when the S. W. winds prevail ia
the bay, and N. W. winds when the N. E. monsoons blow in the China sea»
and bay. It would take the Malays a whole monsoon to make a voyage to
Port Essington, even should they escape the Dutch ; and slavery would be
their portion if taken.

" The port of Dilha may be reached in one night, (at least the east end
of Timor) from any one of the Spice Islands ; every week or ten days ia
each monsoon a voyage may be made, and that without any danger from
the Dutch. The Malays have active minds, are fond of trade, and when
treated kindly are much attached to you."

Captain Evans married Isabella, daughter of George Nesbitt,
of Woodhill, CO. Donegal, Esq. and sister to Major Nesbitt,
who commanded the militia of that county, his Colonel being
absent, at the time when the French effected a landing in
Bantry Bay. By that amiable and accomplished lady, he
Las one son living.

Agents, — Messrs. Evans and Eyton.

THOMAS FOLLIOIT BAUGH, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in Nov. 1793 ; and promoted to
the rank of Commander, April 29, 1802. We subsequently
find him holding an appointment in the Irish Sea Fencible
service, and afterwards commanding the Clio brig, on the
Baltic station, where he captured a Danish privateer of 6
guns, Sept. 21, 1808. His post commission bears date Oct.
21, 1810.

-^^eit^5.— Messrs. Stilwell.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 267

JOHN LAMDORN, Esq.

Obtained a Lieutenant's cominission'in April, 1794 ; served
as first of the Caesar 80, bearing the flag off Sir James
Saumarez, at the battle off Algeziras, July 6, 1801 • ; and was
promoted to the command of the Peterel sloop, April 29, 1802.

in Mar. 1804, Captain Lambom sailed for Barbadoes and
Jamaica, in company with the West India trade ; and on the
23d. Jan. 1805, we find him destroying a French privateer of
1 gun and 27 men. In May following, he captured a Spanish
privateer, mounting 1 long 18-pounder and 4 sixes, with a
complement of 106 men, off St. J ago de Cuba. The Peterel
was subsecjuently attacked, when proceeding from Jamaica to
Charlestown, by a schooner full of men, who attempted to
board her, but were repulsed with great loss. In the skirmish
that took place on this occasion, the British bad 2 killed and
4 wounded.

Captain Lambom's next appointment was to the Trinculo
brig, in which vessel he continued until advanced to post rank^
Oct. 21, 1810.

Agent, — J. Woodhead, Esq.

JOHN BAKER, Esq.

An elder brother of Rear- Admiral Thomas Baker, C. B.

This ofhcer was made a Lieutenant in July, 17^)4 ; and pro-
moted to the rank of Commander, April 29, 1802 : his post
commission bears date Oct. 21, 1810; at which period he
commanded the Kangaroo sloop, on the Boulogne station,
where she had previously captured I'Egayant French lugger
privatee», of 14 guns and 31 men.

Agent, — J. Hinxman, Esq.

ALEXANDER INNES, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in July, 1794 ; Commander, April
29, 1802 J and Post-Captain, Oct. 21, 1810.

• See Vol. U. Part I. p. 264 et seq.

268 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

CHARLES MONTAGUE FABIAN, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in Mar. J 795 ; Commander, April
29, 1802; and Post- Captain, Oct. 21, 1810. His appoint-
ments during the late war were. May, 1803, to the Sea Fen-
cible service between Sandgate and Sandown; in 1808, to
la Mutine brig; and, Aug. 23, 1812, to the Diomede troop-
ship. He died atToumay, Oct. 28, 1826.

SAMUEL MARTIN COLQUITT, Esq,

Was made a Lieutenant in Feb. 1796; and Commander,
April 29, 1802. From June, 1 803, until the summer of 1 809,
he commanded the Princess floating battery, successively sta-
tioned at Lymington and Liverpool. His next appointment
was to the Persian brig, in which vessel he continued until
posted, Oct. 21, 1810. Mrs. Colquitt died Nov. 3, 1823.

GUSTAVUS STUPART, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in Sept. 1796 : the exploit which
led to his further advanc^nent is thus officially described : —

" Success, Port Mahon, June 13, 1/99.
"My Lord, — ^Thc 9th instant, standinjj towards Cape de Creux, in pur-
suance of in8tructi(j'.' ' had recjeived from Lord Keith, I discovered a
polacre in the N. V^g« ch I gave chase ; but in consequence of her

being near the lanlessrs. Fnot prevent her getting into the harbour of la
Selva, a small poC. j leagues to the northward of the Cape : however, as
she had shown Spanish colours, and there being no appearance of batteries
to protect her, and the weather very favourable, I was induced to send the
boats to try to bring her out, with instructions to Lieutenant Facey, who
commanded, to return, should he find any opposition of consequence. At
4 P. M., Lieutenant Facey in the barge, Lieutenant Stupart in the launch,
and Lieutenant Davison, of the marines, in the cutter, all volunteers on
this occasion, put off from the ship ; and at 8, after a goo<l deal of firing,
I had the satisfaction of seeing the polacre coming out, round a point
which had kept them from our sight for more than an hour. During tlie
time the boats were engaged, several of the enemy's gun-boats endeavoured
to get in, but were prevented by our shot. The captured vessel proved to
be la Belle Aurore, from Genoa, bound to Barcelona, laden with cotton,
silk, rice, &c.— mounting 10 carriage guns, 9 and 6-poundcrs, and having

POST-CAPTAINB OF 1810. 269

un board, when attacked, 113 men : she was surrounded by a netting, and
(supported by a small battery, and a large body of musketry on shore. I
am sorry to inform your Lonlship, that our loss has been great, three of
those gallant fellows having been killed on the spot ; and Lieutenant
Stupart, (in officer inferior to none in hit Majesty' t service, for zeal, courag'e,
lid ability, with nine others, badly wounded, one of whom died this
morning. The conduct of Lieutenant Facey does him, in my opinion, great
honour ; he appears to have been the first on board, and to have shown
throughout the whole, great firmness and good example. The attack was
made in the face of day by 42 men, in three boats, against a ship defended
by 1 13 men, secured with a boarding nettmg, and supported by a battery,
and a '< v of men at small arms on the shore. I trust, my Lord,

this (a. ijt of facts will be a sufficient recommendation of Lieutenauts

Facey and Stupart, &c. &c. &c.

(Signed) "S. Peard."

" To Mmiral Earl St. recent.**

This " very gallant exploit,*' says Earl St. Vincent, " ap-
pears to me equal to any enterprise recorded in the naval his-
tory of Great Britain ; and will, I am fully persuaded, merit
the approbation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty." The manner in which the success was subsequently
employed will be seen by reference to Vol. II, Part I, p. 26.

In July, 1800. Lieutenant Stupart obtained a small pension
on account of his wounds, which has been increased since
the peace to 250/. per annum. After the capture of the Suc-
cess, he joined la Constance 24, and again distinguished
himself in a boat afibir, of which mention has been made in
our memoir of Captain Zachary Mudge ♦. His commis-
sion as a Commander was signed by Earl St. Vincent, April
29, 1802.

At the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, Captain Stupart was
appointed to the Sea Fencible service, Dartmouth district ;
where he remained until the summer of 1806 ; from which
period we find him commanding the Emulous brig, on the
(Channel and Halifax stations, till his promotion to post rank,
Oct. 21, 1810.

Captain Stupart's first wife died in June, 1802. His se-
cond marriage, to Miss Hyndham, took place Oct. 19, 1812,

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

• See Vol. II, Part J, p. 308.

270 POST-CAPTAIMS OF 1810.

JOHN WILLOUGHBY MARSHALL, Es<j.

Was made a Lieutenant in Sept., 1796; advanced to the
rank of Commander, April 20, 1802 ; and appointed to the
Lynx sloop in the month of June following. From this pe-
riod he was actively employed on the North Sea and Baltic
stations, upwards of eight years.

On the 12th Aug. 1809, a small detachment of seamen
and marines from the Lynx, under the orders of Lieutenant
Edward Kelly, attended by the Monkey gun- brig, Lieutenant
Thomas Fitzgerald, gallantly attacked, carried, and brought
out three Danish privateers, from within the reef off Dais
Head, near Rostock : the enemy's joint force amounted to
11 carriage guns, 4 howitzers, and 84 men.

Captain Marshall obtained post rank, Oct. 21, 1810; and
died at Caen, in Normandy, by the bursting of a blood vessel,
Jan. 22, 1824.

ANTHONY ABDY, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in Feb. 1800 ; advanced to the
rank of Commander, April 29, 1802 ; appointed to the
Zephyr fire-ship, in 1804 ; to the Dotterell brig, about Nov.
1808 ; and to act in the Tonnant 80, off Ferrol, about June,
1809: his post commission bears date Oct. 21, 1810.

Captain Abdy married, in 1808, a daughter of the late Ad-
miral Sir Thomas Rich, Bart.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

HENRY EVELYN PITFIELD STURT, Esq.

Was made a Lieutenant in Feb. 1800; promoted to the
rank of Commander, April 29, 1802; and afterwards suc-
cessively appointed to the Rambler, Skylark, and Termagant,
sloops; On the 7th Nov. 1807, he captured le Renarde French
privateer, of 14 guns and 39 men. This vessel not surren-
dering when repeatedly called to, and likewise making an

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 271

attempt to lay the Skylark on board, obBged Captain Sturt
to fire at her, by which the French commander was wounded,
and his lugger's main-mast shot away.

The Termagant formed part of the squadron under Rear
Admiral (now Sir George) Martin, when that oflBcer was em-
ployed in protecting Sicily from an invasion, threatened by
Murat, in 1810 ; and Captain Sturt was rewarded with a
post commission for his active services, as senior officer of
the mortar-boats then stationed in the Faro of Messina. He
takes rank from Oct. 21, 1810. Since the peace he has
commanded the Phaeton of 46 guns, in which frigate he con-
veyed the Right Hon. C. R. Vaughan, British Ambassador, to
iS'orth America, in 1825 ; and aftenvards brought home
three millions of dollars, from the West Indies.

Captain Sturt married a Portuguese Uidy, whom he had
assisted in her flight from a convent in one of the Western
Islands.

Aiscnt. — — — M'Inerheny, Esq.

RICHARD GAIRE JANVRIN, Esq.

We first find this officer sending as a midshipman under
Sir W. Sidney Smith, at the defence of St. Jean d'Acre, in
1709. Wliilst thus employed he was wounded by a musket-
ball passing through the muscle under his left arm, but which
docs not appear to have incapacitated him for more than a
few weeks. On his recovery he was entrusted by his heroic
chief with the command of the flotilla on the coast of Da-
mietta. He next joined the flag-ship of Lord Keith, who, we
believe, gave him a commission, in the year 1800.

From this period we lose sight of Captain Janvrin until he re-
ceived an appointment to a command in the flotilla attached to
the Walcheren expedition. The evacuation of that island being
at length determined upon, he was then charged by Sir Richard
J. Strachan with the duties of the port of Flushing, and Commo-
dore (now Sir Edward) Owen, who conducted the retreat from

272 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

that place, officially acknowledged that he found in him " a most
zealous second and supporter." The bravery and spirit ma-
nifested by the officers and crews of the gun-boats, and their
cheerful submission to the necessary privations of that pecu-
liar service, have been noticed at p. 71 et seq. of Suppl. Part
1. — ^^All" says Sir Richard J. Strachan, ^^ supported the
character of British seamen /"

Captain Janvrin's post commission bears date, Oct. 21,
1810. He married the widow of Lieutenant Lord, R. N.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

GEORGE WILLIAM BLAMEY, Esq.

The family of Blarney, originally Blayney, is of Welsh
extraction, and claims to be descended from Cadwallader,
King of the ancient Britons. Captain Blarney's direct ances-
tor, Edward, a younger son of Thomas ap Jevan Lloyd, after
serving Queen Elizabeth in the Low Countries, accompanied
the Earl of Essex to Ireland, and settled in that kingdom, of
which he was created a peer by James 1, July 29, 1G2I.
Two brothers belonging to this family fled from the " Emerald
Isle," to avoid political persecution : — one went to Nor-
mandy, the other took up his residence atTregony, co. Corn-
wall, and changed his name to Blarney,

The subject of this memoir was born at Devonport, in
1768 J and he appears to have joined the Nonsuch 64, Cap-
tain Walter Griffith, before he was eight years old ! Although
much too young to take a part in any of the operations, he
was present at the performance of many, if not all, the services
in the Chesapeake and Delaware rivers, at the commencement
of the American revolutionary war. In 1778, we find him
again at school ; and in 1780, embarking on board the In-
flexible 64, then attached to the Channel fleet under Admiral
Geary, but subsequently sent to the relief of Gibraltar, under
Vice-Admiral Darby. While engaged in that service, she
was warmly engaged with the Spanish gun-boats, and Mr.
Blarney witnessed the demolition of the greater part of the
besieged town *.

♦ See Vol. I. Part I. p. 4, and note at p. 33.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. 2/3

In 17B1, this young officer was placed under the patronage
of Sir Geo. B. Rodney, by whose side he served on the memor-
able 9th and 12th April, 1782 *. After the recall of that cele-
brated chief, he continued in the Formidable with Admiral Hugh
Pigot, under whom he completed his time as a midshipman.

At the peace of 1783, Mr. Blarney joined the CuUoden 74,
fitting at Woolwich for the purpose of being stationed as a
guard-ship in Hamoaze ; but feeling dissatisfied with a life
80 inactive, and having a strong desire to make himself ac-
quainted with the whole coa&it of North America, from Hud-
son's Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, he subsequently proceeded,
in pursuance of that design, accompanied by two young
friends possessing a similar spirit of enterprise, in whose com-
pany he encountered difficulties iUmost insurmountable, and
experienced the greatest privations, being often frozen up in
his little bark without a single comfort to sustain life, some,
times obliged to consume part of the vessel for want of fuel,
and frequently compelled, after traversing the ice and reaching
terra firma, to undergo all the varieties of misery and want.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
Mr. Blamey joined Commodore Ford, at Jamaica, and was
actively employed during the operations against the enemy iu
St. Domingo t> His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant
took place about 1 794, on which occasion he was appointed
to the Success 32, Captain Hugh Pigot, with whom he had
been intimate in his early days.

From that frigate Lieutenant Blarney removed to the In-
trepid 64, commanded by the Hon. Charles Carpenter j and
in her he assisted at the capture of la Per9ante French na-
tional ship, mounting 26 guns, with a complement of 200 men,
near old Cape Francois, Feb. 1796.

Lieutenant Blarney's next appointment was to be first of
the Jamaica, late la Per9ante, from which ship he removed to
the Leviathan 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore
Duckworth, with whom he returned to England in 1797, after

• See Vol. II. Part I, note f at p. 52 ; Vol. I. Part I. note at pp. 35 —
39 ; and id. Part II. last part of note • at p. 437.

t See Vol. I, Part II, p. 505, and note t at p. 805 et teg.

SUPPL. PART II. T

2/4 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

an absence of nine years. We subsequently find him serving
as first of the Assistance 50, Captain Robert Hall, on the
Halifax station, from whence that ship brougiit home H. R. H.
the Duke of Kent, Aug. 31, 1800. During the passage to
England, Lieutenant Blarney had the good fortune to obtain
the favourable opinion of that illustrious personage, whose
warm friendship he enjoyed until his lamented demise.

Early in 1801, Lieutenant Blarney again joined the Levia-
than, then bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Duckworth, who
had recently succeeded Lord Hugh Seymour in the chief com-
mand on the Leeward Islands station ; and in whose despatches
announcing the surrender of the Danish and Swedish colonies
we find the following passage : —

" I intend giving an acting order to Captain John Miller Gamier, of the
Hawke, and my first Lieutenant, George William Blamey, an officer whose
exertions in the present expedition entitle him to my warmest support."

Lieutenant Blamey was accordingly appointed to succeed
Captain Gamier, and he continued in the Hawke sloop until
the cessation of hostilities. While commanding that vessel
he sailed round the island of Trinidad, and keeping within a
mile or two of the shore, with the lead constantly going, visited
every settlement, made a rough sketch of the coast, and fur-
nished the Hydrographical Office with soundings which may
always be depended upon. The whole of this service was
performed in the course of a week.

Captain Blamey *s next appointment was, in 1804, to an
armed vessel, employed protecting the trade in the British
and St. George's Channels, on which irksome and unprofitable
service he remained nearly three years. We afterwards find
him commanding the Mediator frigate, armed enjiutey and
fitted for the conveyance of supplies to the different block-
ading squadrons.

In that ship Captain Blamey continued until the early part
of 1809, when, having recently assisted at the embarkation
of the British army at Corunna, and received on board a great
number of sick and wounded soldiers, he was attacked with
violent fever and ague, which induced the Admiralty to ap-
point the late Captain James W* oldridge to act for him until
his recovery.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 2/5

Hearing, while at sick-quarters, that the Mediator was con-
verted into a fire-ship, for the purpose of being employed
against the French squadron in Aix roads, Captain Blarney
hastened to rejoin her, but had the mortification not to reach
the British fleet until the day after her destruction. This cir-
cumstan' i naturally gave him great distress, the officer acting
during his absence having been thus afforded an opportunity
of gaining great fame, immediate promotion, and extraordi-
nary marks of disthiction *.

As some compensation for his disappointment. Captain
Blamey was shortly afterwards appointed to the Harpy brig,
then under repair at Portsmouth, and intended to form part
of the expedition preparing against Antwerp.

On the arrival of that formidable armament off VValcheren,
Captain Blamey was selected by Sir Richard J. Strachan to
land as second in command of the naval brigade under Cap-
tain Charles Richardson, to whose memoir (in Vol. II. Part
II) we must refer our readers for an account of the services
performed by the seamen on shore between July 30, and Aug.
15, 1809. It will be sufficient in this place to state that the
" zeal and bravery" displayed by Captain Blamey were highly
spoken of, both in the naval and military despatches an-
nouncing the surrender of Flushing.

After the evacuation of Walcheren, the Harpy was sent to
Halifax, from whence she conveyed 150 troops to Lisbon.
Captain Blamey's post commission bears date Oct 21, 1810.
He subsequently commanded the Loire frigate, for a short
period, off the Black Rocks, and the Comet of 20 guns, on
the Newfoundland and other stations : the latter ship was
paid off in Dec. 1814.

This persevering, but by no means fortunate officer, mar-
ried Eunice, eldest daughter of David Pearl, of Hampton,
state of Connecticut, Esq., and a grand-daughter of Major

* Captain Wooldridge bad the honor of breaking the enemy's boom,
and was presented with a gold chain and medal in addition to the other
rewards to which his conspicuous bravery so justly entitled him — post
rank, and continued employment. The Patriotic Society also voted him a
sword value 100/. He died suddenly, in the prime of life, at Penzance,
Aug. 31, 1814.

t2

276 P0ST-CAPTAIN8 OF 1810.

Allen, who distinguished himself in Canada under the im-
mortal Wolfe. Captain Blarney's two brothers died in the
naval service : his sister married Captain, afterwards Major
Hutcheson, of the 71st regiment.
Agents. — Messrs. Barnett and King.

JOHN COODE, Esq.

A Compftnion of the Most IlonoraUe Military Order of the Bath ; Knight
Commander if the Royal Neapolitan Order of St Ferdinand, and of
Merit ; and a Knight of the Order of ff^ilhelm, of the Netherlands.

Tins officer was made a Lieutenant, Sept. 5, 179^ J and
advanced to the rank of Commander, in 1802. His post
commission bears date, Oct. 21, 1810.

At the commencement of 1814, Captain Coode commanded
the Porcupine, a 22-gun ship bearing the flag of Rear-Admi-
ral, (now Sir Charles V.) Penrose, who was then employed in
co-operation with the victorious armies of Great Britain,
Spain, and Portugal ; and whose eminent services in the
neiglibourhood of Bayonne and Bourdeaux, we shall take
this opportunity of relating : — the means by which we arc
enabled to do so have been obtained from various authentic
sources, since the publication of our first volume.

It may not be amiss to state that, on the 10th Feb. 1814,
the present Dauphin of France, under the auspices of Lord
Wellington, then at St. Jean de Luz, issued a proclamation
in the name of Louis XVIIL, addressed to him (the Due
d'Angoul^mc), and empowering him, with the usual formali-
ties, to represent his uncle till the arrival of the latter in
France, and authorizing him to employ himself in the re-es-
tablishment of good order in the dilTerent provinces into
which he might be able to penetrate, as well as in the adja-
cent provinces. To this proclamation was added a brief but
animated address from the Dauphin himself, to the French
nation *.

A few days after the promulgation of the above, the Mar-

♦ Sec Elliot's Life of Wellington, 2(1 edil.p. 542.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 277

quis of Wellington removed his head quarters from St. Jean
de Luz, and the combined armies began to advance through
a country full of strong posts, destitute of good roads, inter-
sected by rapid streams, and in the face of a brave, vigilant,
and active enemy. A great deal of fighting ensued, but al-
ways to the advantage of the allies, who at length drove the
French across the Gave d'Ol^ron, and established themselves
on the banks of that rivulet. In consequence of these move-
ments. Marshal Soult's line of defence before Bayonne was
broken in no less than three points ; his entrenched camp,
near St. Jean Pied de Pont, was abandoned ; and he was
obliged to establish himself on the heights above Orthes.

It formed a prominent part in Lord Wellington's stu-
pendous plan of operations, to take possession of both banks
of the Adour, as well below as above Bayonne, and to place
that city in a state of blockade, at the very moment when
the army which covered it should be driven from its position.
To render his lordship's scheme effectual, it was necessary
to push a detachment of troops, artillery, &c. across the river
in readiness to protect the formation of a bridge, to be com-
posed of small coasting vessels, decked boats, cables, and
planks, which Rear-Adiuiral Penrose had been for some
time indefatigably employed in collecting and preparing, at
Porto de Socca, and in the bay of St. Jean de Luz.

Accordingly on the 23d Feb., 600 infantrj' and a small de-
tachment of the rocket brigade, under the command of Major-
General Stopford, were conveyed across in pontoons, and
landed alx)ut two miles below Boucaut, a village situated
rather more thun midway from the citadel of Bayonne to the
confluence of the Adour with the ocean. Tlie strength of the
tides, however, rendered it impossible to do more without
the aid of the navy; and unfortunately Rear- Admiral Pen-
rose, who had sailed with his flotilla the evening before, was
then becalmed to the westward of Fontarabia.

At day-break on the 24th, the Porcupine with her charge
arrived off the bar of the Adour, where Rear- Admiral Penrose
was joined by Lieutenant John Debenham, an active and
zealous agent of transports, who had come in a boat from

278 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

Porto de Socca, in consequence of a message from Sir John
Hope, received at a late hour the preceding night, requesting
him to bring all the assistance he could, as there appeared no
hope of the flotilla being able to stem the adverse current, and
it had been found impracticable to get a raft across the rapid
Adour. This officer informed the Rear- Admiral of the pro-
gress already made by the left division of the army, and that
Major- General Stopford had been attacked by an enemy of
far superior force, whose attempt to dislodge his little corps
it was feared would be repeated. As the passage of the bar
was an operation of great difficulty and danger, we shall here
enter into a minute description thereof.

The Adour, for about two miles from its union with the sea,
has to force its way through a sandy plain ; the consequence
of which is, a vast accumulation of sand in that part of the
ocean immediately contiguous to the shore, forming a bar of
not less than a mile in breadth, on which at low water there
is seldom more than two feet, and at the highest tide rarely
above 15. Leading marks there are none, nor can there be
any permanently established ; for every gale, when the wind
does not blow off the land, the sand changes its position :
heavy rain in the interior always produces a similar effect, by
causing violent freshes to come down from the mountains ; in
short, no man, however perfect his knowledge of the passage
may be one day, can tell how or where it will be the next.
The tides run with such rapidity, between the bar and Bou-
caut, a distance of about three miles, that even a 6-oarcd gig
can scarcely make way against them : this has been partly
caused by the erection of a stone wall, about fifteen feet wide,
on each bank of the river, for the purpose of guiding the cur-
rent : on these walls strong posts are placed at intervals, to
which the mooring hawsers of vessels waiting the change of
the tide, and the warps of others going against the stream, arc
made fast. The wall on the Boucaut side is extended farther
up the river than that on the other, but they both commence
at about a mile from the bar.

The spring tides had not yet commenced, and the surf on
the bar wag very high, when Rear-Adminil Penrose arrived

P08T*CAP1'AINS OF 1810. 279

off the Adour ; but as the military operations could not be de-
layed, he determined to force his way, at all hazards, as soon
as the increasing strength of the breeze then blowing would
enable him to make the attempt : his mortification at having
been drifted, by a very strong current, to the westward, it is
easy to conjecture.

The whole of the vessels destined to enter the Adour were
placed under the command of Captain Dowell O'Reilly, of the
Lyra brig, who proceeded in a Spanish-built boat, selected as
the safest for the service he was going upon, taking with him
the principal pilot, the boats of the British squadron, and two
flats, to endeavour to find a passage through the surf: a few
troops were at that time seen crossing over to the French side
of the river, but evidently much in want of the boats intended
for their assistance. All Captain O'Reilly's attempts, how-
ever, proved ineffectual, as the surf was every where beating
in an equally dreadful manner.

VV^hile thus employed. Captain O'Reilly was hailed and
passed by Lieutenant Debenham, who, after breakfasting
with Rear-Admiral Penrose, had gone up to the Porcupine's
main-top-mast-head, and was induced, from the observations
he made there, to believe that he had descried a place where
the paiisage might be attempted with greater hopes of success
than at any other.

Lieutenant Debenham's boat was a 6-oared gig, with five
spare men in her to take alternate spells at the oars, the dis-
tance of Porto de Socca from the mouth of the Adour being
nearly 16 miles: — her lug fore-sail and mizen were at this
time set, and her crew ready to give way the moment she ar-
rived at the edge of the surf; — the extra hands sitting down
in the bottom of the boat, at an equal distance from her stem
and stern. When advanced so far that the surf broke just
without her, the Lieutenant exclaimed "hurrah my boys, strike
out ;" they did so, and instantly she seemed to fly amidst the
deafening sound of breakers, not less than 20 feet in perpen-
dicular height ; Lieutenant Debenham steering with one
hand, and cheering his men, by waving an old cocked hat,
with the other, at the same time telling them to trust in God,

280 POST- CAPTAINS OP 1810.

and the Almighty would protect them. After proceeding in
this manner for at least a mile, the bowmen suddenly halloed
out, " we are close to the beach, Sir !" and Lieutenant De-
benham, with great presence of mind, immediately directed
the roAvers to be ready to unship their oars, to list the boat
well to leeward, and to gather aft the fore sheet, himself at-
tending to the mizen. In a moment afterwards he gave the
expected orders, and strictly charged the men not to move
from their respective thwarts — the boat was instantly thrown
upon a spit of sand, and the receding wave left her perfectly
dry ; but still the men were ordered to keep their seats, nor
were they allowed to stir from them until three or four suc-
cessive waves had washed her well up upon the beach j the
sails keeping her steady and forcing her broadside on as the
sea lifted her.

Seeing Lieutenant Debenham dash into the tremendous
surf, and not choosing to be out-done in noble daring by au
inferior officer, Captain O'Reilly had instantly followed him ;
but his boat, although apparently much better adapted for
such an undertaking, was unfortunately upset, and five of her
crew perished : he and the other survivors were all more or
less bruised ; and it is nearly certain that the whole would
have been drowned, had not Lieutenant Debenham and the
transports' people ran into the surf and dragged them out at
the risk of their own lives. All the other boats returned on
board their respective vessels, to wait the result of the next
tide ; it being scarcely possible that one in fifty could then
have escaped a similar fate.

The spit of sand upon which Lieutenant Debenham's boat
was thrown, proved to be the extreme point of the right bank
of the Adour ; to which spot many soldiers hastened upon
witnessing his most miraculous escape. The gig was very soon
dragged over it, and launched into the river, across which he
immediately rowed to where a number of military officers
were assembled, one of whom was Sir John Hope, who pub-
licly congratulated him, and returned thanks for his promp-
titude and highly meritorious exertions.

it was now about 10 A. M. :— the gig instantly began to

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 281

carry over soldiers, and Lieutenant Debenham commenced
the construction of a large raft, which, when completed,
proved very serviceable to the army, it being capable of con-
veying 16 dragoons, with their horses, at a time. By means of
this raft, field pieces, waggons, forge carts, and in short every
thing that was brought to him, were transported across, dur-
ing the time that elapsed before the bridge could be rendered
passable for any of those heavy articles. Duruig the progress
of the bridge, Lieutenant Debenham made from 12 to 14
trips daily ; and he subsequently conducted to the French
side of the river the battering train of the invaders, on a
larger raft, constructed by Major Todd of the staff corps.
Our readers will pardon this digression j — we shall now return
to the flotilla.

Finding it impossible to discover the passage into the
A dour. Rear- Admiral Penrose sent his other Spanish pilot
ashore, to the S. W. of the bar, with directions to walk from
thence to the bank of the river, in order to make a concerted
signal from within the breakers, to guide the vessels through
the safest part. From the offing there appeared no interval,
a long and heavy line of surf alone presenting itself. Flag-
Lieutenant Edward Collins was at the same time despatched
overland, to communicate with the army j and Lieutenant
George Cheyne, of the Woodlurk brig, who had been received
as a volunteer on board the Porcupine, and whom the Rear-
Admiral then believed, and afterwards knew to be an officer
of great ability and the most abundant resources, was sent to
visit all the foreign vessels which had been purchased or hired
for this highly important service, to stimulate their crews
by promising pecuniary rewards to the first, second, third,
SiC. that siiould pass the bar : and to select as a pilot which-
ever master he found to possess better nerve than the others : —
he brought one to the Porcupine, who professed himself wil-
ling to conduct the flotilla in at half-tide ; and he volunteered
to accompany this person — an offer that gave the Rear-Ad-
miral entire confidence.

About 3 P. M., it being then nearly high water, and the
wind favorable, the flotilla was put in motion ; each vessel

282 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810,

having a certain flag hoisted, by which she could be distin-
guished. There were altogether about 70 sail of every des-
cription. When they sailed from Porto de Socca, towards the
close of a fine evening, the spectacle was very imposing ; but
when they were seen rising and sinking alternately in the im-
mense surf, it was awfully grand. At this moment, the flag
of Rear- Admiral Penrose was flying at the mast-head of the
Gleaner ketch ; in which vessel he ran close to the breakers,
directed the movements of the flotilla, and animated his offi-
cers and men to continued exertions, by his presence, ex-
ample, and praises.

However appalling the prospect might have been from
the sea, the author of "The Subaltern *" informs us, that it
was no less so from the land.

"Oil mounting' an eminence," says he, "we beheld a squadron bearing
down, with all sail set, towards the bar ; over which the waves were dash-
ing in wWte foam, being driven inwards by a strong gale. But we were
not the only anxious spectators of the animating shew. Tlie bank of the
river, and all the heights near, were crowded with general and staff officers,
conspicuous among whom were Sir John Hope, and, if my memory fails
me not. Lord Wellington himself. The groups were, one and all of them,
apeechless. The sense of sight appeared to be the only sense left in full
vigour to the individuals who composed them, and even from it all objecls
were apparently shut out, except the gallant squadron.

" Down they came before the breeze with amazing velocity ; but the
surf ran so high, and there seemed to be so little water upon the sands,
that I for one felt as if a weight had been removed from my heart, when I
beheld them suddenly put up their helms and lack about. • • • • Even
British sailors hesitated, for once in their lives, whether they could face
the danger. But the hesitation was not of long continuance."

Lieutenant Cheyne resolved to succeed, or perish : Provi-
dence favored him ! His boat, Spanish-built, but manned by
five British seamen, was borne by the swell clear across the
shoal : " and loud and reiterated were the shouts with which
it was greeted, as it rushed proudly through the deep water."

The next which entered the river was a large fishing-boat,
manned by volunteers from the transports at Porto de Socca.
She was closely followed by a gun-vessel, under the com-
mand of Lieutenant John Chessbire, the first person that

* The Rev. Mr. Gleig, formerly a Lieutenant of the 85tb light infantry.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 283

hoisted the colours of Britain in the Adour ! Following in the
track of the gun-boat wvls a schooner-rigged vessel ; but she
unfortunately broached to, and instantly capsized.

" The horror," says Mr. Gleig, " which we experienced at contempla-
ting this event, though extreme for the moment, was necessarily of short du-
ration ; for our attention was immediately attracted to other vessels, which,
one after another, drew near. Of these, all except one particular chasse-
marde, succeeded in making good the passage ; — it shared the fate of the
schooner. It was upset upon the curl of a wave, and went down witli the
uhole of its crew. This last was even a more awful spectacle than the
former. The little vessel, after being tossed round, rocked for a moment,
as it were, upon the surf, just long enough for us to see the despairing
gestures of the sailors, and to hear their shriek of consternation, — and then
a huge wave striking her, she fell, not upon her broadside, but absolutely
with bottom upwards."

The author of the " Subaltern" likewise tells us, that the
above mentioned schooner-rigged vessel was "guided by Cap-
tain Elliot" (the commander of H. M. brig Martial) ; but
this we can prove to be an error.

" Captain Elliot," says Sir Charles V. Penrose, '* was in his gig, ac-
companied by Mr. Charles Norman, his assistant-surgeon : — I had spoken
to him not more than two minutes before his boat overset : I observed to him
how hatidsomcly the gallant ftllows were dashing in after (hrir ftoffl anri skif'
Jul IhkIit Cliti/iie, when he said, ' I think I see one or two ratht-r slack,' and
pulled round the gig to row towards them — I conclude he winded her the
wrong way, as she was out of tsight immediately in the surf. The fate of
Mr. Norman was singularly unfortunate: — he managed to get safe on
board a gun-boat, which was afterwards thrown up upon the beach, where
he was killed by the oversetting of her 24-pounder."

In addition to the foregoing disasters, three transports*
boats were lost, with all their crews, and several others
swamped ; one coasting vessel took the ground, after she
entered the river, and remained fast for a considerable time.

Notwithstanding the loss of lives sustained, it may justly
be said, that the daring and highly necessarj^ attempt to
cross the bar of the Adour was attended with wonderful suc-
cess J and that the zeal, intrepidity, and skill of British sea-
men never shone forth in a more conspicuous manner than
on that tr5ing and memorable occasion.

Upon witnessing the approach of the flotilla, Captain
O'Reilly, who had somewhat recovered from the effects of

284 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

his disaster in the morning, went to where Lieutenant De-
benham was employed in preparing his raft, and directed
him to go in the gig, and render any assistance he might be
able to the different vessels requiring it. No sooner had the
agent of transports received this order than he hastened to
the edge of the inner breakers, and succeeded in rescuing
many men, who but for him must inevitably have been
drowned. For his conduct throughout this eventful day, the
thanks of Rear- Admiral Penrose were publicly read to him
on the beach by Captain O'Reilly*.

Twenty-five chass^- marges, &c. having entered the Adour,
in the manner above described, and also several heavy gun-
boats to protect the bridge, no time was lost in running them
up to their proper stations, about two or two and a half miles
from the bar, where they were moored in a line abreast, with
large anchors ahead and astern ; the vessels at an equal dis-
tance from one another. The whole were then bound toge-
ther by cables passed along to the right and left from the
centre vessels, as they anchored : those craft that were be-
tween them and the banks of the river had on board a num-
ber of old heavy guns and strong purchases, by means of
which the extreme ends of this line of cables, after being
passed over the walls we have spoken of, were first secured
on the north bank, and then hove taut on the other : the
purchase blocks were lashed to fir-trees growing near the
southern bank. On the deck of each of the largest vessels
was bolted a piece of timber, shaped like the bridge of a
fiddle, with notches in it to keep the cables steady : — hi this
manner were six lines of cables extended across the flotilla,
and firmly secured on shore. Planks were then laid on
transversely, with holes cut at proper distances to lash them
to the cables ; and " at dawn, on the followuig day, it was
declared that infantry might cross the floating bridge witli

• Captain O'Reilly died at Plymouth, May 22d, 1816, aged only 29
years. When senior lieutenant of the Surveillantc frifjate, he greatly
distinguished himself on the coast of Spain, and was, for hio services
there, advanced to the rank of commander, Sept. 23d, 1813 : he obtained
a post commission, Aug. 29, 1815.

t>08T-CAPTAIN8 OF 1810. $/§

safety. This was the signal for action ; and hence the 25th
was, at least to part of the army, a day of hostile employ-
ment."

Above this famous bridge, five heavy gun-boats were
moored with their heads towards Bayonne ; and for its fur-
ther protection a strong boom, which had been constructed
at St. Jean de Luz, under the immediate inspection of Rear-
Admiral Penrose, was thrown across between it and the
gun-boats. This boom was conveyed to the Adour by a
large brig, in charge of Lieutenant George Robert Douglas,
first of the Porcupine ; and it was rather a curious circum-
stance, that while he was placing it to keep off fire-rafts, &c.
the French were forming one higher up the river to prevent
annoyance from below.

We should here observe, that a number of sappers and
miners were embarked in the flotilla previous to its departure
from Porto de Socca : these men had been Instructed how to
proceed in forming the bridge after the vessels were moored,
and each of them had his proper part assigned him : in his
official letter to Lord Keith, reporting the proceedings of the
flotilla, Rear-Admiral Penrose highly approved of their con-
duct, and afterwards expressed himself, as follows: —

" That so mauy chassd-mardes ventured the experiment" of crossing
the bar, " I attribute to there having been two or more sappers placed in
each of them, and a captain and eight lieutenants of engineers command-
ing them in divisions. The zeal and science of these queers triumphed
over all the difficulties of the navigation."

The following are the names of the engineer oflScers of
whom Rear-Admiral Penrose speaks so handsomely : — Cap-
tain Slade, Lieutenants Mellhuish, Read, Rivers, Robe, Sa-
vage, Tiiiling, Wallace, and West. For some unaccountable
reason or other, the Admiralty did not allow any mention,
either of them or their men, to be made in the London Ga-
zette. Major Todd was the officer who superintended the
formation of the bridge, which altogether covered a space
little short of 900 yards.

Immediately after the arrival of the flotilla, Rear-Admiral

286 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

Penrose received a letter from Sir John Hope, in which that
distinguished General expresses himself as follows :

" I have often seen how gallantly the navy will devote themselves when
serving with an army ; but I never before witnessed so bold and hazardous
a co-operation ; and you have my most grateful thanks,

" I wrote you in the course of last night, to say how much we stood
in need of boats, seamen, &c. but when I saw the flotilla approach the
wall of heavy surf, I regretted all I had said, for fear it might have urged
your zeal beyond what you may have thought right."

To this handsome acknowledgment was added the just ap-
plause of Lord Wellington, who expressed himself " hifi-
nitely indebted to Rear-Admiral Penrose for the cordial
assistance he received from him in preparing for the plan*'
(of crossing the Adour), " and for that which he gave to
Ijieutetiant- General Sir Johii Hope in carrying it into
execution^

The following is an extract of Lord Keith's reply to the
Rear-Admiral's ofl&cial letter, detailing the particulars of the
above service : —

" I have great satisfaction in observing, that the arduous service of
entering the Adour was executed under your own immediate direction, on
the 24th Feb., when the bar of that river was passed, under circum-
stances where zeal, intrepidity, and judgment were never more rcquioite,
nor were more conspicuously displayed. I most highly approve of the
activity with which you appear to have collected the means for under-
taking this service, as well as of the ability with which you directed its
execution ; and you will be pleased to express to the officers and men
who were employed on the service, my best thanks for their zealous exer-
tions, and my admiration of their intrepid conduct."

It is here proper to add, that the above service was per-
formed without pilots, and that no one British subject con-
cerned was acquainted with any of the localities I

On the 27th Feb. 1814, Bayonne was closely invested by
Sir John Hope, and Marshal Soult completely routed, near
Orthes, by the main body of the allies. The enemy in his
retreat, left open the direct road to Bourdeaux, and Lord
Wellington availed himself of the opportunity to send a
detachment, under Sir William Beresford, to take possession
of that city. This expedition proved of great consequence
to the cause of the Bourbons, Mhose restoration now first

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1810. 287

began to be talked of, and to be considered as not altogether
hopeless. Sir William Beresford arrived at Bourdeaux on
the 12th March, and was received by the principal inhabit-
ants with every demonstration of joy.

Ten days after this auspicious event, Rear- Admiral Pen-
rose, then at Passages, received a despatch from the Mar-
quis of Wellington, dated March 17, informing him of the
advance of the combined forces towards Toulouse, and that
it was desirable that his squadron should speedily enter the
Gironde.

The hopes of being thus called upon had induced the Rear-
Admiral previously to send the Racer schooner off the Cor-
(louan light-house, and to Basque Roads, to give the cruisers
on the former station notice of his probable arrival there, and
to request assistance from Lord Amelius Bcauclerk, which
that officer most readily granted.

The difficulty of getting out of Passages, except under
the most favorable circumstances, is uncommonly great ;
and it was not until the 24th March in the forenoon, that
Rear- Admiral Penrose's anxious wish to escape from that
port was gratified. The naval force which entered the
Gironde under his orders, March 27, consisted of the fol-
lowing ships and vessels :

Egtnont {fiag ship) - 74 guns. Captain Joseph Bingham.

Andromache

- - 38 -,

- George Tobin.

Belle Poule

. - 38 -,

- George Harris.

Porcupine -

. . 22 -,

- John Coode.

V^esuvius

- bomb.

- William Hext.

Challenger -

- brig.

- Frederick E. V. Vernon.

Podar^us

— ,

- George Rennie.

Martial

— -J »

Lieut. Edw. Collins (acting Coram.)

Dwarf

- cutter.

- Samuel Gordon.

To which were shortly afterwards added the Reynard brig. Captain David
Latimer St. Clair ; and the Nimble cutter. Lieutenant Peter Williams.

It is worthy of remark, that no line-of-battle ship had
ever ventured to enter the Gironde, with all her guns and
stores on board, before Rear-Admiral Penrose resolved to
make the experiment ; which he did under every disadvan-
tage, as there was not a single person in the squadron ac-

288 POST.CAPTAINS OF 1810.

quainted with the dangerous navigation of the river, and the
weather was at first very thick and threatening, though the
sky became clear after the ships had got fairly into Ihe
stream. Standing on the fore -part of the Egmont's poop,
with the chart spread before him, and the master by his
side, he conducted the pilotage himself, to the astonishment
of a Frenchman who had had charge of the Egmont when
she was employed in the blockade of Rochefort, but who
was wholly unacquainted with the Gironde. The most use-
ful aid he received was from the enemy, when they attempted
to check his progress ; for as the first shot fired from Point
Coubre went over him, it shewed that he was within the
Mauvaise bank, and consequently clear of the greatest danger.
This information Rear-Admiral Penrose acknowledged by a
thankful bow to the battery.

The Regulus, a French 74, the Sans Souci corvette, two
brigs of war, and several other armed vessels, were then at
anchor off Royau ; but being informed, by telegraph, that
the British were superior in force, they weighed and ran
higher up the river ; pursued by the Egmont and her con-
sorts under a crowd of sail. As all the batteries on the
northern shore opened, in succession, a heavy fire of shot
and shells, the whole formed a grand and imposing spectacle.

Having proceeded as high as the shoal of Talmont, the
French squadron entered the narrow channel between it and
the main, which had been buoyed in expectation of their
retreat thither ; the passage being protected by a very strong
fort.

It was not until the 29th March that any communication
could be opened with the army. On that day, Rcar-Admiral
Penrose extended his small vessels up the Gironde ; and
ordered Captiiin Hext to throw some shells in the direction
of the Regulus, but only by way of practice.

On the 30th, the position of the British army liaving caused
the garrison of Castillon to retire, Rear-Admiral Penrose
again removed to the Porcupine, and proceeded from Verdun
road to an anchorage off the abandoned town; takh)g with
him the Andromache, Vesuvius, Challenger, Podargus, and

l^ST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 28D

Dwarf. He there received several deputations from the vil-
lages on the left bank of the river, all of which had displayed
the white flag, but were still in great dread of Napoleon and
the conscription.

From Castillon, Captain Rennie was sent with a summons
to the commandant of Blaye, who availed himself of the
opportunity tlius afforded him of displaying a remnant of
revolutionary brutality, by firing a shot at the flag of truce,
and obliging it to retire.

On the Slst, Captain Coode was sent up as far as Pouillac,
with the Vesuvius, Challenger, Podargus, Reynard, and Nim-
ble, under his orders, to commence the bombardment of the
nbove citadel j and all the armed boats of the squadron, with
200 marines, M'ere likewise despatched with him to make an
attempt upon Patd, a small island, in the middle of the river,
about six miles nearer to Bourdeaux, defended by a round
tower forty feet high, mounting six long IS-pounders, and
supposed to contain about 600 men.

On the arrival of this detachment off Pouillac, Captain St.
Clair received directions to take the boats and marines under
his protection, tow them to the island, and cover their
debarkation.

Finding it impracticable to effect a landing, owing to the
state of the weather, he reluctantly abandoned the attempt 5
and was returning towards Pouillac, when a violent storm
arose and drove his brig on a sand-bank, within range of
the tower, where she was high and dry in less than three
hours. Providentially, it was midnight when she took the
ground, and the enemy did not discover her until she waa
Bgtun under sail, otiierwise nothing could have saved her
from destruction. Captain St. Clair's exertions on this alarm-
ing occasion were very great, and deserving of much praise.
Notwithstanding the failure of the attempt upon Isle Patd,
the seamen and marines of Rear- Admiral Penrose's squadron
very soon had an opportunity of performing a brilliant ser-
vice, hardly surpassed by any exploit of the same nature
that has ever been recorded.

Ever since the occupation of Bourdeaux by the allies, Ge-

SUPPL. PART II. U

290 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

neral Count De Caen, a staunch adherent of Napoleon Buo-
naparte, had been making preparations to retake that city,
and to punish its inhabitants for their friendly reception of
Sir William Beresford. To further the Count's views, two
brigs, each mounting six long 18-pounders, a fine schooner,
eight gun-boats, and four armed chasse-mart^es, had an-
chored in a line across the mouth of the Dordogne river,
which falls into the Gironde about six miles above Blaye,
and four leagues below Bourdeaux.

At day-light on the 2d April, this flotilla was discovered
near Blaye, apparently pushing for Talmont. Very few mi-
nutes elapsed before the British boats were in pursuit ; and
on their approach, the whole of the enemy's vessels ran
ashore near the citadel, from whence 200 French soldiers
marched out to protect them, although their crews were
greatly superior in number to the attacking party. A smart
fire was also kept up from the citadel ; but nothing could
check the ardour of our countrymen, who dashed on, landed,
charged the enemy, drove them into the woods with great
loss, and kept possession of the beach until the tide allowed
the greater part of the vessels to be brought oflF. They con-
sisted of one brig, the schooner, six gun-boats, and three
chasse-mar^es, together with an imperial state barge, row-
ing 26 oars*. The other brig, gun-boats, and chasse-maree
were set on fire and destroyed.

In the performance of this exploit, the British had not a
man slain, and only sixteen persons wounded : — two men,
officially reported as missing, were afterwards recovered by
Rear-Admiral Penrose, who highly commended the gallantry
and excellent conduct of Lieutenant Robert Graham t)unlop,
senior officer of the detachment; of whom it is said, that
when the party landed, he caught a horse, twisted some
rope-yarns together for a bridle, and mounted j observing to
those near him, that unless he could keep a- head of his fine
fellows, he did not know where they would stop ! The ej?;-
emplary behaviour of Lieutenant Patrick Robertson, R, M,,

* Thiij trophy was sent as a present to H. 11. H. the Prince Regent.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 291

and the other officers who served under Mr. Dunlop's orders,
was also highly eulogised.

After the capture and destruction of the Dordogne flotilla,
Rear-Admiral Penrose despatched the boats and marines to
Verdun road, where they were placed under the command
of Captain Harris, in order to land and storm fort Talmont,
while the Egmont took advantage of high water to run over
the shoal, and alongside the Regulus. At mid-night, April ()th,
just as that well-appointed British ship was in the act of
hoisting her jib, for the purpose of casting towards them,
the French 74, corvette, and brigs were discovered to be in
flames, making a most magnificent bonfire, which continued
to bum until sun-rise the following morning.

It appears, from this proceeding on the part of the enemy,
that they were aware of the meditated attack, although Rear-
Admiral Penrose and Captain Bingham had used every means
to keep them in ignorance thereof. We should here observe,
that the Centaur 74, Captain John Chambers White, had
anchored below Verdun road on the evening of the 6th
April, and that she cordially co-operated by sending her
boats and marines to join the detachment under Captain
Harris ; but the assistance of that ship, in the intended attack
upon the Regulus, was never considered necessary, and con-
sequently was not called for. The statement in the London
Gazette, dated at the Admiralty, April 19th, 1814, is calcu-
lated to mislead the reader.

The enemy having thus voluntarily altered the nature of
the sernce in the Gironde, Captain Harris and his party
were sent to the mouth of the river, where they efi*ected a
landing ; and after destroying the battery at Point Coubre,
commenced a march of fifty miles along the right bank, in
the course of which 4 other batteries, 17 mortars, and 47
pieces of cannon were rendered ineffective. On his re-
turn from this expedition. Captain Harris was directed to
superintend the operations against Blaye, for the regular
siege of which strong fortress preparations were then making
by Lord Dalhousie, in concert with Rear-Admiral Penrose,
by whom the Belle Poule was ordered to proceed Up the

u2

292 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

Gironde, " in advmice of the advanced squadron,'* as a com-
pliment due to the zealous habits of her commander.

Meanwhile the bombardment of Blaye was continued by
the Vesuvius, which vessel had been placed by Captain Hext
with great judgment for that purpose; the Porcupine and
Andromache, the former ship still bearing the Rear-Admi-
ral's flag, joined the advanced squadron near Pouillac, in the
evening of April 6th, and the Egmont spiked all the iron
guns in a deserted battery on Point de Grave, bringing off
several brass cannon and mortars.

The arrival of Louis XVllI. at Paris, was soon afterward*
announced to the Due d'Angoul^me, in the presence of Rear-
Admiral Penrose, who had gone by land from Pouillac to
Bourdeaux, at the express and repeated request of H. R. H.
and Lord Dalhousie. All the public functionaries then came
in as a matter of course, to pay their respects to the Dauphin,
and one of them, the archbishop of that city, ended a very
graceful address with the following remarkable expression,
evidently intended as a compliment to the British nation : —
*' Viola la fin de V ouvrage de Monsieur Pitt /"

Rear-Admiral Penrose now hoisted his flag in the Podargus,
which vessel he caused to be anchored exactly opposite the
principal street of Bourdeaux, near the Exchange, so that all
the inhabitants could see the British colours waving in the
fresh waters of France, at a distance of nearly 100 miles
within the battery which first opened its fire at the mouth of
the river. Thus was the spot so renowned in history, for the
display of British valour under Edward the Black Prince,
again the theatre of operations which redounded equally to
the honor of England. The important services of the army
on shore, and the equally momentous services of the squadron
m the Gironde, the results which they led to, and the beauty
of surrounding objects, all contributed to render the scene one
of peculiar interest.

In this situation, Rear-Admiral Penrose gave the Due
d*Angoul6me a public breakfast on board the little Podar-
gus ; and it is highly to the honor of British spirit to men-
tion, that among the troops ordered out by Lord Dalhousie to

posr-cAPTAiNs OF 1810. 293

line the streets through which H. R. H. passed, first to the
Rear- Admiral's hotel, and thence to his barge, were those regi-
ments of militia who had volunteered to serve abroad under
the Duke of Buckingham and Sir Watkin Williams VVynn.
It is no less remarkable, that among other combinations
caused by the late long and sanguinary wars, the soldiers
of Brunswick were also brigaded on this occasion !

VV hilst at Bourdeaux, some of Rear- Admiral Penrose's offi-
cers met those who had belonged to the corvette burnt at
Talmont, and talked over the late occurrences in a friendly
way J but not one of the Frenchmen could be brought to be-
lieve that the Egmont had entered the river with all her guns
on board, as the Regulus was the first ship of her class that
was ever known to have been sent into the Gironde, and the
pilot that conducted her thither from Aix roads, was admitted
into the Legion of Honor and rewarded with a pension,
though she had been lightened of her guns and stores. The
retort of one of the British officers was most excellent : —
** If the Egmont could not come in with her guns on board,
why did the Regulus, fully armed and manned, run away ?**

To form a correct opinion of the difficulties of the enter-
prise we have been describing, a reference to the chart is ne-
cessary; and to judge of the able manner in which it was
conducted, it should be known that the above-mentioned
services, and the capture of 50 pieces of ordnance, many
thousand stand of arms, and an immense quantity of ammu-
nition, in different vessels, at various periods, were effected by
the squadron under Rear-Admiral Penrose, without the most
trifling injury being sustained by any of H. M. ships, or the
loss of life to any British subject.

Rear-Admiral Penrose subsequently proceeded to Passages,
for the purpose of facilitating and superintending the embark-
ation of the army, stores, &c. destined to America. In the
execution of that service, the general tenor of his public and
private conduct drew forth the eulogiums of the respective
officers commanding divisions and brigades. He returned to
Plymouth in the Porcupine, and struck his flag Sept. 12, 1814.

294 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

During the war with Murat, in 1815, Captain Coode com-
manded the iiueen 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral
Penrose ; to whose memoir, as given at p. 579 et seq. of our
first volume, we shall make considerable additions, at the close
oiSuppl. Part. II. The Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit
was conferred upon Captain Coode, in consequence of the
British flag-ship having been selected by his Sicilian Ma-
jesty to convey him and his family from Palermo to Naples.

On the 3l8t Dec. 1815, Captain Coode was appointed to
the Albion, another third rate, fitting for the flag of the same
ofl&cer, with whom he returned from the Mediterranean in
the spring of 1819.

The Albion formed part of Lord Exmouth's fleet, but as a
private ship, before Algiers, on the memorable 27th Aug.
1816 *: her fire that day was noticed as peculiarly animated, a
circumstance partly attributable to her having been fitted with
the then newly constructed magazine ; and although her loss
was very trivial, considering the nature of the service, her
log-book will shew that she was well placed to annoy tlie
enemy : when the ships were ordered off", her anchors were
weighed and preserved with much good management. She
had no more than 3 persons killed, and 15, including Cap-
tain Coode, wounded. The subject of this memoir was nom-
inated a C. B. Sept. 21, 1816 ; and he was also presented
with the Order of Wilhelm, in common with his brother offi-
cers who had fought in concert with the Dutch squadron
under Admiral Van Capellan.

Captain Coode married, Feb. 8, 1819, the eldest daughter
of his old friend. Sir Charles V. Penrose, K. C. B., by whom
he has three sons and one daughter.

.<^^en/*.— Messrs. Maude and Co.

THOMAS BURTON, Esq.

Second son of the late John Burton, Esq. who for many
years held a responsible appointment under government, first
in the victualling ofl&ce, and latterly in the civil departmcMt
• See Vol. I. Part I, p. 227.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 295

of the navy ; a gentlement of exemplary worth, and consider-
able literary ac(juirements.

Mr. ^rhomas Burton entered the navy, in Dec. 1792, as a
midshipman on board the Hermione frigate. Captain John
Hills, with whom he proceeded to Jamaica, at the commence-
ment of the French revolutionary war. The first services
witnessed by him were the occupation of Jeremie, in St. Do-
mingo, Sept. 20, 1793 ; and the capture of more than 1900
tons of French shipping, laden with colonial produce ; two
neutral vessels with cargoes, and one small armed schooner,
at rislet and Bay des Flamands, on the 23d and 29th of the
same month *. In the following year he assisted at the re-
duction of Port-au-Prince, on which occasion the Hermione
had 5 men killed, and 6 wounded f. Her loss by fever,
while subsequently co-operating with the British troops in
their vain attempt to complete the subjugation of the French
posts in St. Domingo, appears to have been very great, as
was likewise that of the whole squadron employed in the
same disastrous service.

After continuing about four years on the Jamsdca station,
Mr. Burton removed with Captain Hill's successor, the pre-
sent Vice Admiral Stephens, into the Success of 32 guns,
and returned to England under that officer's command, in
May 1797.

Immediately on his arrival, Mr. Burton joined the Scourge
sloop. Captain Samuel Warren, then about to sail for the
Leeward Islands, where he served in that vessel, and the Prince
of Wales 98, flag-ship of the late Sir Henry Harvey, until
promoted to be a Lieutenant of the Amphitrite frigate. Cap-
tain (now Rear-Admiral) Ekins, Jan. 1, 1799. On the 26th
June following, he assisted at the capture of le Duquesne,
French privateer brig, mounting 1 6 guns, with a comple-
ment of 129 men.

About this latter period. Lieutenant Burton became first of
the Amphitrite, in which capacity he assisted at the capture
of Surinam, and the destruction of a settlement on the Devil'i

• See Vol. I, Part II. p. 505.
t See id, note f »t P- 906 rt seq.

296 POST-CAPTAINS ov 1810*

Islands, a noted rendezvous for the enemies' privateers. The
Amphitrite also formed part of the squadron under Rear- Ad-
miral Duckworth at the occupation of the Danish and Swed-
ish islands, in 1801 *.

The precarious state of Captain Ekins's health, at this pe-
riod, rendering a change of climate requisite, that excellent
ofl&cer was sent with the naval despatches to England ; and
on his quitting the Amphitrite he recommended Lieutenant
Burton in such high terms, as to induce Rear- Admiral Duck-
worth to give him the temporary command of her.

Lieutenant Burton's next appointment was to the South-
ampton 32, of which frigate he likewise became for a short
time acting commander, owing to the death of Captain John
Miller Gamier. While in that ship he received the thanks
of the Rear-Admiral for his active exertions and judicious
conduct, by which she was saved from destruction, during a
most violent gale at St. Martin's.

In Nov. 1801 , Lieutenant Burton was removed to the Levia-
than 74, and in her accompanied Sir John T. Duckworth to
Jamaica, where he was promoted by that officer to the com-
mand of the Woolwich storeship, in Dec. 1802.

Being paid off on his return home, in the spring of 1803,
Captain Burton remained unemployed from that time until
May 1804, when he received a commission for the Romulus
frigate, armeil enflutCy then stationed as a block-ship on the
coast of Essex, and afterwards sent with troops to the river
Elbe. We subsequently find him commanding the Wildboar
a 10-gun brig, employed on the Lisbon station ; where he
captured a French schooner, carrying some staff officers from
Ferrol to Bayonne.

In Feb. 1810, being then on his return to the Tagus, after
landing a military officer with despatches at Falmouth, Cap-
tain Burton had the misfortune to be wrecked on the Rundle-
stonc rock, between Scilly and the Lands'-end ; by which dis-
aster 12 men perished. On the 23d of the following month,

• See id. p. 766, and note f at p. 798 et teq. N. B. The Amphitrite
was commanded for a short time by Lieutenant Charles Marshall Grejfory,
" an officer of great merit and actirity."

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 29/

his conduct underwent the usual investigation ; and the court-
martial having declared that no blame was imputable to him,
he was immediately afterwards ordered to commission the
Primrose, a new brig of 18 guns : the whole of his officers
and crew were likewise fully acquitted, except the Master,
who was sentenced to be broke, and placed at the disposal of
the Port- Admiral.

In the Primrose, Captain Burton was employed on the
coasts of Norway and Jutland, until his promotion to post
rank, Oct. 21, 1810.

At the close of 1811, he received directions to fit out his
old ship the Prince of Wales, intended for the flag of Admiral
William Young, with whom he proceeded off the Scheldt, and
continued till May, J 812.

In the autumn of 1814, Captain Burton took charge of the
Nelson a first rate, just launched at Woolwich, and conducted
her under jury-masts to Portsmouth, where he found a com-
mission, dated Aug. 25, appointing him to the command of
the Aquilon frigate ; and from whence he immediately sailed
for Gibraltar, with General Don and suite, passengers, and a
Heet of merchantmen under his protection.

During the ren\ainder of the war with America, Captain
Burton was employed cruising along the coast of Portugal ;
and on the renewal of hostilities against France, in 1815, we
find him serving under L#ord Exmouth, on the Mediterranean
station, where he continued until the commencement of 1816,
when urgent private affairs obliged him to resign his com-
mand, and return across the continent to England.

Captain Burton married, Sept. 1814, Catharine Jones
Crutchley, grand-daughter of the late Evan Jones, Esq. His
eldest brother. Lieutenant John Burton, R. M. was drowned
at theNore, about 1795 : — his younger brothers are, George
Guy Burton, a Commander of 1814 ; and William Moulden
Burton, Captain R. M. One of his sisters is married to Cap-
tain Samuel Warren, C. B. ; another is the lady of Lieutenant-.
Colonel Long, R. M.

9^8 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

JEREMIAH COGHLAN, Esq.

A Companion of the Most Honorahle Military Order of the Bath.

It is a generally received, though certainly erroneous opi-
nion, that this intrepid officer was impressed into the naval
service of his country : the following short statement will
serve to prove that such was not the case :

At p. 214, et seq. of our first volume, Part I, we have no-
ticed the destruction of the Dutton, a ship belonging to the
Hon. East India Company, in Jan. 1/96.

During the height of the storm, and before boats of any
description could venture out to her assistance, Mr. Coghlan,
then scarcely sixteen years of age, plunged into the sea with
a rope tied round his body, and succeeded in catching hold
of two men, whom he conducted safely to the shore.

After saving several lives in a similar manner, and at the
imminent risk of being himself beaten to pieces against the
rocks, Mr. Coghlan's strength failed him, — but not so his
spirit. Perceiving that the wind had in some measure de-
creased, he then hastened to the Barbican at Plymouth, ob-
tained a boat, with several volunteers, and instantly pro-
ceeded to the wreck, from whence many persons were taken,
and conveyed to different pilot vessels which had begun to
approach the citadel. It is supposed that, by Mr. Coghlan 's
exertions on this occasion, not less than 50 men were rescued
from a watery grave, before a single boat from any of the
men-of-war dared venture to his assistance, — so terrible was
the state of the weather.

Mr. Coghlan's heroic behaviour was fortunately witnessed
by Sir Edward Pellew, now Viscount Exmouth, who soon
afterwards offered him his patronage if he would consent
to enter the navy. An equally flattering offer was likewise'
made to him on the part of the Hon. Court of Directors ;
and the Transport-Board marked their sense of his noble con-
duct by sending him a present of 20 guineas, at the same
time directing their agent to distribute thirty more between
his danng companions.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 299

At this period, Mr. Coghlan had spent three years on board
a merchant vessel, for the purpose of acquiring a practical
knowledge of seamanship. Possessing a laudable ambition,
and preferring the chance of obtaining fame to the ignoble
pursuit of wealth, he readily accepted Sir Edward Pellew's
invitatimiy and was received by that distinguished officer,
cu a midshipman, on board the Indefatigable. The im-
portant services performed by that ship have been stated at
pp. 216-219 of Vol. 1, Part I. In the spring of 1/99, Mr.
Coghlan removed with Sir Edward Pellew to the Impetueux
78 ; and during the expedition to Quiberon bay, he was ap-
pointed by him to command the Viper cutter, as a reward
for his gallantry on numerous occasions of boat service.
This appointment was most readily sanctioned by the com-
mander-in-chief of the Channel fleet, Earl St. Vincent, who,
in a letter to the Admiralty, particularly requested that he
might not be superseded. We should here state, that whilst
Mr. Coghlan belonged to the above ships he saved the lives
of several of their crews who had accidentally fallen over-
board. A most brilliant exploit subsequently performed by
him, cannot be better described than in the words of his
first professional patron :

" My Lord, — I have true pleasure in stating to your lordship the ^ood
conduct of Lieutenant Jeremiah Coghlan, to whom, for former gallant
behaviour, you had given an acting commission to command the Viper
cutter. This gallant young man, while watching Port Louis, thought he
could succeed in l)oarding some of the cutters or gun-vessels which have
been moving about the entrance of that harbour ; and for this purpose he
entreated a ten-oared cutter from me, with 12 volunteers. On Tuesday
night, the 29th ultimo*, he took this boat, with Mr. Silas H. Paddon,
midshipman, and six of his own men, making with himself 20 ; and ac-
companied by his own boat, and one from the Amethyst, he determined on
boarding a gim-brig, mounting three long 24-pounders and four 6-pound-
ers, full of men, moored with springs on her cables, in a naval port of
difficult access, within pistol-shot of three batteries, surrounded by several
armed craft, and not a mile from a 74 (bearing an Admiral's flag) and two
frigates.

** Undismayed by such formidable appearances, the early discovery of
his approach (for they were at quarters), and the lost aid of the other two

• July, 1800.

300 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

boats, he bravely determined to attack alone, and boarded her on thft
quarter; but unhappily, in the dark, jumping into a trawl net, hungup
to dry, he was pierced through the thigh by a pike, several of his men
hurt, and all knocked back into the boat. Unchecked in ardour, they
hauled the boat farther a-head, and again boarded, and maintained, agauist
87 men, 16 of whom were soldiers, an obstinate conflict, killing 6 and
wounding 20, among whom were every ofiicer belonging to her. His own
loss, one killed and eight wounded ; himself in two places, Mr. Paddou in
six. I feel particularly happy in the expected safety of all the wounded ;
he speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Paddon and the whole of his party,
many of whom were knocked overboard, and twice beat back into the boat,
but returned to the charge with unabated courage. I trust 1 shall stand
excused by your lordship for so minute a description, produced by my
admiration of that courage which, hand to hand, gave victory to our brave
fellows, over four times their number ; and of that skill wliich formed,
conducted, and effected so daring an enterprise.

" La Cerb^re, commanded by a Lieutenant de vaisseau, and towed out
under a very heavy fire, is given up, as a prize, by the squadron, to mark
their admiration, and will not, I know, be the only reward of such bra-
very ; they will receive that protection your lordship so liberally accords to
all the young men in the service who happily distinguish themselves under
your command. I enclose Lieutenant Coghlan's letter, and have the honor
to be, &c.

(Signed) *' Edward Pellbw."

When transmitting the above letter to the Admiralty, Earl
St. Vincent expressed himself as follows : —

" I did not think the enterprise of Sir Edward Hamilton, or of Captain
Campbell, could have been rivalled*, until I read the enclosed letter from
Sir Edward Pellew, relating the desperate service performed by acting
Lieutenant Coghlan, of the Viper cutter, on the 29th July, which has
filled me with pride and admiration ; and, although the circumstance of
his not having completed his time in his Majesty's navy operates at pre-
sent against his receiving the reward be is most ambitious of obtaining,
I am persuaded the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will do all in
their power to console him under his severe wounds, and grant him pro-
motion the moment he is in capacity to receive it."

On the same day, Aug. 4, 1800, his Lordship addressed
the following public and private letters to Sir Edward Pellew:

" Sir,— No language I possess can convey the high sense I entertain
of the service performed by acting Lieutenant Cogldau, Mr. Paddon, and
the other brave fellows under his command. I request you will return

• See Vol. I, Part IJ, pp. 824^27, and Vol. U, Part I, p. 290, #/ ttq.

I^ST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 301

them my thanks in the most public manner, and assure them, collective y
and individually, that I shall be proud to take them by the hand, at any
time, and in any place, and to tender them any service in the power of.
Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

(Si^ed) ** St. Vincent."

{Private.)
" Dear Sir, — I am quite transported with the noble exploit performed
by your friend Coghlan. I have taken the liberty to enclose your private
htter to Lord Spencer, and I desire you will acquaint Mr. Coghlan, that I
have directed Mr. Makepeace, an eminent goldsmith, in Searle Street,
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, to prepare a sword of 100 guineas value,
which I will beg of you to present to this gallant seaman, in the most
appropriate manner. Tour's most truly,

(Signed) ** St. Vincbht.'*

On his arrival in port, Mr. Coghlan received, what his
aspiring mind valued above all other gifts, a commission,
promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant, and confirming him
in the command of the Viper, although he had then served
only four years and a half in the navy. On the 9th Nov.
following, we find him addressing a note to H. R. H. the
Duke of Kent, a copy of which we shall now lay before
our readers : —

" Lieutenant J. Coghlan, commander of H. M. cutter Viper, in the
roost respectful and humble terms, entreats the liberty of approaching
your Royal Highness, on having fortunately recaptured the Diamond
transport, on board of which were your Royal Highness's baggage and
horses, from Halifax ; and that he may mark the high respect he feels
for your Royal Highness's person, he has, on his return from sea yester-
day, given directions to tils agent at Falmouth to deliver the baggage and
horses, free of salvage, to whoever may be sent to take (rharge of them ;
and he most earnestly implores your Royal Highness's permission to lay
this humble tribute of respect at your feet, as the only means he can ever
flatter himself with having, to evince his lively gratitude and high venera-
tion for the very singular and generous instance of his most gracious
Sovereign's goodness towards him, by granting him the honor and per-
mission, by his gracious order in council, to bear the rank of a lieutenant
in his navy, before he had completed his regular time of servitude."

To this offer. Lieutenant Coghlan received the following
answer :

" Kensington Palace, \2th Nov. 1800.

•* Sir,— I am commanded by H. R. H. the Duke of Kent, to acknow-
ledge your letter of the 9th instant. The very handsome terras in which

302 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

you have expressed yourself on the fortunate re-capture of the Diamond
transport, by the Viper cutter, under your command, u most warmly
acknowledged by his Royal Highness, who, unwilling to deprive the sea-
men of the reward so justly due to their vigilance and activity, and there-
fore feeling it incumbent upon him to decline any offer to your and their
disadvantage, is as forcibly impressed with a high sense of the obligation
conferred, as if your generosity had been accepted. His Royal Highness
has much pleasure in assuring you, that your name haa not been unknown
to him, having himself been present at the council, when your meritorious
conduct received such an honorable mark of approbation from his Majesty,
before whom, it is the intention of H. R. H. to submit this fresh proof of
your activity in his service, and attachment to his family and person. I
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) James Willoughby Gordon, Aid-de-Camp and Secretary."
On the 1st April, 1801, Lieutenant Coghlan captured le
Heros French brig privateer, of 14 guns and 73 men. The
following is an extract of a letter from Sir Edward Pellew
to the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis, dated off Rochefort, Aug. 8,

1801:—

" The Viper is just returned from driving into Bourdeaux the ship cor-
vette Tapageur of 16 guns, after some firing, and would have taken her,
had she not, in a dastardly manner, run into port."

Another dashing action on the part of Lieutenant Coghlan
is thus described by Sir Edward, in a letter to the com-
mander-in-chief, dated, Sept. 10, 1801 : —

" Having sent Lieutenant Coghlan, by signal, in the Viper, to intercept a
convoy passing from Pcrtuis Breton to Sable d'Ollone, I cannot, injustice
to him, omit making a report of his gallant conduct, although his endea-
vours were not crowned with the success they merited.

" On his approach to Sable d'Ollone he had cut off a loaded sloop and
drove a brig on shore ; but on his boat going to take possession, a large
gun-brig, two schooners of 12 guns each, and two luggers of 10, started
from Sable d'Ollone, to cut off his boat : upon which he recalled her, and
stood direct towards the enemy, making the gun-brig his particular object.
After bearing their fire for some time, they all put their heads in shore :
the gun-brig lay to, upon which he closed, within pistol-shot, and in ten
minutes she was glad to bear up, and run aground in the surf; after
which he drove the other four vessels before him into port again. The
wind blowing strong off shore, and the| tide flowing, the brig, mount-
ing 15 guns, and having on board 100 men, was again got off. The
Viper received some 24-pounder shot in her hull, had one man killed, and
one wounded."

The Viper was put out of commission^ at Plymouth, Oct.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 303

28, 1801 ; and Lieutenant Coghlan remained unemployed
till the spring of 1802, when he was appointed to the Nimble
cutter, and ordered to cniise for the suppression of smug-
gling. In the course of the same year he received a highly
gratifying communication from his native city, of which the
subjoined is a transcript : —

" Cork, June, 1S02.
" Sir, — A club of gentlemen associated in this town, under the title of
the Scotch Corporation, did themselves the honor, on the 4th of last June,
of unanimously electing you an honorary Member of their Society ; and
have accompanied that mark of their esteem with a piece of plate, inscribed
with your name : they would feel highly gratified in being enabled to present
this for your acceptance at Cork ; but should your professional duties,
which you have hitherto performed so much to your own and your Coun-
try's hunur, deprive them of an early opportunity of fulfilling that wish, I
am desired to inform you, that it shall be transmitted to any place of your
appointment, where it may be most likely sooner to meet that hand, whose
gallant exertions have excited so much admiration. I have the honor to
be, with respectful sincerity, &c.

(Signed) " B. Coghlan, Secretary,"

In addition to the above civic reward " a Court of Doyer
hundred, held for the city and county of Cork, Aug. 4, 1802,"
unanimously agreed to admit Lieutenant Coghlan " a free^
man at large, for his gallant service, performed on the night
of July 29, 1800." His promotion to the rank of Commander
took place, May 1, 1804 ; on which occasion he was appoint-
ed to le Renard, a flush-deck ship-sloop, then at Jamaica,
mounting 16-eighteen- pounder carronades and 2 long sixes,
with a complement of 121 officers, men, and boys.

On the 20th Mar. 1805, being then in lat. 21*'-14'N. and
long. 71 '-SO' W., Captain Coghlan discovered and made sail
after aship to leeward, which he soon perceived was an enemy's
cruiser preparing to receive him. At 2-20 P. M. she open-
ed her fire upon le Renard, but not a gun was returned by
the latter until within pistol-shot, at which distance Captain
Coghlan placed her on the stranger's weather bow, when a fire
commenced that reflects infinite praise on the officers who
directed it j for at the end of 35 minutes the enemy wa« seen
to be in flames, and in 10 minutes afterwards she blew up
with a dreadful explosion.

304 POST-CAPtAlNS OF 1810.

" Every possible exertion was now made," says Captain Coghlan, " to
get out the only boat that could swim to the relief of the few brave but un-
fortunate survivors, who had just before so gallantly defended themselves,
and were now seen all aronnd, on the scattered remnants of the wreck, in a
mangled and truly distressing state ; and it is with pleasure I add, that of
the few who escaped the flames, 55 in number, not a man was drowned.

*' The ship proved to be le General Erneuf privateer, late his Majesty's
sloop Lily, commanded by Mons. Paul Gerard Pointe, seven days from
Basse-terre, Guadaloupe, carrying 18 twelve-pounder carronades and 2 long
guns, with a complement of 160 men, 31 of whom were soldiers, going to
cruise for the homeward-bound Jamaica fleet *.

** The enemy's loss was great before the melancholy scene that put an
end to the action, she having between 20 and 30 men killed and wounded ;
the second Captain and one Lieutenant are the only surviving ofBcers :
mine is inconsiderable, 9 men only being wounded, some slightly, I hope
none dangerously. Our sails, running and standing rigging, have suffered
much, the enemy's fire beino principally directed against them ; this ship
cruised with great success against the trade of his Majesty's subjects, hav-
ing made six valuable capture^ during her former cruise."

At the commencement of the above action, Mons. Pointe
hailed le Renard and ordered her to ** strike ;" upon hearing
which Captain Coghlan took his trumpet, and coolly replied,

" Aye ! I'll strike, and d d hard too, my lad, directly.'*

As a reward for amply fulfilling this promise, the following
communication was made to him as soon as he returned to
Jamaica :

" Sir, — Enclosed I have the honor to transmit you a copy of the resolu-
tions of a numerous meeting of this city and parish, held here this day, at
the court-house.

" In performing this duty, in conveying you the sentiments of the inhab-
itants at large, permit me to add the pleasure it gives me in fulfilling
their wishes. I have the honor to be. Sir, &c.

(Signed) ** John Jacques, Mayor of Kingston, May 6, 1805."
(Enclosure.)

" Resolved,. that this Meeting, duly impressed wth the essential services
rendered to the commercial interest of this island by the exertions of the
commander of H. M sloop Renard, his officers and men, during their late
cruise, whereby it appears that they have destroyed a vessel of great force,
belonging to the enemy, fitted out at Guadaloupe, expressly for the pur-
pose of annoying our homeward bound trade ; and in order to shew our
grateful sense of the same :

• The Lily had been taken by a vessel of superior force, on the Halifax
station, July 15, 1804 : she then mounted only 16 guns.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810. 305

" Resolred unanimously, that the thanks of this meeting be given to
Jeremiah Coghlan, Esq. commander of H. M. sloop Renard, his of&cen
and men, for their activity in bringing to action and destroying the priva-
teer ship of war General Emouf, mounting 20 guns, with a crew of 160
men, 30 of whom were soldiers of the line, commanded by a Lieutenant of
the garrison at Guadaloupe.

" Resolved, that the Mayor be reque8te<l to communicate the foregoing
to Capt^n Coghlan, in behalf of the Meeting.

(Signed) "John Jaqcbs, Mayor.'*

On the 11th Oct. following. Captain Coghlan captured la
Bellone privateer, of 4 guns and 50 men ; and on the 28th
May, 1806, la Diligente, a national brig, hauled down her
colours to le Renard, without attempting the least resistance,
although mounting 14 longG-pounders and 2 brass 36- pounder
carronadcs, with a complement of 125 men. When taken
on board le Renard, the French commander, Mons. Vincent
Thevenard, was struck with the smallness of that vessel, and,
with much sang froid, he requested permission to return to
bis late brig, that he might tr}' his skill in fight, which of
course. Captain Coghlan laughed at. He then, with equal
gravity, solicited a certificate, stating, that he had not acted
cowardly : — Captain Coghlan replied — " No, I cannot do
that ; but I will give you one^ that shall specify you have
acted prudently 1"

Captain Coghlan's next appointment was, about Aug. 1807,
to the Elk brig, of 18 guns, in which he captured the Spanish
letter of marque Posta de Caraccas, Oct. 19, 1807 J and the
French privateer Harlequin, Feb. 12, 1808; both of these
were fine schooners, the former having on board 24,000 dol-
lars in specie, and a cargo of leather and bass rope, from Cam-
peachy, bound to the Havannah.

During the whole time that Captain Coghlan commanded
the Elk, a period of nearly four years, he was employed as
senior officer of a light squadron stationed at the Bahamas for
their protection, a service which he conducted with his usual
activity and success. While thus engaged, he received two
more testimonials of public approbation : —

" Government House, Nassau, New Providence, 26th Oct. 1808.

** Sir, — I have the honor to inform you, that I have it in contemplation

SUPPL. PART II. X

^i(J6 POST-CAPTAINS OR 1810.

ko avail myself of his Majesty's permission to return to England, in a few
fikys ; and I cannot quit this colony without expressing to you my thanks
for the zeal and activity which you have manifested for the protection and
welfare of these islands, since you have heen on this station: allow me to
add my personal acknowledgments for your invariable kindness and atten-
tion to myself, and to assure you, that I have the honor to be. Sir, &c.
(Signed) " Charles Camekon, Governor."

" To Jeremiah Coghlan, Esq. Sfc. Sfc Sec."

" Government House, A^assnu, Sth Maij, 1811.

•'Sir, — Your late promotion having rendered the probability of your
return to these islands very remote, permit me to say, tl^at, in your de-
parture, the public, as well as individuals, will sustain a very serious loss,
because, during the whole period of your command within these islands,
you have not only attended more particularly to their defence and the
protection of their trade, but have at all times readily accommodated
yourself to the wishes of individuals, as far as a due regard to your duty
would permit. I have the honor to be. Sir, &c.

(Signed) " W. V. Munninos, President."

** To Jeremiah Coghlan, Esq.

Commander of H. M. sloop Elk.**

Captain Coghlan's post commission was signed at the Ad-
miralty, Nov. 27, 1810; but it will be seen, by the date of
the President's letter, that he remained in the Elk for more
than five months after his promotion. We next find him
commanding the Caledonia of 120 guns, bearing the flag of
Sir Edward Pellew, on the Mediterranean station. His ap-
pointment to that ship took place, Sept. 30, J 812.

In Aug. 1813, Captain Coghlan volunteered to lead a de-
tachment of marines to the attack of five heavy batteries,
defending the bay and town of Cassis, a place situated be-
tween Toulon and Marseilles. The heroic manner in which
lie conducted himself on that occasion, and the successful
result of the enterprise, have been stated at pp. 353 — 355 of
Suppl. Part J.

Although a scarcity of seamen prevented the Toulon fleet,
as a body, from making any serious attempt to put to sea
during the year 1813, large divisions of it frequently came
out to manoeuvre, but only when the wind was favorable for
returning into port.

At the latter end of October, Sir Edward Pellew was blown
off his station by a succession of hard gales, which lasted

POST-CAPTAINS OK 1810. 307

eight days ; and it was not till the evening of Nov. 4, that
the inshore squadron, under Captain (now Sir Henry) Heath-
cote, arrived off Cape Sicie. On the 5th, at 10 A. M., the
Frciich commander-in-chief, Count Emeriau, was seen getlin**-
under weigh, with fourteen ships of the line, and seven frigates ;
the wind then blowing strong from E. N. E. and the main
body of the British fleet just hove in sight, standing under
close -reefed topsails, to reconnoitre the blockaded port.

At 11-30, just as the enemy's advanced squadron, of five
sail of the line and four frigates, under a Rear- Admiral, had
got outside of Cape Sepet, the wind suddenly shifted to N.
W., which unexpected occurrence permitted Sir Edward Pel-
lew to hope that the ships under Captain Heathcote woxild
be able to bring them to action.

At 34 minutes past noon, that oflBccr succeeded in getting
near enough to open his fire upon the French rear, and he
continued to engage them, on opposite tacks, for about half
an hour ; his ship, the Scipion 74, being well supported by
the Mulgrave, Pembroke, Armada, and Pomp(?e.

At one o'clock, the Caledonia stood in shore, athwart
hawse of the Scipion, and immediately opened her power-
ful broadside upon the VVagram of 130 guns, bearing the
French Kcar-Admirars flag : the Boyne and San Josef like-
wise got into action with that immense ship ; but unfortu-
nately neither of these three-deckers could fetch her, owing
to the wind heading them as they approached Point St. Mar-
guerite.

Having reached the wake of the Wagram, the Caledonia
wore, and hove to on the starboard tack, continuing her fire
until the enemy got completely out of gun-shot. In his
ofl&cial report of this skirmish, Sir Edward Pellew says :

** Had the body of the fleet been more advanced when the change of
wind took place (at 1 1-30 A. M.)> I am confident we should not only have
brought the enemy to close action, but every ship we had weathered would
have been our reward, although they had not been above a league east-
ward of the port, and always under cover of their batteries.

" The casualties are too trifling to mention, were it not for the wounds
of two fine young officers. Lieutenant Clarke, R. M. and Mr. Cuppage,

X 2

308 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810.

signal-midshipman of the San Josef, who each lost a leg by one unluckf
shot."

The other casualties on board the ships engaged in the
above affair, and the damages they sustained, were but

trifling : —

Caledonia. — three men slightly wounded ; one shot through her main-
mast, and 3 or 4 in her hull ; a shroud and some backstays cut, and her
hunch and barge destroyed. San Josef, bearing the flag of Sir Rich-
ard King,— 2 men slightly wounded. Boyne, Captain George Burlton, —
1 man slightly wounded. Pomp^e, Captain Sir James Athol Wood,— 2
men slightly burnt by accident. Scipion, — 1 man killed by accident, and
another sliglitly wounded. Armada, Captain Charles Grant,— escaped
without any loss, but her launch damaged by a shot which passed through
that boat and lodged in the booms- Mulgrave, Captain Thomas James iMa-
ling, — no loss or damage. Pembroke, Captain James Brisbane, — 3 men
slightly wounded ; part of her wheel carried away by the first French shot
that took effect. Of the loss and damage sustuned by the enemy we can-
not speak with any degree of certainty.

No chance of a general action now remaining, as the
strengh of the Toulon fleet continued to be lessened by send-
ing off draughts of men to Napoleon's armies, Captain Coghlan
exchanged into the Alcmene frigate, and soon after captured
la Fleche French national schooner, of 12 guns and 99 men,
proceeding from Toulon to Corsica with 24 soldiers. On the
11th April, 1814, he assisted at the capture and destruction
of an enemy's convoy which had run ashore under the bat-
teries of Port Maurice, in the Gulf of Genoa, a service already
described in our memoir of Sir James Brisbane *, an extract
of whose official letter, acknowledging the assistance he re-
ceived from his brother captains, will be found at p. 1 IS of
Suppl. Part I.

A day or two after the performance of this service, the
Alcmene and her consorts, under Captain Brisbane, met Sir
Edward Pellew, and proceeded with the fleet to Genoa, off
which place this formidable reinforcement arrived just after
the enemy had been driven from the whole of the sea-line
without the walls by the Anglo Sicilian flotilla, and the guns
of all the batteries turned upon those within by the seamen

• See Vol. II. Part I. p. 409.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1810. 309

and marines of Sir Josias Rowley's squadron. The pro-
gress thus made by the small naval force under that excel-
lent officer rendering the co-operation of the fleet unneces-
sary. Captain Coghlan's orders to land at the head of a de-
tachment of seamen were countermanded, and in the evening
of the same day the besieged fortress surrendered.

We next find Captain Coghlan assisting at the occupation
of Corsica, and in establishing Major-General Montresor as
provisional governor of that island •. During the war with
Murat, in 1815, he was sent to the bay of Naples, under the
orders of Captiiin Robert Campbell, by whose authority he
negociated with tlie then existing government for the sur-
render of the naval arsenal and two line-of-battle ships, the
Joachim and the Capri, then lying in the mole.

On the 20th May, 1815, the squadron off Naples was
joined by Lord Exmouth, who had made arrangements to co-
operate with an Anglo-Sicilian army, under the command of
Lieutenant-General Macfarlane : on the following day, how-
ever, n military convention was negociated at Teano, by
which the imperialists and their allies were to have been
placed in possession of the Neapolitan capital on the 23d ;
but the popular feeling had by that time so strongly mani«
fested itself against Murat, that he fled from the city in dis-
guise, leaving the government in the hands of his wife, and
of the General-in-chief, Baron de Carascosa : the former
sought the security which had been assured her on board a
British man-of-war ; and the latter sent to the Austrian com-
mander, requesting that he would prevent the misfortunes with
which the capital was menaced, by entering it immediately.

In consequence of the disturbances which broke out at this
period. Captain Coghlan landed at the head of about 500
marines, marched to a square where the rioters were drawn
up, and was on the point of .charging them with the bayonet
when they thought proper to submit. He then took posses-
sion of all the forts, established himself in the castle of St.
Elmo, and assisted the civic guard in preserving tolerable
tranquillity until the 23d, when Prince Leopold^ of Sicily
• SeeVol. Il.Partl, p.410.

310 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

entered at the head of the Imperial troops, in the midst of
general acclamations.

The Joachim and Capri were afterwards conducted to
Malta by the Alcmene, which frigate Captain Coghlan paid
off, at Deptford, in Nov. 1815. He at present commands
the Forte 44, on the South American station.

This gallant and zealous officer married Mrs. Marshall,
widow of Captain John Marshall, R. N. and daughter of
Charles Hay, of Jamaica, Esq. a connection of the Errol
family. His nephew, Francis Rogers Coghlan, is a Lieute-
nant R. N.

Agent. — John P. Muspratt, Esq.

THOMAS FRANCIS CHARLES MAINWARING, Esq.

This officer was made a Lieutenant by Sir Roger Curtis, at
the Cape of Good Hope, in 1800 ; from which period we find
him successively serving under Captains William Hotham>
Lord Mark Kerr, and Thomas Dundas ; in the Adamant 50,
Fisgard 38, and Naiad of similar force ; on the Cape, Chan-
nel, and Mediterranean stations. In tlie latter frigate he
witnessed the defeat of the combined fleets ofT Cape Trafal-
gar ; and afterwards assisted in rescuing one of our dismasted
ships from destruction *. His commission as a Commander
bears date Jan. 31, 1806.

Captain Mainwaring's first appointment was, to the Tarta-
rus sloop, fitted as a fire-ship ; and in Aug. 1807, he ap-
pears to have been charged with the landing of the troops
under Sir Arthur Wellesley (now Duke of Wellington) in
Wibeck bay, preparatory to the investment of the Danish
capital.

Early in 1808, Captain Main waring was appointed pro
tempore, to the Vanguard 74, which ship was the first of her
class that ever wintered in the Baltic. He retained the com-
mand of her until June following, and then rejoined the Tar-
tarus.

• See Vol. H. Part I. p. 149.

F08T>CAJ>TAiNS OF 1811. 311

In 1810, we fiud that sloop sinking two French privateers,
off Pillau ; after which Captain Maiuwaring conveyed Gus-
tavus, the ex-King of Sweden, from Riga to England, under
circumstances particularly difficult and singular ; for which
service he was promoted to post-rank, Nov. 27, in the same
year. During the last two years of the war, he commanded
the Royal George a first rate, on the Mediterranean station.

WILLIAM HENRY BYAM, Esq.

This officer is the only eon of Lieutenant Edward Byani,
R. N. whp served under Rodney on the glorious I '2th April,

17^* -ul shortly aft r- ' - -■ 'ed in la Ville de Paris,

til ; st ship that li . .en takeu from the eue-

n^y. His mother was the daughter of Wiljiam Gunthorpe,
of the islaiMl of Antigua, Esq. The Byams are descended
from an ancient Somersetshire family, whose estates were
confiscated by Cromwell, in consequence of their attachment
to Charles I. Their paternal ancestor was one of four bro-
ther: wl ^ ' -^ - . j,j support of the royal cause; three
oIv^Ihmii . ve and well-disputed battle of Nase-

by (iG45). After the restoration of Charles II. the surviving
brother was appointed Governor of Surinam ; and subse-
quently Captjun-General of all the Caribbee Islands. Captain
Beam's great-grandfather, the Hon. Edward Byam, Governor
of Antigiia, married Lydia, widow of Samuel Martin, of
Green Cistle, in the same island, Esq. and only daughter of
j^Qael John Tliouias, of whom mention is made in our rae-
f^oir of Vice- Admiral Sir Thomas Byam Martin.

M/. fFUliam Henry Byam, was born in London, Feb.
17, 177^ ; a"d he entered the naval academy at Portsmouth,
about Sept. 1789, under the patronage of the late Sir Henry
Martin, Bart, a descendant of the above mentioned Colonel
John Thomas, and at that time Commissioner of Portsmouth
dock-yard *.

♦ See Vol. I. Part II, note • at p. 491 .

312 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

On the 6th Nov. 1792, Mr. Byam was discharged into
the Europa 50, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore
Ford, under whom he served at the capture of Jeremie, Cape
Nichola Mole, and Port-au-Prince, in the island of St. Do-
mingo, Sept. 1793, and June J 794*. His promotion to the
rank of Lieutenant took place Nov. 6, 1795 ; on which occa-
sion he was appointed to the Irresistible 74, Captain (now
Sir George) Martin, then about to sail for the Leeward
Islands, in company with a large naval and military force,
under the orders of Rear-Admiral Christian and Sir Ralph
Abercromby, the failure of whose attempt to get clear of the
British channel has been noticed at p. 296 of Suppl. Part I.

In Jan. 1796, Lieutenant Byam removed to the Vengeance
74, Captain Thomas Macnamara Russell ; by whom he^ was
entrusted with the command of a detachment of seamen
landed to co-operate with the army at the siege of St. Lucia f :
he likewise assisted at the capture of Trinidad ; and again
commanded a party of seamen on shore at the unsuccessful
attack of Porto Rico, in 1797 J.

Lieutenant Byam's next appointment was, Oct. 1799, to
be first of the Hornet sloop, Captain John Nash ; in which
vessel he was very actively employed on the Leeward Islands'
station during the remainder of the war. From Aug. 1803,
until Jan. 1804, he appears to have served as senior Lieu-
tenant of TAfricaine frigate, commanded by Captain (now
Rear-Admiral) Manby§.

At the commencement of the latter month. Lieutenant
Byam joined the Courageux 74, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral Dacres, and then on the point of sailing with a
large fleet of merchantmen bound to the West Indies. Four
days after her departure from St. Helen's, the wind, which
had hitherto been fair, shifted to the S. W. and between the
15th and 28th Jan. it blew one of the most tremendous gales
ever experienced, dispersing the convoy, and reducing the

/ See Vol. I, Part II, p. 505, and note f at p. 805 et teq.

t See Vol. I. Part I. note t at p. 134.

X See id. note at p. \\2 et teq.

% See Vol. II. Part I. p. 208.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 313

flag-ship to a mere wreck, thereby compelling her to bear up
for Plymouth, where she arrived with the remnant of her
scattered charge, on the 1st of February.

The Courageux requiring to be docked, Rear-Admiral
Dacres then hoisted his flag in the Franchise frigate, and
prosecuted his voyage in that ship, accompanied by the sub-
ject of this memoir, whom we shortly afterwards find com-
manding the Osprey sloop, on the Leeward Islands' station :
his commission as a Commander bears date Sept. 4, 1804.

Captain Byara's next appointments were, Dec. 1, 1804, to
the Busy, of 18 guns ; and Oct. 1805, to the Bermuda, a brig
of similar force : the latter vessel was wrecked on the Memory
Rock, Little Bermuda, AprU 22, 1808. He subsequently
commanded the Opossum, of 10 guns, at Surinam, Halifax,
Jamaica, and the Caribbee islands : his post commission
bears date Jan. 24, 1811. In the course of that year the
Thetis frigate, then under his command, had 7 midshipmen^
the clerk, and JS of her crew carried oflF by the yellow fever.

Although Captain Byam never had the good fortune to
meet with an hostile vessel of equal force to his own, we are
informed that he always cruised with considerable success
against the enemy's privateers and merchantmen. The last
service he performed, was that of escorting home a very valu-
able Jamaica fleet, at the commencement of the late war
between Great Britain and America, for which he received
the personal thanks of Lord Melville, who happened to be at
Chatham when the Thetis arrived there. We should here
remark, that very great anxiety had been felt for the safety
of this convoy, as it was known that our newly declared
enemy had sent out a strong squadron, under Commodore
Rodgers, purposely to intercept it •.

Captain Byam married, Oct. 11, 1S13, his first cousin,
Alicia, daughter of the late Hon. Anthony Wyke, one of the
Members of H. M. Council for Montserrat, and Judge of the
Vice-Admiralty Court of that island.

JgenU — John Chippendale, Esq.

See Vol. II. Part II. p. 626.

214 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

ROBERT CLEPHANE, Esq.

Brother to the late Major-General David Clephane, M. P,
for the shire of Kinross, N. B.

•This officer received his first commission early in 1793 ;
and was wounded when serving as senior Lieutenant of the
Courageux 74, at the capture of four French line-of-battle
ships, by the squadron under Sir Richard J. Strachan, Nov.
4, 1605 * : his promotion to the rank of Commander took
place Dec. 24 in the same year.

Captain Clephane's subsequent appointments were, about
Mar. 1807, to the Charles hired armed vessel ; Oct. follow-
ing, to the Nautilus a new brig of the largest class ; and,
April, 1808, to the Acorn, an 18-gun ship-sloop, in which he
remained until posted, Feb. 14, 1811. The Charles was
principally employed in the Baltic, and the Acorn, on the
Mediterranean station f .

The subject of this brief sketch died at Inveresk, N. B. in

*«7.

JOSEPH PACKWOOD, Esq.

-iib;.

.^ This officer is a native of Bermuda. He first entered the

navy as a midshipman on board the Virginia frigate, under
the auspices of her captain, the late Sir John Orde ; and
shortly afterwards witnessed the capture and destruction of
an American fleet in the Penobscot river J. During the siege
of Charlestown, in South Carolina, he had the misfortune to
lose an arm, by a shot from Sullivan's Island §.

After recovering from the effects of this disaster, Mr. Pack-
wood successively joined the Chatham of 50 guns, and Roe-
buck 44, both commanded by Captain Orde, unde^ whom he
continued to serve^ on the American, North Sea, and Channel

• See Vol. I. pp. 289 and 670.

f See Captains Edward Cuetham and John Doff Maiulland.

t See Vol. I. Part I. p. 70.

§ See Vol. II. Part I. note t at p. 58 cl seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 315

Stations, until the peace of 1783 ; when he was placed for his
improvement at an academy abroad.

Having completed his education, Mr. Packwood was next
received on board the Camilla of 20 guns, commanded by
Captain J. Hutt ; from which ship he was discharged, in
order that he might join his patron, who was then Governor
of Dominica, and by whom he was appointed to the command
of the colonial brig belonging to that island : in her, we find
him present at the reduction of Martinique and Guadaloupe,
by the naval and military forces under Sir John Jervis and
Sir Charles Grey.

In 1/96, Mr. Packwood obtained a Lieutenant's commis-
sion, appointing him to the Perdrix 2*2, Captain William C.
Fahie. He subsequently served in the Matilda 24, Captain
Henry Mitford, and the Cicsar 80, Captain Sir James Sau-
marez, in which latter ship he continued until the peace of
Amiens ; and eooaeqnently bore a part in the battle off Alge-
ziras, July 6, 1801.

Soon after the renewal of hostilities. Lieutenant Packwood
was appointed first of the Diomede 50, bearing the flag of
Sir James Sauraarez, at Guernsey, where he continued until
Sir John Orde obtained a foreign command, when he joined
the latter ofOicer, as senior Lieutenant of the Glory 98.

In the spring of 1805, Mr. Packwood was ordered by his
early friend to act as commander of the Wasp sloop j and
on his leaving that vessel, her crew presented him with a
handsome sword, as a token of their respect and attachment.
His promotion to the rank of Commander took place Jan,
22, 180(5.

In 1808, Captain Packwood received an appointment to the
Childers brig, on the Leith station, where he captured the
Fremskenisten Danish privateer, of 4 guns, 2 swivels, and
21 men : this vessel had recently taken a British merchant
sloop, which he likewise possessed himself of. His post
commission bears date Feb. 14, 1811 ; since which period he
has not been employed.

Agents — Messrs Goodc and Clarke.

316 POST-CAPTAINS QP 1811.

RIGHT HON. RALPH VISCOUNT NEVILLE.

Second son of Henry Earl of Abergavenny, K. T. by Mary,
only child of the late John Robinson, of Wyke House, co.
Middlesex, Esq.

This officer was bom Dec. 21, 1786 ; made a Lieutenant
Jan. 22, 1806; and promoted to the rank of Commander,
May 30, 1808. On the 6th Nov. 1809 ; being then in com-
mand of the Acteeon brig, off Scilly, he assisted at the cap-
ture of le Lezard, French lugger privateer, pierced for 14 guns,
with a complement of 57 men.

The Actaeon formed part of the fleet under Vice- Admiral
Bertie at the reduction of Mauritius, in 1810; and Viscount
Neville was posted into the Boadicea frigate, Feb. 16, 1811.
His lordship married, Feb. 2, 1813, Miss Mary Anne Bruce
Elcock, of Sloane Street, Chelsea ; and died at Boulogne,
about May 1826.

WILLIAM FLINT, Esq.

Received his first commission in April 1802 ; obtained the
rank of Commander Mar. 1, 1809; and was made a Post-
Captain Mar. 1, 1811.

This officer married the sister of Sir Stamford T. Raffles,
who procured him the appointment of Harbour- Master at
Bencoolen,' from whence he has since removed to Sincapore,
as Colonial Master- Attendant.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

JOHN WILLIAMS, Esq.

Son of an officer who perished in the Royal George, at
Spithead, Aug. 29, 1782*.

Mr. John Williams was born at Plymouth, in 1772; and
made a Lieutenant in Oct. 1795 ; from which period he com-

• See Vol. I. Part II, note at p. 460, etteq.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 317

manded an armed sloop on the West India station until 1802.
His next appointment was to the Fearless gun-brig, in which
vessel he had his skull fractured when in the act of capturing
a Danish craft, off Copenhagen : he appears also to have been
frequently engaged with the enemy's flotilla during the siege
of that capital, in Aug. and Sept. 1807 *• His commission
as a Commander bears date Oct. 13 following.

Towards the close of 1809, Captain Williams was appoint-
ed to the Hound bomb-vessel, and in her he materially con-
tributed to the defence of Cadiz, in 1810 and 1811 : his pro-
motion to post rank took place Mar. 4, in the latter year.

Captain Williams died at Okehampton, April 12, 1824 ;
leaving a widow and 8 children, 7 of whom were then under
12 years of age.

Sir THOMAS FELLOWES, Knt.

A CompaMiom o/tk* Mo$t Honorable Military Order of the Bath ; Knight
of the Imperml Rmsthm Order of St. Anne ; Knight of the Royal
Spanish Order of CharUt III i and a Commander of the French Legion
of Honor.

This ofl&cer is the fifth and youngest son of the late Dr.
William Fellowes, of Bath, Physician Extraordinary to his
present Majesty, when Prince Regent, by the eldest daughter
of Peregrine Butler, of Dungarvon, co. Waterford, Esq.
He is consequently brother to Sir James Fellowes, Knt. M.D,
F. R. S. who received the honor of knighthood from our late
monarch, for distinguished services, and was actively em-
ployed as inspector of hospitals to the British army, during
the peninsular war. His elder brother, William Dorset Fel-
lowes, Esq. Secretary to the Ijord Great Chamberlainf,
officiated under Lord Gwydir at the coronation of king
George IV. and executed all the details of that solemnity.
His eldest sister, on the same occasion, was most graciously
selected by his Majesty to lead the royal procession to West-
minster Abbey, in the character of Principal Herb Woman.

• See Suppl. Part I. p. 239.
t See Vol. II. Part II. pp. 954—961.

3l8 POST-CAPTAINS OP 181 1.

Mr. Thomas Fellowes was born at Minorca, in 1778 ; and
he first went to sea, as a midshipman in the Hon. East India
Company's service, about the year 1791 . We are not ac-
quainted with the exact date of his entry into the royal
navy, but believe it to have been in 17^7, on which occasion
he was received on board the Royal George, a first rate, bear-
ing the flag of Lord Bridport, commander-in-chief of the
channel, or grand fleet.

The monotonous service of blockading Brest harbour not
being suitable to his active disposition, Mr. Fellowes soon
afterwards obtained permission to join the Diana frigate,
commanded by Captain Jonathan Faulknor, and employed
as a channel cruiser. In that ship, he appears to have been
entrusted with the charge of a watch, and admitted to mess
with the lieutenants, a convincing proof of the estimation
in which his abilities and general conduct were held by his
superiors. We subsequently find him proceeding to Jamaica,
as master's-mate of the Crescent frigate ; and assisting at
the capture of El Galgo, Spanish national brig, under cir-
cumstances highly creditable to his commander, the late
Commissioner Lobb*.

The Crescent being short of commissioned oflficers, Mr.
Fellowes was appointed prize-master of El Galgo j and on
his arrival at Port Royal, he joined the Queen 98 j from
which ship he was soon after\vards removed to the San8
Pareil 80, bearing the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, com-
mander-in-chief on that station. In 1801 and 1802, he suc-
cessively acted as lieutenant of the Cumberland 74, Snake
sloop, and Carnatic 74 ; the former third rate commanded by
Captain Henry William Bayntun, the latter bearing the flag
of Rear-Admiral Robert Montagu.

Unfortunately for Mr. Fellowes, the peace of Amiens took
place before he had served the established probationary term j
and although Rear-Admiral Montagu, with a delicate regard
to his feelings, kindly offered to send him home acting in
the Ambuscade frigate, rather than allow him to resume the

• See SuppL Part I. p. 299, et teg. N. B. Commiasioner Lobb died at
Sheerncss, July 28, 1814.

rOST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 319

duties of a midshipman on the same station, he preferred
having his discharge, to continuing in the service without
any prospect of promotion ; little imagining that hostilities
would so soon be renewed. His wishes being complied with
by the Rear- Admiral, he immediately obtained the command
of a West Indiaman, and continued in her until some time
after the re-commencement of the Avar, when we find him
joining the Culloden 74, commanded by Captain Christopher
Cole, and about to receive the flag of Sir Edward Pellew,
now Viscount Exmouth, by whom he was successively ap-
pointed to two frigates, on the East India station : the name
of the first we do not remember; the other (the Cornwallis)
he was reluctantly obliged to leave, through ill health, just
as she was about to make the interesting trip of which an
outline has been given at pp. IJO — 174, of Suppl. Part I.

Mr. Fellowes returned home in the Hindostan 50, and
next joined the Acasta frigate, Captain Philip BeaVer, an
officer of great professional and literary attainments, who
likewise gave him the charge of a watch, and with whom he
continued until he was at length promoted Into the B*l-
Icislc 74, bearing the flag of Sir Alexander Cochrane, at the
Leeward Islands, June 29, I8O7.

Shortly after his advancement, Lieutenant Fellowes was
appointed to the Melville sloop of war. Captain the Hon.
James W. King ; and in the same year he assisted at the
capture of the Danish islands, together with a large fleet of
merchantmen*.

We next find Lieutenant Fellowes commanding the
Swinger gun-brig, and assisting at the capture of Deseada ;
on which occasion he marched into the interior of that
island, with forty men under his orders, for the purpose of
attacking about seventy regular troops and militia, who had
retreated thither after making a vain attempt to prevent the
British from landing ; these men having accepted the terms
off'ered, laid down their arms and were secured by Lieute-
nant Fellowes, a circumstance not mentioned in Captain
Selby's letter, at p. 53 of this volume.

• See Vol. I. p. 263, et seq.

320 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811,

Some time after that event, Lieutenant Fellowes made a
gallant and successful attempt, with two boats, upon a French
armed ship, lying in Bay Mahout, Guadaloupe ; the prize
proved to be I'Alert letter of marque, mounting 6 carriage
guns and 4 swivels, with a complement of 40 men, besides
several passengers : unfortunately, however, the captors were
obliged to scuttle and abandon her, in consequence of getting
a-ground under the enemy's batteries, to the fire of which,
and that of a large privateer, they were exposed for fourteen
hours — their loss, notwithstanding, consisted of only one
killed and two or three wounded ; whereas the French had
twelve slain, and several so badly wounded that they could
not be removed, which alone prevented I'Alert from being
get on fire.

While in the Swinger, Lieutenant Fellowes was often en-
gaged with the batteries of Guadaloupe. From her he re-
moved to the Unique brig of 14 guns and Jb men j in
which vessel he was present at the capture of the Saintes,
and most actively employed during the blockade of Basse
Terre. A very gallant exploit performed by him in sight of
that place, is thus described by his friend Captain Beaver,
in an official letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane, dated May 22^
1809:—

" Yesterday, at seven o'clock, I discovered a schooner at anchor close
under one of the enemy's batteries, to the northward of Basse Terre,
and immediately recognized her to be one that had been examined by and
kept company with us for two days, under Swedish colours, from St. Bar-
tholomew's bound to Martinique, pretending to be leaky, and wishing to
get into the Saintes ; but who, under cover of the night, had run under
one of the enemy's forts.

'* To punish such perfidy, I permitted, contrary to my usual custom,
the Julia and Unique to run under several batteries, in order to bring her
out ; but she was found so fast on shore that wc could not move her.
Captain Dowers, a copy of whose letter I herewith transmit to you, sent
Lieutenant Fellowes, who commands the Unique, on shore with twenty-
four seamen, to storm the battery and spike the guns ; which service he
performed with great gallantry, bringing away the colours in the presence
of five times his own number of the enemy's regular troops, and not
more than a mile from their hutted encampment."

l»OST- CAPTAINS OF 1811. 321

Enclosurb.

*' Sir, — On our closing with the .«chooner, wliirh had warped among
the rocks, under a two-sfun battery, flunked by two heavy batteries nearer
Basse Torre, I sent our boats with one from the Unique, the whole under
ihc«ommand of Lieutenant Feilowcs of that brig, wiib directions to land
and jtoini the baitcry.

" Bt^forL- ihey ^'ot on shore, a troop of cavalry, some infantry, and an
immcjjsc number of miliiia had collected in the fortj and notwithstanding
our people had to climb up a very steep prc<ipicc, with musketry annoy-
ing thoni from every point, they charged and drove the enemy from their
gun?, .spiking them, killing several men, and bringing away their arms and
colours. Lieutenant Fellowes then forme<l his men and retreated to the
boats ; but finding the schooner so fast amongst the nx'ks that it was ira-
possiblc to move her, and the fire of uiuskctry from the bushes strikiu)^
the boats every iusumt, he verj'properiy left her and returned on board.
The loss on our part is one olDccr " (a mltlshipman of the Julia) " killed,
\\Iioin Lieutenant Feilowcs speaks very highly of, and seven men wounded j
our damage is some shot in the hulls, sails, and rigging, and four guns
dismountetl. I eaimot say too much in praise of the coolness and de-
t'' ■ : . r \ ollicer an<I man on this oeca^jion. Lieutenant Fel-

1" ; - for iticlf; we (PmI not lire from the brigs till the ene-

my's musketry went through our hammocks. I have the honor to be, &c.

CSiguc<l) " Wm. Dowers."*

The oiTicial reijort made by Captain Dowers applies only
to the severely wounded : — the Unique's boat, being com-
pletely riddled, sunk under Lieutenant Fellowes ; one musket-
ball passed Ihroui^h the erown of his hat, another struck the
pike in his hand, and his jacket was shot through in two
places ; yet, strange to say, he was the only person of the
party that escaped unhurt.

Previous to this affair, the Unique had been very much
weakened by the almost daily firing of her guns at the
enemy's Itmd batteries ; and as slie was now become very
leaky, the senior officer of the blockading squadron resolved,
altliough possessed of very inadequate means, to convert her
into a fire-vessel, for the purpose of acting against two French
frigates lying at Basse Terre.

• Captain Dowers, eldest son of Purser Dowers, Esq. a retired com.
noander, obtained post rank Sept. 24th, 1814, and died at Antigua, Dec,
26th, 18 IC. He was considered a most active gallant oflicer, and his pre-
mature loss deeply lamented by a large circle of friends,

SUPPL. PART II. y

322 POST.CAPTAIWS OF 1811.

On the very next day after this enterprise had been deter-
mined upon. Lieutenant Fellowes reported his brig ready ;
but unfortunately she had been so much lightened by the
removal of most of her stores, not only for their preservation,
but likewise to save the trouble of constant pumping, that
she was thereby rendered incapable of performing the ap-
pointed service. When endeavouring to get between the
enemy's ships and the shore, a sudden gust off the land ob-
liged him to luff her up, almost head to wind ; otherwise she
must have capsized, and probably all on board would have
perished : before the sails could be again filled, he had the
mortification to find her take the ground, not far from one
of the frigates ; and then, having no other alternative, he
was obliged to abandon her j first setting fire to the train,
lest she should fall into the enemy's possession.

Notwithstanding the failure of this attempt to destroy one
or both of the enemy's ships, the explosion of the Unique
had the good effect of rendering their commanders dissatis-
fied with the security of the anchorage at Basse Terre : —
taking advantage of a dark night, they soon afterwards put
to sea ; but only to be captured — one, la Felicit(^, by the
Latona frigate. Captain Hugh Pigot ; and the other, la Fu-
rieuse, by Captain William Mounsey, in the Bonne Citoyenne
sloop of war.*

The following copy of a letter from Captain Beaver to
Mr. Barrow, of the Admiralty, will shew the high opinion
that distinguished officer entertained of Lieutenant Fellowes :

" Sir, — In reply to your lelter, directing me to report, for their lord-
ships' information, how far Lieutenant Fellowes' statement is correct as
to his want of time to remove the victualling stores and necessaries of the
late brig Unique, when burnt at Basse Terre, Guadaloupe.

" I beg leave to observe, that the order to prepare her as a fire-vessel
was given one day, and she was burnt the next, which was rather a windy
and squally day, and therefore every thing could not have been removeil
with that facility that they might had the weather been more favourable :
it is highly probable, too, that on such an occasion. Lieutenant Fellowes'
ardour to tit his vessel for her destined service might have been the cause
of his overlooking some stores : his own private property I am sure he

■ See menfXHr of Captain Thomas Tudor Tdckeu.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 323

never considered ; aod from bis asserting it, I am certain that the esti-
mate of his losses, as Purser, is within bounds.

" I cannot orait this opportunity of staling to their lordships, that I do
not linow an olEcer of greater professional abilities, or more zeal, than
^' ' " " ' i - : a few days only before the Unique was burnt, he

") 1, ! I'i ly i :, ,1 in the face of /re times his number of the enemy's
regular troops, stormed a fort, and spiked the guns ; and as he was mider
my orders the whole time I blockaded Basse Terre, I had frequent oppor-
tunities of witnessing and approving his gallantry, when under the batter-
ie» ; and I do most humbly beg leave to recommend him to their iorf-
ships as an officer of very uncommon merit. I am, &c.

(Signed) " P. Bsaver.'*

On the 16th Sept. 1S09, Lieutenant {"ellowes was advanced
to the rank of commander, as a reward for his meritorious
services in th^ Swinger and Unique. On the 2d Aug. 1810,
he received an appointment that led to his further promotion.
At this latter period, the French having passed the Sierra
Morena, had entered Andalusia in great force j and among
other preparations for reducing the Isle of Leon, they had
began to equip a formidable flotilla, manned by the seamen
originally trained to that species of service at Boulogne, and
who had been sent from the Danube, by Buonaparte, pur-
posely to assist at the siege of Cadiz.

To annoy the enemy's naval force, and to retard the com-
pletion of additional batteries at the different posts occupied
by the army under Marshal Soult, eleven heavy Spanish
gun-boats were oflficered and manned by the British squa-
dron at Cadiz ; ten others were constructed there under the
directions of Sir Richard G. Keats, and nine more brought
from Gibraltar, making altogether thirty sail, the whole of
which were for several weeks commanded by Captain Fel-
lowes, as appears by the foUomng extracts of a journal
now before us :

" Throughout the month of Oct. 1810, the flotilla was daily engaged
whh the enemy's batteries. On the 9th, Captain Fellowes joined us with
a reinforcement from Gibraltar, and assumed the chief command. On
the 11th, a large French schooner was captured under a very heavy fire
from fort Catalina. On the 18th, at 3-30 A. M. a brisk cannonading com-
menced in the direction of Rota, which proved to be Captain Fellowea
attacking a French privateer. In the night of the 28th the gun-vesse^

x2

324 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

commanded by Lieutenant William Style struck on the Los Corrales reef,
by which accident a midsliipman and fourteen of her crew perished : the
remainder were saved through the exertions of Captain Fellowes, who
treated them with the greatest kin<hiess. On the 31st, the flotilla was
stationed between Catalina and Rota, lo intercept the enemy's gun-boats
coming from Sail Lucar to Port Santa Maria.

** Nov. 1, ^-observed one of the French vessels a-ground on the bar of
the Guadaleto. At 10-30 A. RI. the British flotilla commenced action
with her and seven others, which, favored by the <larkness of the night,
had elude<l our vigilance, and were then lying within the bar, protected by
fort Conception, several redoubts, and u corps of horse-artillery on the
beach. At 11, the vessel a-ground was deserted by the enemy; and at
11-30 she was boarded and- destroyed, under a vcr\' heavy fire, by Captain
Rainier, commatuling officer of the guard-boats, \vho found several men
killed or dying on her deck. At noon the action ceased.

" Nov. 2, — At <lay-break, discovered that a considerable number of the
French gun-boats had taken shelter al Rota. The bombs and ilotilla were
ordered thither, but recalled in cons?(|uenco of the Spaniards oiijecling to
an attack, which might have proved injurious to the inhabiianls of that
town. At 3-30 P. M., the enemy were seen through the haze, nmning
before the wind and tide : the guard-boats and flotilla immediately went
in pursuit. At 4, Lieutenant Leoke, of tbc flag-ship, was killed in an at-
tempt to turn the hea«lmo8t French vessel. At 4-10, the action became
general, and the British were exposed to u tremendous fire from the
shore till called off, at 4-50, by signal from the admiral : At 5, the ene-
my's rearmost vessel got into Port Santa iMaria. On this ocrasion, the
guard-boats of the squadron wore conducted by Caplain Kiltoe, of the
JNIilford : among the wounded on our side was Lieutenant ^Villi;un Hall,
commander of the Bouncer gun-boat.

" Nov. 12, — the English flotilla co-operated with the Spanish batteries
in an attack upon fort Napoleon and other strong works ni'nr Matagorda.
In the night of the 14th, the French gun-boals attempted to push past
Piuitales, and get into the Trocadcro channel, but were <lrivcn back by the
British ; some to Port Santa IMaria, outsiile of which harbour they never
again ventured ; and the re;t into the San Pedro river, from whence they
were afterwards transported overland to the marshes of the Alarqnilla, be-
low Puerto Real.

" Nov. 15, — ('aptain Robert IJall arrived from Gibraltar, and hoisted
his distinguishing pendant in the Rambler, as senior olliccr of the flotilla."

From this period, Captain Fellowes most ably and £;allautly
commanded one half of the gun-boats until April 2*2, 1811,
when he again assumed the chief command, and continued to
hold it till he was superseded in consequence of his promo-
tion. For several months, not a day passed without seeing

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 325

him engaged with the enemy. In addition to the dangers of
this most arduous and harassing service, he was exposed to
very great piivations in his little vessel, the Watchful, whose
cabin for himself and a midshipman was only 7 f^et long and
3 high, out of which he never slept from Sept. 1810 until
June 1811 !

An attack made upon the French gun-boats at Port Santa
Maria, Nov. 23, 1810, is thus described by Sir Richard G.
Keats, in a letter to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton : —

*' Ol)ser\iuc,' ibc oncmy lo liave colleclcjl several ^un-boats in the river
of Santa Marhi, in a sUualion subject to boiultanlmeiit ; at a proper time
of tbe li<lc yestenlay, I placet! ibc mortar ami howitzer boats, umler the
able «Iiro(tinn of C'aptain Hall, wliich (wliiUt the Devastation, Thunder, and
/Etna 1)4)11)1)7, uiilt (>iiu division of SiKinisli, and two <livisions of English gun-
boats, under the zealous command of (Jap^ain Thomas Fellowes and Lieu-
tenant William Fairbroihcr Ciirroll, successfully drew the attention and
fire of fort Cataliiia) threw, j^cciniii^^ly with cotisideraitlc etfect, some hun-
dred ^licll- :uii<>Mjt the ^uii-lK»at.s and alK)ut the place of construction,
until tiie wind rinniii^' in front the westward raude it necessary to move
them out. We have nut yet ascertained what has l)ecn the damage or loss
on the part of iIk> enemy ; but we have unfortunately to lament tbe death
of two bi;xli)y cst<x-mod aud rcs[)octaI)le young oliicers. Lieutenants Tho-
mas \\ ortli aiul John Duckbnd, of the royal marine artillery, whose loss
is tlic tlK'iue of luiiversal regret. Mr. Samuel Hawkins, midshipman of
the Norge, also fell gallantly, which, with 4 Spanish and 4 English
seamen wounded, constitutes our whole loss on a service, the execution of
which merits my wannest praise."

On the above occasion, Captain Fellowes was engaged
with fort Catalina from 2-30 P. M. until 10 o'clock at night.

Towards the close of the following month, a combined at-
tack was likewise made upon the enemy's flotilla below
Puerto Real j the castle of Puntalcs at the same time engag-
ing the forts on the opposite tongue of land, and the bombs
keeping Catidina in pltiy. The action commenced at 1 P. M.
and did not cease until all the French vessels there, seven-
teen in number, were completely disabled.

On the day after the glorious battle of Barrosa, Captain
Fellowes greatly distinguished himself by his gallantry in
storming a 4-gun battery, surrounded by a ditch and spiked
stockade, at the entrance of Port Santa Maria, under a

326 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

heavy fire of grape from all the neighbouring works. In the
performance of this service, he was bravely seconded by
Lieutenant Style. The following is an extract of the offi-
cial letter in which Sir Richard G. Keats makes mention of
this exploit: —

" The wind having come off the land, and the sea much abated, two
landings were effected, by way of diversion, yesterday morning *, between
Rota and Catalina, and between that fort and Santa Maria, with the
royal marines, commanded by Captain English, 200 seamen of the squad-
ron, and 80 of the Spanisli marine ; one division of which was under the
direction of Captain Spranger, of the Warrior ; the other under Captain
Kittoe : at the same time, Catalina was bombarded by the Hound and
Thunder bonibs ; and that fort and the batteries on the east side of the
bay were kept in check with much spirit by the gun and mortar-boata,
under the respective commands of Captains Hall and Fellowes. One re*
doubt of 4 guns, near Santa Maria, was stormed by the marines of the
Milford, led on by Captain Fottrell ; a second, to the south of the Guada-
leto, was taken by Captain Fellowes ; and the guns of all the sea defences,
together with the small fort of Puntilla, from Rota (which the enemy
evacuated) to Santa Maria, with the exception of Catalina, were spiked,
and the works dismantled."

In the performance of this highly important service, the
British had one gun-boat sunk before Catalina ; but their
whole loss amounted to only 3 men killed and 13 wounded, 2
of whom mortally.

Although Captain Fellowes was advanced to post rank on
the 4th Mar. 181 1, he did not quit Cadiz until June follow-
ing, at which period he was succeeded by Captain William
Fairbrother Carroll : from the time of Captain Hall's depar-
ture until then, he had been most handsomely and skilfully
seconded on every occasion by Captain Frederick Jennings
Thomas, whose valuable services we shall soon have to re-
late. A fuller account of the occurrences at and near Cadiz,
during the period that Sir Richard G. Keats commanded the
naval force there, will be given under the head of Captain
William Henry Smyth.

The subject of this memoir was next appointed, Feb. 1812,
to the Fawn, a small post-ship, in which he cruised for some
time on the Channel station, and subsequently escorted a
• Mar. 6, 1811.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1811. 3*27

fleet of merchantmen from Cork to Barbadoes. On his arrival
in Carlisle bay, he received a handsome letter of thanks from
the masters of the convoy " for the excellent arrangements
he made to prevent separation, and for his very great atten-
tion to them during the voyage."

From Barbadoes, Captain Fellowes proceeded to the Ja-
maica station, where he recaptured several British merchant
vessels, one of which was the Perthshire letter of marque,
mounting 14 guns, with a cargo of fish and oil.

On the 9th Jan. 1813, being then employed in affording pro-
tection to the trade between Cura9oa and the Sp:iiiish Main,
Captain Fellowes recaptured a brig; and finding that she had
been taken by one of three powerful American privateers,
which he had previously obliged to fly from their rendezvous
between Beata and St. Domingo, he immediately went in pur-
suit of the marauder, whom, at daylight on the I0th,he discov-
ered from the mast-head, close in with the land to the east-
ward of Porto Cabello. A long and arduous pursuit took
place, at the commencement of which the chace was fired upon
by the batteries to prevent her entering the above harbour ;
and at 2 o'clock in the morning of the 1 Ith, the Fawn hav-
ing got within range, the weather being squally, and a heavy
sea running, she was obliged to run ashore on Point Hicacos,
where her commander and 24 men were drowned in attempt*
iug to reach the land. The vessel thus destroyed was the
Rosamond, of 8 heavy guns and 105 men : when fallen in
with by the Fawn she had on board 100,000 dollars in specie,
besides much valuable merchandize, the plunder of various
English and Spanish vessels. Captain Fellowes shortly af-
terwards received a letter from the Captain-General of the
Caraccas, of which the following is a translation : —

" Dear Sir,— Mr. Simon Cock has informed me of your arrival at La
Guiara, at which I am extremely pleased, and only sorry at not having
the pleasure of seeing you here, which I have so much desired.

" This government is penetrated with the liveliest sense of gratitude for
the zeal and ability which you have manifested in driving the enemies of
peace and commerce from these coasts, and securing them from their
prejudicial depredations.

" Confident of your zeal for the general cause, I take the liberty of re-

326 t>OST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

questing you, if possible, to extend your cruise to the east coast of th«
province of Ciimana, where the insurgents have landed at a place called
Guiala, pai-alyzing commerce, and obstructing the general supplies of
provisions sent to the island of H. D. M. and seriously affecting the inter-
ests of his aJDicted ally, the Spani.-;h nation.

" Should you have it in your power to visit the capital, I shall he ei-
treraely happy. 1 am, wilh sentiments of the highest considoralion, &c.
(Signed) " Domingo Mcvteveude."

Captain Fcllowes likewise received the thanks of Major-
General Hodi^son, Governor of Curafoa, for his " zealous and
active exertions ;" and the merchants of that island presented
him with a piece of plate, as an acknowledgment of the ser-
vices he had rendered them.

The Fawn was paid ofT in Oct. 1813, on which occasion
her crew addressed a letter to Captain Fellowes, worded as
follows : —

" Sir, — It it; wilh the deepest rogrotto that we have this day learned that
His iMajesty's Ship under your Command is ordered to be paid off, as it
deprives us of a Commander, we one, and all would wish to sail with.
We beg leave, Sir! to state that your great attention to our Comforts in
our different slalions ha:i left a grateful impression on our minds, and in-
duces us to take the Liberty of soliciling the favour of serving in any
Ship to wliicli you inay \tc appointed, we hope. Sir I that you will be
please<l to Excuse this freedom as it proceeds from uo other motive than
our Gratitude to a Commander we so much Esteem and Respect. We
have the honor to l»e (Sir) Your Very humble Servants,
" Tub Ship's Company in Geniral."

I-Jerp follow -1.3 signatures.

From this period, Captain Fcllowes remained nnemployed
till Fch. 21, 1827, when he was appointed to the Dartmouth
frigjitc, of 42 guns. \\\ that ship he proceeded to the Mediter-
ranean station, just after the conclusion of the treaty entered
into hetween hin Majesty and the Courts of the Tuilleries and
of St. Petershurgh, with a view to elTcct a reconciliation he-
tween the Ottoman Porte and the inhabitants of the Greek
provinces and islands, where a contest had been carried on
for several years, — marked on each side by excesses revolt-
ing to hinnanity. In the course of the measures adopted to
effect the object of that treaty, a collision, wholly unexpect-
ed by his Majesty, took place between the squadrons of the
contracting Powers and the Turco-Egyptian fleet. The

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 32S>

part borne by Captain Fellowes on that occasion, and the
result of the conflict, will be seen by the following copy of
the British Admiral's official letter, &c. &c. : —

" Hit Majesty's ship Jsia, in the Port of N'tvarin *, Oct. 21, 1827.

" I have llic honor lo iiironn Uia Royal IJi- hncss ihc Lord Hufh Admi-
ral, th;it uiy colleagues, Cotnil He'ulca and theCbevali«!r de Ri^'iiy, havinjf
agrecl uiih me that ive bhould come into this port, in order lo induce
Ibraliim Puoha to discontinue the hnital ivar of extermination, which he
has been carrying on since liis rctimi here from his failure in the gulf of
Potras, the comliincd squadnms {Kissal the hattcrics, in order to take up
their anchoraije, at u'wut two o'clock yestcnlay aflcnioon.

" The Turkiah ships were moored in the form of a crescent, with spriogs
on their ca])le8, the lar^r ones presenting their broadsides towards the
centre, the smaller ones, m successioa within them, filling up the m-
tervals.

" TIjc combined fleet was formc<l in the order of sailing in two columns,
the British and French forming the weather or starboard line, and tlie Rus-
lian the lee line.

" The Asia led in, folloived by the Genoa and Albion, and anchored
close alongside a ship of the line, bearing the flag of the Capitan Bey, ano-
ther ship of the line, and a large double-liaiiked frigate, each thus having
their opponent m the front line of the Tuikbh fleet. The four ships to
windwanl, part of the Egyptian squadron, were allolte^l to the squadron
of Rear-Adniiral de Rigny ; and those to lee\?anl in the bight of the
crescent, were to mark the stations of the whole Rns&ian 8<iuadron ; the
«hipj of tlieir line closing those of the English line, and Iwing followed up
by tlteir own frigntcs. llie Trench frigate Armide, was directed to place
herself alongbi<le the oulennnst frigate, on the left hand entering the har-
bour ; and the Cambrian, Glasgow, and Talbot next to her, and abreast
of the *Vbia, f ionoa, aiwl Albion ; the Dartmouth and the Wnsquito, the
Rose, the Brisk, and the Philomel, were to look after six fire-vessels, at
the entrance of the harl)our. I gave orders that no gun should be fired,
unless guns were first fired by the Turks ; and those orders were strictly
obscrvc<l. The three English ships were acconlingly permitted to pass
the batteries and lo moor, which they di<l with great rapidity, without any
act of open hostility, although there was evident preparation for it in all
the Turkish ships ; but upon the Dartmouth sending a boat to one of the
fire-vessels. Lieut. G. W. H. Fitzroy-f, and several of her crew, were

• Navarin, the Pylos of the ancients, and the supposed birth-place of
the yenerable Nestor, is situated about 10 miles from Modonj and, con-
sequently, near the most S. W. point of tlie JMorea.

t Second son of General the Hon. William Fjtzroy, of Kempston Lodge,
Norfolk.

330 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

shot with musketry. This produced a defensive fire of musketry fVom the
Dartmouth aud la Syrene, bearing the flag of Rear-Adrairal De Rigny ;
that was succeeded by a cannon-shot at the Rear-Admiral from one of the
En^yptian ships, which, of course, brought on a return, and thus, very shortly
afterwards, the battle became general. — ^The Asia, although placed along-
side the ship of the Capitan Bey, was even nearer to that of Moharem
Bey, the commander of the Egyptian ships ; and since his ship did not fire
at the Asia, although the action was begun to windward, neither did the
Asia fire at her. The latter, indeed, sent a message, " that he would not
fire at all," and, therefore, no hostility took place betwixt our ships for
some time after the Asia had returned the fire of the Capitan Bey.

" In the mean time, however, our excellent pilot, Mr. Peter Mitchell,
who went to interpret to Moharem my desire to avoid bloodshed, was
killed by his people in our boat alongside, — whether with or without his
orders, I know not ; but his ship soon afterwards fired into the Asia, and
was, consequently, effectually destroyed by the Asia's fire, aharmg the
same fate as his brother admiral, on the starboard side, and falling to lee-
ward a mere wreck. These ships being out of the way, the Asia became
exposed to a raking fire from vessels in the second and third line, which
carried away her mizen-mast by the board, disabled some of her guns, and
killed and wounded several of her crew. This narration of the proceed-
ings of the Asia would probably be equally applicable to most of the
other ships of the fleet. The manner in which the Genoa and Albion
took their stations was beautiful ; and the conduct of my brother admi-
rals. Count Heiden and the Chevalier De Rigny, throughout, was admira-
ble and highly exemplary.

" Captain Fellowes executed the part allotted to him perfectly ; and
with the able assistance of his little but brave detachment, saved the Sy-
rene from being burnt by the fire vessels. And the Cambrian, Glasgow,
and Talbot, following the fine example of CapitaineHugon, of the Armide,
who was opposed to the leading frigate of that line, effectually destroyed
their opponents, and also silenced the batteries. This bloody and de-
structive battle was continued with unabated fury for four hours, and the
scene of wreck and devastation which presented itself at its termination,
was such as has been seldom before witnessed. As each ship of our op-
ponents became effectually disabled, such of her crew as could escape
from her endeavoured to set her on fire ; and it is wonderful how we
avoided the effects of their successive and awful explosions.

" It is impossible for me to say too much for the able and zealous
assistance which I derived from Captain Curzon, throughout this long
and arduous contest ; nor can I say more than it deserves for the conduct
of Commander Baynes and the oflicers and crew of the Asia, for the
perfection with which the fire of their guns was directed ; each vessel in
turn, to which her broadside was presented, became a complete wreck.
His Royal Highness will be aware that so complete a ▼ictory by a few.

post<k:aftains or 1811. 331

however perfect, agaitut an excessive nnmber, however individually in-
ferior, cannot be acquired but at a considerable sacrifice of life ; accord-
ingly, I have to lament the loss of Captain Bathurst, of the Genoa, whose
example on this occasion is well worthy of the imitation of his sun'ivors.
Captain Bell, commanding the royal marines of the Asia, an excellent
officer, was killed early in the action, in the steady performance of his
duty ; and I have to mourn the death of Mr. William Smith, the master,
admired for the zeal and ability mth which he executed his duty, and be-
loved by all for his private qualities as a man. Mr. L. S. Dyer, my secre-
tary, having received a severe contusion from a splinter, I am deprived
temporarily of his valuable assistance in collecting and keepmg up th^
general returns and communications of the squadron : I shall, therefore,
retain in my office Mr. F. J. T. White, his first clerk, whom I have nomin-
ated to succeed the purser of the Brisk. I feel much personal obligation
to the Honorable Lieutenant-Colonel Craddock, for his readiness, during
the heat of the battle, in carrying my orders and messages to the different
quarters, after my aides-de-camp were disabled ; but I will beg permission
to refer his Royal Highness for further particulars of this sort to the details
of the killed and wounded, a subject which it is painful for me to dwell
upon ; when I contemplate, as I do with extreme sorrow, the extent of
our loss, I console myself with the reflection, that the measure which
produced the battle was absolutely necessary for obtaining the results con-
templated by the treaty, and that it was brought on entirely by our oppo»
neats.

" When T found that the boasted Ottoman word of honour was made a

sacrifice to wanton savage devastation, and that a base advantage was taken

of our reliance upon Ibrahim's good faith, I own I felt a desire to punish

tlM oAnders. But it was my duty to refrain, and refrain I did ; and I can

Msara Us Royal Highness that I would still have avoided this disastrous

extremity, if other means had been open to me. The Asia, Genoa, and

Albion, have each suffered so much, that it is my intention to send them

to England as soon as they shall have received, at Malta, the necessary

repairs for their voyage. The Talbot, being closely engaged mth a double

banked frigate, has also suffered considerably, as well as others of the

smaller vessels ; but I hope their defects are not more than can be made

good at Malta. The loss of men in the Turco-Egyptian ships must have

been immense, as his Royal Highness will see by the accompanying list,

obtained from the secretary of the Capitan Bey, which includes that of

two out of the three ships to which the English division was opposed.

Captain Curzon having preferred continuing to assist me in the Asia, I

have given the charge of my despatches to Commander Lord Viscount

Ingestre, who, besides having had a brilliant share in the action, is well

competent to give his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral any further

particulars he may require.

(Signed) " Edward Codrington, \^ce- Admiral."

332 POST-CAPTAINS OF 181 1#

According to the statement made by the Capitan Bey's
secretary, the force opposed to the allies consisted of two
Turkish 84-gun ships, one of which had no less than 650
men slain ; one 7G-gun ship, whose killed amounted to 400;
fifteen 48-giin frigates, eighteen corvettes, and four brigs : —
ionr Egyidian doubled-banked frigates, of 64 guns each;
eight corvettes, of from 18 to 24 guns each ; eight brigs,
and five fire-vessels: — total, sixty-five sail. Sir Edward
Codrington, however, in a general order issued by him to
the allied squadrons, four days after the battle, declares that
the enemy had " dghiy-one men-of-war," of which number
only one frigate and fifteen smaller vessels remained " in a
state ever to be again put to sea."

It appears, by a letter from Zantc, dated Dec. 14th, 1827,
that the harbour of Navarin was reconnoitred by the Pelican
sloop on the 17th Nov., at which period there M'cre twenty-
nine men of war lying there, viz. " one Turkish ship of the line,
and four frigates, much damaged ; two frigates fit for service ;
one of the Egyptian razees, in tolerable condition j and five
corvettes, eleven brigs, and five schonmrs, in good condi-
tion.'* A letter from Alexandria, dated Dec. 29th, states,
that on the 27th of that month, " four frigates, eight brigs,
and four cutters, with several transports," arrived there ; and
that " a ship of the line (meaning, we presume, the raz^e)
and two frigates had separated from them in a gale of wind:"
there is no mention made by the Capitan Bey's secretary of
any fore-and-aft rigged vessels. The following list will shew
the strength of the combined squadrons, and the loss sus-
tained by each ship and vessel composing them :

British. killed, wounded

/^^ g4^ S flag-ship. Captain Edward Curzon, • • ) i q cj

< Coinraander Robert Lambert Baynes, )

Genoa 74, 5 ^^P^^'" ^^**''^'" ^"^^""^' } 26 33

I Commander Richard Dickinson, $

Albion . . . .74, I ^*P^° •^^^'^ Acworth Ommanney, . . > j^ ^

*-Coni. John Norman Campbell, i

Dartmouth 42, Captain Thomas Fellowes, C. B 6 8

Cambrian . .48, Gawen William Hamilton, C. B. . . 1 1

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 333

killed, wounded

Glasi^ow 50, Captain Hon. James Ashley Maude 0 2

Talhot 28, Hon. Frederick Spencer 6 17

Musquito — 10, Comm. George Boliim Martin 2 4

Rose 18, Lewis Davies 3 15

Brisk 10, Hon. William Anson 1 3

Philomel 10, Viscount Ingestre 1 7

Total.... 75 1.97

French.

Syrene 60, Rear-Adroiral H. De Rig^ny 21 42

Scipion 74, Capitaine Milius 2 36

Trident 74, Manncc 0 7

Breslau 74, De I*i Bretonniere i 14

Armide 44, Ifugon 14 14

Alcj'one... sch 1 9

Daaphinoise 1 s

40 130
Officers, not included in the above number .... 3 3

Total.... A3 133

Russian.

Aiof 74, Rear-Admiral Count De Helden . . 24 67

Gai^outc 74, 14 37

Ezekiel 7j 13 18

Alexander Newsky 7^, 5 7

C«nstaiUinc ."/», 0 1

Provcmoy 4S, 3 4

Elena 48, 0 5

Castor ^8, 0 0

Total.... 69 139
Grand Total,— m killed, 469 wounded.

Copy of the General Order to which we alluded at p. 332.

" H. M. S. Afioy in the Port of Namrin, 24 Oct. 1827.
" Before the united squadrons remove from the theatre on which they
have gained so complete a victory, the Vice-Admiral, commander-in-chief,
is desirous of making known to the officers, seamen, and marines, em-
ployed in them, the high sense which he has of their gallant and steady
conduct on the 20th instant. — He is persuaded that there b no instance of
the fleet of any one country shewing more complete union of spirit and

334 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

action, than was exhibited by the squadrons of the three Allied Powers
together, in this bloody and destructive battle. He attributes to the bright
example set by his gallant colleagues, the Rear-Admirals, the able and
cordial support which the ships of the several scjuadrons gave each other,
during the heat and confusion of the battle. Such union of spirit and of
purpose — such coolness and bravery under fire — and such consequent pre-
cision in the use of their guns, ensured a victory over the well-prepared
arrangements of greatly superior numbers : and the whole Turkish and
Egyptian fleets have paid the penalty of their treacherous breach of faith.
The boasted Ibrahim Pacha promised not to quit Navarin, or oppose the
allied fleets ; and basely broke his word. The allied commanders pro-
mised to destroy the Turkish and Egyptian fleets, if a single gun were fired
at either of their flags ; and, with the a.ssistance of the brave men whom
they have had the satisfaction of commanding, they have performed their
promise to the very letter. Out of a fleet composed of eighty-one men
of war, there remain only ope frigate and fifteen smaller vessels, in a state
ever to be again put to sea. Such a victory cannot be gained without a
great sacrifice of life ; and the commander-in-chief has to deplore the loss
of many of the best and bravest men whom the fleet contained. The conso-
lation ii, that they died in the service of their country, and in the cause of
suffering humanity.

" The commander-in-chief returns his most cordial thanks to his noble
colleagues, the two Rear-Admirals, for the able manner in which they di-
rected the movements of the aquadron ; and to the Captuns, Com-
manders, Officers, Seamen, and Royal Marines, who so faithfully obeyed
their orders, and so bravely completed the destruction of their opponents.

(Signed) " Edward Codrinqton."

In a letter from Rear-Adniiral De Rigny to Sir Edward
Codrington, dated Oct. 23, 1827, we find the following pas-
sage :

" Allow me to take this opportunity of returning my thanks to Captain
Fellowes for the assistance which the Syrene received from the boats of
the Dartmouth, when, with much skill and bravery, they attacked and
turned off the fire-ships ready to come down upon ui."

Lord Ingestre, the bearer of Sir Edward Codrington's des-
patches, was conveyed to Ancona by the Dartmouth ; and
Captain Fellowes subsequently returned home overland, via
Marseilles, in company witli Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore,
who, it is generally understood, had been sent to Malta, to
obtain further information for H. R. H. the Lord High Ad-
miral, upon the circumstances wliich led to the battle of

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 335

Navarin ; an event of so recent a date as to render any com-
ment, on our part, superfluous.

On the 13th Feb. 1828, a few days after the meeting of
Parliament, Captain rellowes was introduced to his Majesty,
at Windsor, by the Lord High Admiral, and received the
honor of knighthood for his gallant conduct at Navarin. He
soon afterwards left London in order to resume the command
of the Dartmouth, which frigate is still employed on the
Mediterranean station.

The subject of this memoir was nominated a C. B. in June
1815 : the Spanish Order of King Charles IIL was conferred
upon him April 26, 1821, as a reward for his gallant and
zealous exertions at Cadiz, to which the safety of the inhabit-
ants of that city was in a great measure owing : the insignias
of the French and Russian Orders, mentioned at the com-
mencement of this memoir, were sent to him after the battle
of Navarin.

Sir Thomas Fellowes married, 1st, in Nov. 1813, Kathe-
rine Marj', eldest daughter of the late Sir William Abdy,
Bart. Captain K. N. by which lady he had two sons and one
daughter : — 2dly, Aug. 24, 1819, Mary Anne Catharine, only
child of the late Isaac Humphrys, Esq. Colonel of the Bengal
artillery, and Military Secretary to that Government, by
whom he has issue two sons and three daughters.

PITT BURNABY GREENE, Esq.

Was made a lieutenant in Nov. 1790, and promoted to
the rank of commander May 8, 1804. He commissioned the
Foxhound, a new 18-gun brig, about May, 1807; and was
attached to the fleet under Lord Gambier, in Basque Roads,
April, 1809.* His post commission bears date March 7>
1811 ; at which period he commanded the Bonne Citoyenne
corvette. In that ship he continued until Aug. 23, 1814.

The Bonne Citoyenne was principally employed on the
South American station ; and Captain Greene appears to have
carried on the duties as senior officer in the Rio de la Plata,

• See Vol. I, Part I, p. 84.

336 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

from Dec. 1811 until superseded by Captain Peter Heywood,
about Sept. 1812*. He shortly afterwards sailed from Rio
Janeiro for England, with specie to the amount of half a
million stciling onboard, but was obliged to put into St.
Salvador, and heave his ship down, in consequence of her
having sustained great damage by running on shore between
that port and the Brazilian capital.

Shortly after Captain Greene's an-ival there, the United
States' ships Constitution and Hornet likewise entered the
harbour of St. Salvador j the foruier connnanded by Commo-
dore Bainbridge, and the latter by Captain Lawrence, both
of whom, and Mr. Hill, the American consul, laid their heads
together, to contrive something that, without any personal
risk to cither, should contribute to the renown of their com-
mon country : after various consultations, the following letter
was written by Captain Lawrence and addies.sed to his

consul : —

" When I last saw yon, I stated to you ray wish to meet the Donne
Citoyenne, and authorised you to make ray wishes known to Caplain
Greene. I now request you to state to hhn, that I will meet him when-
ever he may be pleased to come out, and pledge my honor that neither
the Constiluiion, nor any other American vessel, shall interfere."

To this challenge. Commodore Bainbridge added, " If
Captain Greene wishes to try equal force, I pledge my honor
to give him an opportunity, by being out of the way, or not
interfcrinq.'*

Captain Greene's very proper reply to the challenge wiU
be seen by the following copy of a letter from the British
consul to Mr. Hill : —

" Fort de St. Pedro, Dec. 29, 1812.

" Sir, — I transmitted your letter to me of yesterday to
Captain P. B. Greene, to whom the substance is directed j
and, having received his reply, I herewith insert it verbatim.
I am, &c.

(Signed) " Frederick Landsman."
Enclosure.

" I hasten to acknowledi^e the favor of your communication, made to
me this morning from Mr. Hill, consul of the United States of America,

• See Vol. II, Part II, p. 794.

P09T-CAPTAIN9 OF 1811. 337

on the subject of a challenge, stated to hare been oflRered through Mr.
Hill, by Captain Lawrence, of the U. S. sloop of war the Hcrnet, to
myself, as commander of H. B. M. ship the Bonne Citoyenne, anchored
in this port, pledging his honor, as well as that of Commodore Bainbridge,
that no adirantagc shall be taken by the Constitution, or any other Ame-
rican vessel whatever on the occasion. I am convinced. Sir, if such ren-
contre were to take place, the result could not be long dubious, and would
terminate favorably to the ship which I have the honor to command ; but
I am equally convinced that Commodore Bainbridge could not swerve so
much from the paramount duty he owes to his country, as to become an
inactive spectator, and see a ship belonging to the very squadron under
his orders fall into the hands of an enemy: this reason operates powerfnllj
on my mind for not exposing the Bonne Citoyenne to a risk upon terms so
manifestly disadvantageous as those proposed by Commodore Bainbridge ;
indeed, nothing could give me greater satisfaction than complying with
the wishes of Captain Lawrence ; and I earnestly hope that chance will
afford him an opportunity of meeting the Bonne Citoyenne under different
circumstances, to enable him to distinguish himself in the manner he is
now so desirous of doing. I further assure you, that my ship will, at all
times, be prepared, wherever she may be, to repel any attacks made
against her, an<l I shall abo act offensively wherever I judge it proper to
do so. I am. Sir, with great regard, &c.

(Signed) " P. B. Gbbbnb."

** It would appear," says Mr. Jaines^ " as if the Commo-
dore had purposely inserted the words, * or not interfering,*
lest Captain Greene, contrary to his expectation, should ac-
cept the challenge ; for, had the two ships met hy agreement,
the Constitution looked on without interfering, and the Bri-
tish been the conqueror, the pledge of honour, on the part
of both American commanders, would have been fulfilled ;
and can any one for a moment imagine, that Commodore
Bainbridge would have seen the Bonne Citoyenne carry off a
United States' ship of war, without attempting her rescue ?
It was more than his head was worth. Where was the gua-
rantee against recapture, which always accompanies a serious
proposal of this sort, when a stronger force, belonging to
either party, is to preserve a temporary neutrality ?"* The
Bonne Citoyenne and Hornet each mounted eighteen 32-
pounder carronades ; in addition to which the former had two
long 9-pounder8, and the latter two long twelves : the British

• Mav. Hist. VI. 276.

SUPPL. PART II, Z

338 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

sloop had, including 21 supernumeraries, 150 officers, men and
boys; the American 173: — could Captain Greene have ac-
cepted the challenge he received, we are convinced that the
result would not have been long dubious. The Bonne Ci-
toyenne continued at St. Salvador until Jan. 26, 1813, when
she sailed from thence under the protection of the Montag\i
74 : she arrived at Portsmouth in the month of April fol-
lowing.

Captain Greene's son, an officer in the Hon. E. I. Com-
pany's military service, died on his passage from Rangoon
to Madras, Aug. 23, 1825, aged 26 years.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

Hon. WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE.

Fourth son of George, fourth Earl Waldegrave, by his
first cousin, Elizabeth Laura, eldest daughter of James the
second Earl, and half sister to H. R. H. the present Duke of
Gloucester.

This officer obtained the rank of Lieutenant July 29, 1806,
and commanded a division of boats at the capture and de-
struction of a Frcncli convoy, in the Bay of Rosas, Nov. 1,
1809*. On the 29th of the same month he arrived at the
Admiralty with despatches from Lord Collingwood, and three
days afterwards he appears to have been promoted. His
post commission bears date Mar. 8, 1811.

Captain Waldegrave married, July 1H12, Elizabeth, eldest
daughter of Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. r. by whom he has
several children.

THOMAS HUSKISSON, Esq.

Paymaster of the Navif.
Half-brother of the Right Hon. William Huskisson, late
one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State ; and of
Major-General Samuel Huskisson.

• See Captain John Tailodk.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 339

Thiiit>toM!ir^a8 born at Qxley, near Wolverhampton, co.
Stafford, July 31, 1784. He entered the navy under the
patronage of Admiral Mark Milbanke, as a midshipman on
board the Beaver sloop of war, July 22, 1800 ; and served
in that vessel, under the command of Captain C. B. Jones,
on the Channel station, until Oct. 24, 1800, when we find
him joining the Romney of 50 guns, Captain Sir Home Pop-
ham ; with whom he proceeded to the Red Sea, where he ap-
pears to have been employed with another miduhipman, in a
small hired brig, surveying the coast of Arabia from Mocha
to within a few miles of Jeddah, the port of Mecca *. He
afterwards visited various parts of India, and continued in
the Romney till she was put out of commission, June 2,
18013. From that period he served under Captain George
Hope, in the Defence 74, "ntil she was also paid off, in
Dec. 1805.

ITie Defence bore a very distinguished part at the battle of
Trafalgar, on which occasion she sustained a loss of / men
killed and 29 wounded : her first opponent was the Berwick,
French 74, and her next the San-lldefonso, a Spanish ship
of similar force, which she compelled to surrender, and after-
wards preserved from destruction, although totally dismast-
ed ;— a practical proof of the benefit that might have been de-
rived had the whole of the British fleet and prizes likewise
anchored, agreeably to Nelson's dying injunctions.

Mr. Huskisson next joined the Foudroyant 80, bearing
the flag of Sir John B. Warren, in which ship he witnessed
the capture of Uear-Admiral Linois, after a running fight
with the London 98, and Amazon frigate. Mar. 13, 1806 f.
On the 9th Aug. following, he was ordered to act as Lieute-
nant of the Foudroyant ; an appointment which was con-
firmed by the Admiralty, Nov. 15 in the same year.

After leaving the Foudroyant, June 1807, Mr. Huskisson
was appointed to the Prince of Wales 98, in which ship he
performed the duty of Flag-Lieutenant to Admiral (now Lord)
Gambler, during the operations against Copenhagen ; but un-

• See Suppl. Part. I. p. 56.

t See Vol. I, Part II, p. 435 el $fq.

z 2

340 POST- CAPTAINS OF ISH.

fortunately the new regulations jrere at that time a bar to his
promotion, as he had not served a suflScient time to qualify
him for the rank of Commander.

At the commencement of 1808, Lieutenant Huskiseon re-
ceived an appointment to the Hyperion frigate, then just
commissioned ; and shortly afterwards he was ordered to re-
pair on board the Melpomene 38, for a passage to Jamaica,
with Vice-Admiral B. S. Rowley, who gave him the command
of the Fleur- de-la-Mer schooner, and sent him to cruise on
the coast of St. Domingo, where he rescued a gentleman
belonging to the former island from the grasp of Christophe,
under whose displeasure he had fallen, and to which he would
in all probability have been sacvificed ; as was another per-
son, an American, under similar circumstances. Lieutenant
Huskisson subsequently visited Carthagena, on the Spanish
Main, where, through his intercession, seven individuals were
restored to liberty, who had accompanied General Miranda to
that coast, and who had not seen day-light from the time
they were made prisoners, shortly after his landing *»

In May, 1809, Lieutenant Huskisson heard of his promo-
tion, and appointment to the Pelorus, a fine 18-gun brig, sta-
tioned at the Leeward Islands. His commission as a Com-
mauder bears date Jan. 18, 1809.

In Oct. following Captain Huskisson assisted at the des-
truction of a French schooner privateer, in the bight of Point-
n-Petre, "under circums-tances of considerable difficulty,"
and, as Sir Alexander Cochrane accjuaints the Admiralty,
*' highly honorable to the parties emploj^ed.". The following is
a copy of the official letter in which the performance of this
service is detailed :—

" H. M. stoop Hazard, of St. ^fartf's, Cnadaloupr, Oct. l", 1809.
*' Sir, — Cruising on my station blockading l*oint-Jl-Pctre, Pelorus in
company, at day-light this morning I observed a schooner, moored under
the battery of St. Mary. I immediately determined on the (■a|)ture or des-
truction of her. Both sloops stood in sufficiently close to silence the luit-
tery effectually, and cover our boats, which were despatched under the
orders of Lieutenants RobTtson ami Flin, first of their respective sloops ;

* See Captain Donai.d Camprblij.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 341

«ad I am happy to say they succeeded in boardinjf her ; but as she wm
moored to the shore with a chain from the mast head and each quarter,
findinj? ic impossible to brinjf her out, they shortly after blew her up.

" In justice to the officers and men employed on this service, I cannot
omit particularizing the very gallant manner in which they approached
the schooner, under a very heavy fire of grape from the battery, until it
was 8ilence<l by us, and of i^rape and musketry from the privateer till they
were nearly alongside, when the enemy quilted her, and joined a long line
of musketry on the beach, and two fieJd pieces, to the fire of which they
were exposed during the whole time they were preparing to bloiv her up,
at a diHtauce of not more than ten yards.

" The privateer had one long IS-pounder oh a circular carriage, and two
swivels ; about 100 tons, and appeared to have from 80 to 100 men ; she
was coppere<l, appeare<l new, and left Point-k-Petre yesterday on a cruise.
Our joint loM has been 15 killed and wounded * ; that of the enemy must
have been very considerable, as the shore was completely lined with mus-
keteers, exposed to a heavy cannonade from both sloops, as well as from
the small arms in the boats.

" I should be very deficient in my duly was ! not to mention the rery
gallant style in which Captain fluskisson of the Pelorus supported me, in
totally destroying the enemy's battery by a joint fire.

" It is impossible for me to express my ideas of the very gallant man-
ner in which Lieutenants Robertson and Flin conducted themselves on this
occasion : they speak in the highest terms of .Messrs. Brisbane and Hunter,
midshipmen of this ship; Mr. Ferguson, boatswain, and Mr. Scott, mate,
of the Pelortis ; who, as well as every individual employed, were volunteers
on the service. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " Hugh Cameron."

" To Commodore Fahie."

The Pelorus foriued part of the naval force under Sir Alex-
ander Cochrane, at the reduction of Guadaloupe, in 1810 ;
after which conquest the subject of this lueiuoir received an
order from that othcer to act as captain of the Blonde frigate,
and directions to convoy home a valuable fleet of merchant-
men.

Captain Huskisson put the Blonde out of commission, at
Woolwich, in July, 1810; and rejoined the Pelorus in Nov.
following ; the Admiralty having refused to confirm his ap-
pointment to the frigate, in consequence of the death vacancy
which occasioned it having occurred on the Halifax station,
and the right of appointing an officer to fill it being claimed

♦ Pelorus— 2 killed, I mortally, 2 severely, and 3 slightly wounded.

312 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

by Sir John B. Warren, and admitted by their lordships, al-
though the Captain who had died * was then proceeding to
Barbadoes, for the purpose of placing himself under the
orders of Sir Alexander Cochrane.

Captain Huskisson's promotion to post rank took place
Mar. 14, 1811 ; at which time the Pelorus was employed on
the Jamaica station. From May 1 in the same year, until
June 1812, he commanded the Garland frigate. At the
latter period he was removed by Vice- Admiral Stirling to the
Barbadoes of 28 guns, and ordered to accompany the Poly-
phemus 64, with a fleet of merchantmen, to a certiiin latitude.
Whilst thus employed he captured, after a seven hours'
chase, the United States* revenue schooner James Madison,
pierced for 14 guns, but with (mly 10 mounted, and a com-
plement of 65 men. This fine fast-sailing vessel had been
hovering about the outskirts of the convoy all the preceding
day, and her commander was meditating an attack upon the
rear of the fleet, with a view of burning as many vessels as
he possibly could, in the course of the ensuing night.

A few days afterwards, the Barbadoes was separated from
the convoy in a violent hurricane, during the continuance of
which she lost her topmasts and main-yard, and was other-
wise much disabled.

After refitting at Bermuda, Captain Huskisson took charge
of three small vessels bound to Halifax, and was proceeding
thither with 60,000 dollars on board for the dock-yard, when,
in the night of Sept. 28, 1812, the Barbadoes and two of her
consorts were unfortunately wrecked on the N. W. bar
of Sable Island. Tliere being a very heavy surf between
them and the shore, the boats were all stove and unfit for
service before half the frigate's crew were landed ; and at the
end of 48 hours, there was nothing to be seen of her except
mere fragments of wreck, with which the beach was strewed;
happily, however, only one man perished on this disastrous
occasion : the specie was saved by throwing it overboard,
with a buoy attached to each of the cases.

• Captain Charles Worsley, of the Statira 38, whose demise took place
at sea, Nov. 17, 1809.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 343

The vessel that escaped was iramediately despatched to
Halifax with intelligence of what had happened ; and at the
end of 12 days Captain Huskisson and his companions in
misfortune were released from their nnpleasant situation by
the arrival of the Shannon frigate, and a schooner sent to
their relief. The sentence of the court-martial afterwards
held at Halifax, to enquire into the circumsUinces attending
the loss of the Barhadoes, was as follows :—

" No blame U imputable to Captain Huskisson, bis officers, and ship's
company ; but tbe loss of the ship was occasioned by the extraordinary
and uncertain set of the currents ; and it appears to the Court that every
exertion was used for the prc!?ervation of the stores and provisions, but
the state of the weather precluded every possibility of doin^j it : the Court
doth therefore inost fully acqait Captain Huskisson, his officers, and ship's
company, and they are hereby most fully acquitted accordingly."

From Halifax, Captain Huskisson returned to England in
the Africa 64, a guest at Vice- Admiral Sawyer's table. His
Jiext appointment was, June 7, 1815, to the Euryalu8 42, in
which frigate he proceeded to cruise off Havre, where he re-
mained as senior officer of the squadron employed in watching
that port and the mouth of the Seine, to prevent the escape
of Napoleon Buonaparte, until it was known that that per-
sonage had surrendered himself to the Bellerophon 74.

On the 25th July, 1818, Captain Huskisson was again ap-
pointed to the Euryalus, then fitting at Chatham for the
I/eeward Islands station. On the 18th Nov. J819, he hoisted
a broad pendant at Barbadoes, the command of the squadron
in the Caribbean seas having devolved upon him in conse-
quence of the death of Rear- Admiral Donald Campbell, which
had taken place at Tortola seven days before.

On the 16th May, 1820, Rear- Admiral Fahie arrived from
England, when Captain Huskisson received directions to pro-
ceed to Jamaica, and place himself under the command of his
friend Sir Home Popham. On the 16th June, only eight
days after his arrival at Port Royal, he again hoisted a broad
pendant, and assumed the command of the squadron on that
station, the health of Sir Home being in so precarious a state
as to oblige him to return to England, where he died on the
1 1th Sept. following. It perhaps has never before happened

344 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

to any officer of Captain Huskisson's standing in the service,
to have had a broad pendant on two stations, on each of
which he held the command six months*.

On the 23d Dec. 1820, Captain Huskisson was relieved by
Sir Charles Rowley ; and as his health was then much im-
paired he invalided, and returned home in the Sandwich
packet f. In Sept. 1821, he obtained the command of the
Semiramis 42, fitting for the flag of Lord Colville, with whom
he continued on the Irish station till Mar. 16, 1822. His
appointment to be Paymaster of the Navy took place in Mar.
1827.

The subject of this memoir married, in 1813, Miss E.
Wedge, the youngest daughter of an eminent agriculturist,
well known in the west of Staffordshire, by whom he has

• On being informed of the demise of Captain Arthur Stow, of the Ta-
mar 26, whom he had recently ordered to Halifax, Commodore Huskisson
appointed his first Lieutenant, Mr. Cliarles Peake, to command the Bann
sloop, vacant by the removal of Captain Wilson B. Bigland to the Tamar;
but on the arrival of the latter ship at Halifax, Rear-Admiral Griffith
thought proper to fill up the death vacancy also. Hearing this, the Commo-
dore wrote to the Admiralty, requesting their Lordships not to sutler him
to be deprived of the patronage which so justly belonged to him, the vacancy
having occurred whilst the Tamar was still within the limits of his com.
mand. The Board did not think proper to grant hii request, but super-
seded all the appointments that had taken place, and gave the command
of the Tamar to an officer then in England ; at the same time payin;; ull
the aloop he commanded, in order to avoid promoting either of the Lieu-
tenants selected by the Commodore and Rear-Admiral. Mr. Peake sub-
sequently commanded the Euryalus for a short period ; and on that ship
being paid off, her crew presented him with a handsome silver vase and
cover, and a sword and belt, as a testimony of their gratitude and esteem
for his kindness, &c. &c. He is still a Lieutenant.

f In 1819, a dreadful sickness prevailed on board the Euryalus, to which
many of her ship's company became victims in the short space of six
weeks. She also lost a Lieutenant and 5 other very fine young men be-
longing to the quarter-deck, one of whom was Mr. Joseph Thomas Mar-
shall, brother to the author of this work. By the same packet that brought
home an account of his death was received an unfinished letter from him,
wherein he spoke of his commander in such terms, as induced his afflicted
relatives to return their most grateful thanks to Captain Huekissoo, for his
parental kindness to the lamented youth.

PObT-CAlTAINS t)F 1811. 345

three sons and two daughters. His brother, George Huskis-
son, Esq. is an officer in the royal marines, and Collector of
the Customs at the ishnd of St. Vincent's. One of his sisters
is married to the Rev. James Walhouse, uncle to Edward
John Littleton, Esq. M. P. for the county of Stafford.
Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

EDWARD HENRY A'COURT, Esq.

M. P. for Heytethury, mUi.

The A'Court family, long settled at Rodden, a hamlet si-
tuate in Frorae hundred, co. Somerset, has recently been en-
nobled by the elevation of this officer's brother to the peerage*.

VVe first find the subject of this sketch serving as a mid-
shipman on board the Blanche frigate, off St. Domingo, in
Nov. 1803 : — a gallant exploit which he performed at that
period is thus described by Mr. James :

" Midshipman Edxrard Henry A'Court, mth a marine and seven sea-
men, was despatched from the Blanche in the red cutter, to collect sand
for the use of the ship. Although it had been ordered that younjjsters,
sent upon services of this kind, lest their pugnacious spirit should lead
them into dan^r, were not to be allowed arms, the men in the boat, before
they pushed off from the frigate, contrived to smu^le five or six muskets
throut^li the ports. It so happened that, in the dusk of the evening, the
boat fell in with a schooner nearly becalmed. The midshipman and hb
little party of Sanders unhesitatingly pulled towards her, and as she had the
appearance of a privateer, and might open a cannonade upon them, Mr.
A'Court judiciously kept in her wake. Just as the boat had approached
the stem of the schooner, a fire of musketry from the latter mortally
wounded one man, and badly wounded another, of the boat-party. Mr. A*
Court, nevertheless, pulled straight up alongside, and, with the assistance
of his five remaining hands, boanled and carried a French schooner, bound
to Cape Francois, having among her passengers a detachment of between
30 and 40 soldiers, commanded by a Colonel, who had fought, bled, and
distinguished hiraeslf, at the battle of Arcolef."

Mr. A'Court was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Feb.

• Sir William A'Court, BarL, now Lord Heytesbury.
t Nw. Hist. III., 295 et teg.

34<J POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

13j 1804 ; and made a Commander June 10, 1808. His post
commission bears date Mar. 29, 1811.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

THOMAS COE, Esq.

Received his first commission in 1800 ; obtained the rank
of Commander Jan. 12, 1805 ; and was made a Post-Captain
Aprils, 1811. From this latter period he commanded the
North Star of 20 guns, until Nov. 1815.

Captain Coe's next appointment was, July 29, 1821, to
the Tees, 26 ; in which ship he sailed from Spithead for the
East India station, Jan. 6, 1822. After the demise of Com.
modore Charles Grant, he hoisted a broad pendant on board
the Liffey frigate, and carried on the duties of senior officer
there, until he was relieved by Sir James Brisbane *. The
Liffey returned to Portsmouth, Jan. 21, 182G.

SIR BENTINCK CAVENDISH DOYLE, Knt.

Obtained the rank of Lieutenant Aug. 29, 1/99 ; and was
first of the St. Fiorenzo frigate at the capture of la Psyche,
on the East India station, Feb. 14, 1805 ; — the following is a
copy of the official letter written by his Captain on that oc-
casion : —

" St. Fiorenzo, Kedgeree, Feb. 17, 1805.

" Sir, — I have the honor to inform you of my arrival this day off the
Sand Heads, after having proceede ) to the southward, in consequence of u
letter received the 8th instant from the chief secretary of government, ac-
quainting me of a suspicious vessel having appeared off Vizagapatam, sup-
posed to be the French national frigate Psych6, and requesting, in the
name of his Excellency the Governor-General in Council, that I would
either proceed towards that place, or otlierwisc, as I might consider most
expedient to the advantage of the public service : 1 therefore thought that
I should not be exceeding the limits of your orders by pursuing such a
course as I conceived most probable for intercepting the said vessel, should
riie be bound to the northward and eastward.

• See Captains Thomas Alexander, Henry Ducic ("bads, Frederick
Marryatt, &c.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. ^0

" On the 13th, at 6 A. M., iu lat. 19<» 35' N., long. 86" 25' E., I had
the satisfaction to discover three sail at anchor under the land, who shortly
after weighed and made sail to the southward. I plainly observed that
cue was a frigate, and the other two apparently merchant ships. I con-
tinued the chase until half-past 7 P. M. the following day, when coming
up with the steniraust vessel, she proved to l)e the Thetis country ship,
prize to the French frigate Pysch^, of 36 guns and 240 men •, under the
command of Captain Bergeret, then a-head at a short distance. Fmding
the enemy had abandoned the Thetis, I left a midshipman in charge, and
continued to pursue the frigate, which was making off under all sail. At
10 minutes past 8, we commenced close action, at the distance of about
half a cable's length, and continued so until half-past 11, at which time,
finding all our running rigging very much cut up, we hauled off to repair the
same. At midnight, bore up to renew the conflict ; but, just as we were
about to recommence our fire, an officer from the enemy came on board
to inform me that Captain Bergeret, from humanity's sake for the remain-
ing survivors, had stnick, though he might have borne the contest longer.
During the action we were occasionally annoyed by the fire of I'Equivoijue
privateer, of 10 guns and 40 men, commanded by a Lieutenant. She
proved to be the late Rgeon country ship, fitted ont by Captain Bergeret
as a privateer ; which vessel, from sailing very well, I am concerned to
acquaint you, effected her escape in the course of the night.

" I beg leave to observe, from the able support which I received from
them during the action. Lieutenants Doyle, Dawson, Collier, and Da vies,
Mr. Fmdiayson the master, and I/ieutenant Ashmore of the marines, as
well as the whole of the ship's company, who displayed the most gallant
and spirited conduct on the occasion, merit my warmest encomiums. I
also feel it a duty incumbent on me to recommend Mr. Doyle, my first
lieutenant, to your attention, from his meritorious and exemplary beha-
viour throughout the contest. I am grieved to relate that Lieutenant
Dawson was dangerously wounded in the breast with a pike, while in the
act of boarding f.

" Inclosed I transmit a list of the killed and wounded of H. M. ship

• The St. Fjorenzo mounted 26 long IS-pounders, 2 long nines, and 14
carronades, 32-pounders : she had on board 253 officers, men, and boys.
La Psyche mounted 24 long French 12-pounders, 2 sixes, and 10 carron-
ades, 18-pounders.

t In the middle of the action, la Psyche fell on board the St. Fiorenzo,
when Lieutenant William Dawson instantly jumped on board the enemy,
but owing to the confusion of a night action, the ships separated again
before a sufficient force could follow him.

348 POST-CAPTAIN8 OF 1811.

under my command, also of the late French national frigate la Puych^.
I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) "Henry Lambert."

" To Vice-Admiral Rainier, 8fc. fyc. Sfc"

The loss of men on both sides in this action was very
great, the St. Fiorenzo having 12 killed and 36 wounded j
la Psyche 57 slain and 70 wounded. It adds much to the
honor and credit of Captain Lambert, his officers, and crew,
that the character of Mons. Bergeret stood very high in the
French navy, he being the same officer who commanded la
Virginie, when captured by Sir Edward Pellew in the Inde-
fatigable* ; to which may be added the support given him by
the armed ship, mentioned in the foregoing letter. All the
trading part of H. M. subjects throughout India rejoiced on
the occasion of his capture, as being more apprehensive of
depredations on their property from his abilities and activity
than from the whole remaining force of the French navy on
that station.

Captain Doyle's commission as a commander bears date
Sept. 18, 1805. We subsequently find him commanding the
Lightning sloop of war, in which vessel he continued after
his promotion to post rank, April 3, 1811. His last ap-
pointment was, Mar. 21, 1821, to the Glasgow of 50 guns.
In that ship he conveyed the remains of the late Queen from
Harwich to Cuxhavcn ; Sir Edward Paget and family from
Portsmouth to the East Indies j and the Marquis of Hastings
from Calcutta to Gibraltar. *

The Glasgow was paid off in 1824 ; and Captain Doyle
received the honor of knighthood, April 20, 1825.

Agents. — Messrs. Stilwell.

JOHN PASCO, Esq.

Obtainkd a lieutenant's commission in 1/95 ; and was
badly wounded whfen serving on board Nelson's flag-ship, at
the ever memorable battle of Trafalgar. His promotion to
the rank of commander took place Dec. 24, 1805.

Towards the close of 1808, Captain Pasco was appointed

•SecVol. I. Parti, p. 217.

POST-CAP! AINS OF 1811. 349

to the Hindostan 50, armed enjiute, in which sliip he sailed
for New South Wales, about May, 1809. He subsequently
commanded the Tartarus 20, and continued in her after his
advancement to post rank, April 3, 1811. In 1815, he was
successively appointed to the Rota 38, and Lee 20; the
latter ship he paid off at Plymouth, in Sept. 1818.

Captain Pasco enjoys a pension of 250/. per annum for his
wounds.

Agent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney.

JOHN HOLLINWORni, Esq.

Son of M. Hollin worth, Esq. many years a clerk of the
Admiralty, and brother to Thomas Hollinworth, Esq. naval
storekeeper at Devonport.

This otlicer was made a lieutenant in 1802, and advanced
to the rank of commander Jan. 22, 1806. On the 16th
July, 1808, the Minstrel sloop, then under his command,
captured the Italian schooner Ortenzia, pierced for 16 guns,
but carrying only two long 24-pounder8, six long nines, and
two 3-pounder swivels. His post commission bears date
April 3, 1811.

Captain Hollinworth married, in 1808, the daughter of
John Jackson, Esq. Master Attendant at Portsmouth.

Agents, — Messrs. Stilwell.

CLEMENT SNEYD, Esq.

This officer ser^'ed for many years in India. He was made
a lieutenant in 1793, and promoted to the rank of commander
Sept. 25, 1806. In 1810, we find him commanding the
Muros brig, on the Guernsey station, where he made several
captures, but of inconsiderable value. His next appoint-
ment was to the Myrtle, a ship-sloop, in which vessel he
continued for some time after his advancement to post rank,
Aprils, 1811.

Captain Sneyd married, in 1813, Ellen, third daughter of
Robert Swetcnham, of Somerford Booths, near Congleton^
Cheshire, Esq.

350 POST-CAPTAINS OP 181 1.

RICHARD BUCK, Esq.

Nephew to Admiral Sir Richard Goodwin Keats, G. C. B.
&c, &c.

We first find this officer, in Feb. 1806, serving as a lieu-
tenant on board the CuUoden 74, bearing the flag of Sir Ed-
ward Pellew, now Viscount Exmouth. His commission as
a commander was confirmed by the Admiralty, Dec. 28,
1807; previous to which he had been successively appointed
to the command of the Rattlesnake and Samarang : in the
latter sloop, formerly the Dutch corvette Scipio *, he assisted
at the " entire destruction of the naval force of Holland,"
in the eastern hemisphere f.

Sir Richard J. Strachan, in his despatches from the Scheldt,
dated Aug. 13, 1809, acquaints the Admiralty that Captain
Buck had been employed with a light flotilla, in sounding
and buoying the channels of that river, to enable the fleet to
advance, for the purpose of putting into execution the ulte-
rior objects of the Walcheren expedition ; and that this ser-
vice was executed, under the directions of Sir Home Pop-
ham, with judgment and correctness.

Captain Buck's next appointment was, about Dec. 1809,
to the Crocus brig ; in which vessel he continued until his
promotion to pot>t rank, April 3, 1811: he subsequently
commanded the Termagant ship-sloop, and Franchise frigate,
on the Mediterranean station. In Feb. 1812, he drove on
shore and burnt, near Cagliari, I'Aventurier French privateer,
pierced for 16 guns, but only three mounted, with a comple-
ment of 60 men j and on the 27th September following,
he assisted at the capture of a few small vessels in Tarra-
gona mole. A long official letter, descriptive of this latter
unimportant service, was published in the London Gazette j
and a copy thereof will be found at p. 430, et seq. of Nav.
Chron. vol. 28.

Captain Buck married, previous to the peace, a daughter

• See Supp. Part I. p. 403
t fd. p. 405.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 351

I

of Mr. Macdonald, the British Consul at Algiers, whose
other daughter has since been united to the Danish consul
resident at that regency.

EDWARD SCOBELL, Esq.

Was bom in 1784; made a lieutenant in 1801 ; and ad-
vanced to the rank of commander Sept. 29, 1808. He com-
manded the Vimicra brig, and assisted at the capture of the
islands of St. Martin's, St. Eustatius, and Suba, in Feb.
1810*.

His post commission bears date April 3, 1811 ; at which
period we find him in the Thais of 20 guns.

Captain Scobell was subsequently sent to the African sta-
tion, where he captured the American privateer brig Rambler,
of 12 guns and 88 men, Mar. 31, 1813. The cause of his
giving up the command of the Thais, in Jan. 1814, is stated
at p. 497, of vol. II. part I.

In Aug. 1815, Captain Scobell was appointed to the Bann
20, but he never went to sea in that vessel. He married
April 19, 1816, Rebecca Anne, only child of Richard Col-
lins, of Brockhurst Lodge, Hants, Esq.; and died at Poltair,
near Penzance, after repeated attacks of apoplexy, April 17,
1825.

JOHN DUFF MARKLAND, Esq.

^Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and
Knight of the Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold.

This officer is descended from a family of the same name,
residing near VVigan, co. Lancashire, in the reign of Edward
III. His father, Edward Markland, Esq. married Elizabeth
Sophia, second daughter of Josiah Hardy, Esq. H. B. M.
Consul at Cadiz, and formerly Governor of the Jerseys, in
North America j a son of the first Sir Charles Hardy, Knt.
by the daughter and heiress of Josiah Burchett, Esq. many
♦ See Vol. !. Pan 11. p. 717-

352 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

years Secretary of the Admiralty, and author of a naval his-
tory, published^in 1720 *.

By the maternal side, Mrs. Markland was grand-daughter
to Sir Thomas D'Aeth, Bart, of Knowlton Court, in Kent j
and great-grand-daughter to Admiral Sir John Narbrough,
whose widow married Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Rear-Admiral
of Great Britain.

Mr. John Duff Markland was born at Leeds, in Yorkshire,
Sept. 1-4, 1/80; and he entered the navy May 27, 1795, as a
midshipman on board the Hebe frigate. Captain Paul Min-
chin ; which ship he quitted in order to join la Tourterelle of
30 guns, commanded by his uncle-in -law. Captain John
Cooke, whose glorious death has been recorded at p. 968 et
seq. of Vol. II. Part II. He subsequently served under Cap-
tains John Peyton and Robert Dudley Oliver, in the Sea-
horse 38.

* It is not a little remarkable, that the above mentioned Sir Charles
Hardy, his father, Sir Thomas Hardy, and one of his sons, the second Sir
Charles Hardy, were all in the navy ; and that each of them had the honor
of being knighted for his respective services. The knighthood of Sir Tho-
mas was thus announced in the London Gazette : —

" St. Jiimc^s, October's], 1702.

" Her Majesty has been pleased to confer the honor of knighthood upon
Thomas Hardy, Esq. Captain of her Majesty's ship Pembroke, in consi-
deration of his good service, in gaining and giving to Admiral Rooke tlie
intelligence, which was the occasion of our great success at Vigo."

Sir Tliomas Hardy died a Vice-Admii'al, in Aug. 1732. His son attained
the same rank in the service, and was one of the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty at the time of his demise, which took place Nov. 27, 1/44.
The second Sir Charles Hardy died commander-in-chief of the Channel
fleet. May, 1780. Of this latter respected officer, Charnock thus briefly
sums up the character : — " Brave, prudent, gallant, and enterprising, with-
out the smallest ostentatious display of his noble qualities — generous, mild,
affable and intelligent — his virtues commanded the most profound respect,
enabling him to pass through days, when the rage and prejudice of party
blazed with a fury nearly unquenchable, without exciting envy or dislike,
without even furnishing to the most captious man of party the smallest
ground of reprehension or complaint." One of his sons. Temple, was
made a Post-Captain, Nov. 24, 1795 ; and died at Exeter, Mar. 29, 1814 :—
another, named Charles, was killed in battle, when serving as a midship-
man on board the Cerl)eru8, frigate, June 4, 1781.

POiT-CAPTAINS OK 1811. 353

From that ship, Mr. Markland was removed to la Nymphe
frigate. Captain Cooke, under whom he assisted at the cap-
ture of la Resistance and la Constance, French ships of war,
the former mounting 48 guns, with a complement of 345
men ; the latter carrying 24 guns and 189 men *.

We next find Mr. Markland in the Royal George, a first
rate, bearing the ilag of Lord Bridport, with whom he con-
tinued until Captain Cooke was appointed to the Amethyst
frigate, and ordered to convey H. R. H. the Duke of York to
Holland : from that period he served under his uncle-in-law
till June 1801. Amongst the prizes taken by the Amethyst,
whilst commanded by Captain Cooke, were : —
L'A venture, French brig privateer, of 14 guns &nd 75 men, Dec. 29, 1799.

Le Vaillant, - - - cutter 15 131 - - Feb. 15 > jqqq

Le Mars, ... - ship 22 180 - - Mar. 31 5

On the 28th Jan. 1801, Mr. Markland witnessed the cap-
ture of la Dddaigneuse frigate, of 36 guns and 300 men f.
His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place June 8
following, on which occasion he was appointed to the Malta
80, Captain Albemarle Bertie J.

Lieutenant Markland's next appointment was, in Dec.
1802, to the Albion, a third rate, Captain John Ferrier, in
which ship he was present at the capture of la Franchise
French frigate, near Brest, May 28, 1803 j and la Clarisse
corvette in the bay of Bengal, Jan. 1804. From the latter
period, he served as first Lieutenant of the Albion until Dec.
25, 1805 ; when he was obliged to invalid, and quit the East
Indies as a passenger in the Tremendous 74, Captain John
Osborne.

On his return home the subject of this memoir found him-
self promoted to the rank of Commander, by commission
dated Jan. 22, 1806; but he does not appear to have been
again employed until April 12, 1808 ; when he was appointed
to the Bustard brig, of 16 guns.

On the 28th July, 1809, Captain Markland assisted at the
capture of six heavy gun-boats belonging to the Italian ma-

• See Vol. II. Part II. p. 433 et teq.
t See id. p. 547- I See id. Part I. p. 197.

SUPPL. PART II. 2 A

354 POST-CAPTAINS OF 181 I.

fine, and ten coasting traders, laden with brandy, flour, rice,
and wheat.

The Bustard, at that period, formed part of the squadron
employed in the gulf of Venice, under the orders of Captain
John West, by whose activity the enemy's convoy was pre-
vented from entering Trieste, and obliged to take shelter in
Douin, a port 4 leagues farther to the N. W. defended by a
strong castle. Conceiving it very practicable to capture or
destroy them there, he detached the Acorn, sloop of war,
and Bustard, with all the boats of his own ship, the Excellent
74, to try the experiment : about midnight, cov^ered by the
fire of the two sloops, the boats pushed on shore, and, in about
half an hour, they had complete possession of every vessel in
the harbour. " This enterprise " says l^ord Collingwood,
** was well devised and gallantly executed." Captain West
thus expresses himself on the occasion :

" Tlic very masterly and complete manner in wliicli lin.^ .^tivice has
Wen performed by Cai)tains Clepliane and Markland, of H. M. sloops
Acorn and Bustard, and Lieutenant Jolin Harper, in command of the boats
of H. M. S. Kxcellcnt, excites my higliest admiration ; every officer, sea-
man, and marine, I am assured, individually distinguished himself."

Captain Clephane, the senior commander, expressed his
"high sense of the conduct of Captain Markland, both by
his leading into a place so little known, and by the well-di-
rected fire kept up by him.*' The loss sustained by the
British, in the performance of this gallant exploit, amounted
to 2 men killed, 1 mortally, 1 (the master of the Bustard)
severely, and 4 slightly, wounded. Each of the enemy's gun-
boats had on board an officer and 20 men.

At the commencement of July 1810, the Bustard captured
and destroyed nine of the enemy's vessels, in a harbour on
'th& east side of Calabria : the following is an extract of a
letter which Captain Markland soon afterwards received from
the flag officer luider whose orders Imj was then serving ;

" I highly approve of your conduct, at»d of that of Lieutenant John
Hilton, which 1 shall not fail to make known to the comnuinder-in-chief.
I am very happy that only two of the crew of H. M. sloop under your
command were wounded in the execution of this important service.

(Sijfncd) •• Gio. Martin, Rear-Admiral."

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 355

For three months from that period, Captain Markland
commanded the sloops of war stationed in the Faro of Mes-
sina, to protect Sicily from a threatened invasion by Joachim
Murat, whose army, consisting of nearly 40,(XX) men, was
then encamped on the opposite shore, and who had collected
more than 80 gun and mortar-boats, between Scylia and
Reggio. On the 24th July, the Bustard and Halcyon des-
troyed two armed feluccas under Cape del Arme, where they
were for a long time defended by their crews, some soldiers,
and the neighbouring peasantry. In the performance of this
service. Lieutenant John Hilton, first of the former sloop,
received four wounds.

The master of the Bustard having been previously promo-
ted into a 7-^y Captain Markland and his second Lieutenant,
Robert Milbome Jackson, were now obliged to keep watch
and watch, and they continued to do so until the breaking up
of the enemy's camp. During that time the Bustard was re-
peatedly in action with Murat's land batteries and flotilla;
and Captain Markland often received the thanks of Rear-Ad-
miral Martin : — the severity of the service in which the Bri-
tish sloops were engaged will be readily conceived when we
state that their hammocks were scarcely ever down at night ;
yet, strange to say, the official letters respecting that cam-
paign were, for some unaccountable reason, withheld from
the public ; — we have tried, but in vain, to obtain copies of
them ; and we must therefore content ourselves mth stating
that Captain Markland's gallantry and meritorious exertions
on every occasion were represented in such high terms to
Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, that that officer gave him the
very first post vacancy, telling him he did so expressly for
his services in the Faro : we must here remark, that Captain
Markland was not on the Admiralty list for promotion ; he
had had no previous acquaintance with his new commander-
in-chief, nor had he even the advantage of an introduction to
him by any private friend.

The total number of prizes taken by Captain Markland, in
the Bustard, was 25 ; that of the vessels he destroyed amount-
ed to 39.

2a2

356 POST -CAPTAINS OF 1811.

i>^jOn the 31st Jan. 1811, this active officer was removed to
the Eclair of 18 guns ; and five days afterwards he received
an order to act as captain of the Ville de Paris, a first rate,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thomas Francis Freemantle,
whom he afterwards successively followed into the Rodney
and Milford, third rates. His post commission bears date
April 18, 18J1.

After obtaining the liberation of 400 Christian slaves at
Tunis, and cruising for some time off Toulon, Rear-Admiral
Freemantle was ordered to assume the command of a squadron
employed in the Adriatic, where we find Captain Markland
bearing a distinguished part in many gallant and important
services, some of the most considerable of which we shall now
proceed to notice.

Fiume, a town of Istria, from its commercial importance,
soon attracted the attention of the British Rear-Admiral,
who attacked and captured it, July 3, 1813. On this occa-
sion, after assisting in silencing the batteries. Captain Mark-
land proceeded at the head of the armed boats, and dislodged
the enemy from their last strong hold. " Nothing," says
Rear-Admiral Freemantle, " could exceed the spirit and good
conduct of every captain, officer, seaman, and marine, in the
squadron. " The details of this service are given at p. 673
et seq. of Vol. I. Part II.

After despatching his prizes to Lissa, the Rear-Admiral
proceeded off Porto R^, where Captain Markland landed
with Captain Hoste, of the Bacchante frigate, and found the
forts abandoned by the enemy, who had spiked the guns,
and destroyed the ammunition. The boats of the squadron
then went up to Bocca R^, where thirteen sail of vessels were
discovered scuttled, only one of which could be brought
away. The guns, 10 in number, were in the mean time ren-
dered entirely useless, their carriages burnt, and all the works
blown up.

At daylight on the 5th Aug. 1813, the boats of the Mil-
ford and Weazle, under the orders of Captain James
Black, succeeded in surprising the garrison of Ragosniza, to
which place the enemy seem to have attached much import-

roST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 357

ance, for the protection of their coasting convoys. On
this occasion, a tower and an open battery were destroyed j
six long 24-pounders, two /^-iwch mortars, some stores
and ammunition brought off, and 63 Frenchmen taken pri-
soners.

In the course of the same month, the Austrians entered
Fiume, and established a communication with the British
squadron ; the boats of which had been very actively em-
ployed, under the orders of Captain Markland, in exciting a
tpirit of revolt against their oppressors, among the inhabit-
ants of the different islands at the head of the Adriatic. By
Rear-Admiral Freemantle's subsequent despatches it appears
that he had left Captain Markland, as senior officer, for a
ahort time, off Fiume ; — the following are extracts : —

*' On the 6th Sept. I arrived at Fiume, and/vundthc Afil/ordmA Wizard
(sloop) at anchor off the town, and the Imperial flag flying; the whole of
iHlria aad Croatia (nearly) up in arms against the French, and driving
them out in all directions. Sagoa and Porto Re are also under the Aus-
trian flag. General Nuijent has his head-quarters at Llppa, about twenty-
Iwo miles from Fiume ; his force consists of 2000 Austrians, and some
Croats ; the French garrison of Pola, of 600 men, with about 1500 Croats,
^rere marching to relieve Fiume ; but the Croats, on hearing that their
countr trms against the enemy, surrounded, disarmed, and

took tl. 1 Mien prisoners §. ••••••, The Milford

lying at Fiume, gives General Nugent au additional force of 1(X)0 men,
which he must have left to guard it, and cramp his operations very much.
There is not a single soldier there ; the town is entirely guarded by the
Milford's marines, who are there ; and it greatly increases the confidence
df the inhabitants, having a safe retreat in case of a defeat. Almost the
whole of the islands are now clear of the French yoke, from Lissa upwards.
Captain Gower (of the Elizabeth 74) landed at Fontaoe, and has planted
the Imperial flag all along that coast."

Captain Markland was also present at the captures of Ro-
vigno, Piran, and Capo d'Istria ; at which latter place Rear-
Admiral Freemantle remained, in constant correspondence with
General Count Nugent, who was harassing the army of Eugene
Beauhamois on his retreat, uutU the morning of the 5th Oct.

§ Pola was taken possession of by the Wizard sloop> part of the Milford's
marines, and 50 Austrian soldiers.

358 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

1813, when he sailed for Trieste, to blockade that city. On
the following day, Captains Markland and Black volunteered
their services to attack the dock-yard, whichj although strong-
ly fortified, and within point-blank shot of the citadel, they
thought might be taken by surprise : their offer was accepted,
and after dark they obtained complete possession of the arsenal
and every person in it, the whole of whom, with a quantity of
stores, were brought off in triumph ; they also having first
rendered all the guns unserviceable, and sawed the keel and
stern-post of a large frigate into many pieces. This daring
exploit was performed without the slightest loss, the surprise
being so complete that fighting was unnecessary.

About noon on the 10th Oct. the enemy endeavoured to
retaliate by opening a masked battery upon the Milford, as
she lay with her stern towards the shore ; but Captain Mark-
land instantly got a spring upon his cable, hove his broadside
round, and in a quarter of an hour demolished it. One shell
exploded on the poop of the 74, but did no damage. The
Frenchmen had several killed and wounded.

Immediately after this little affair, the marines of the squa-
dron and two field-pieces were landed under the command of
Captain Markland, to assist at the siege of Trieste, which
was commenced on the 11th, and terminated on the 29th of
the same month. " I have to thank him," says Rear-Admiral
Freemantle, " for exerting himself in every way ; particular-
ly in the arrangements of stores and provisions. We have
at times had J 200 men on shore, at work and in the batteries;
and the general good conduct of the officers, seamen, and
marines, with the harmony that has invariably subsisted be-
tween the Austrian troops and our people, is quite gratifying
to me. When we opened against the citadel it contained
800 Frenchmen, 45 large guns, 4 mortars, and 4 howitzers.
The consequences of the taking this place will be felt
throughout the country." About 50 sail of vessels were taken
in the port.

During the operations against Trieste, the Milford had 3
men killed and 10 wounded ; the total loss sustained by her

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 359

consorts, the Elizabeth, Eagle, Tremendous, Weazle, and
Wizard, amounted to 7 killed and 25 wounded.

Captain Markland resigned the command of the Milford,
Oct. 31, 1813; and returned home with despatches from
llear-Admiral Freemantle, on the 11th Dec. following. He
was nominated a C. B. in June 1815 ; and subsequently pre-
sented with the cross of the order of Leopold, " in testimony
of his Imperial Majesty's approbation of the distinguished
services rendered by him at the capture of Trieste, and the
other operations in Italy, during the campaign of 1813,**
Since his return home, he has had his left hand shattered by
the bursting of a fowling piece.

This officer married, Mar. 8, 1814, Helen Ellery, daughter
of L. D. G. Trcgonwell, of Cranbome Lodge, co. Dorset,
Esq., by which lady he has two sons and two daughters
living.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

WILLIAM FISHER, Esq.

Commanded the Cornwall is frigate at the capture of the
Isle of France.* His post commission bears date April 18,
1811. Since the peace he has commanded the Bann of 20
guns, and Cherub 24; the latter employed on the African
station. The following article appeared in the Hampshire
Telegraph of Feb. 5, 18"27 •

" No part of our naval economy has been less attended to, and none
needs so much attention, as the necessity that constantly exists in foreign,
and even on home stations, of keeping up a supply o( frtsh trater for
our men of war. The loss of lives in this arduous part of tlie service is
immense, from fatigue, from accidents, from diseases incident to their long
exposure to wet, and from the facilities which it affords the seamen of
straggling, and getting intoxicated. Capt. William Fisher, R. N. lias suc-
ceeded in inventing an apparatus for this purpose, which does not require
that the water casks should be removed from out of the boats, but by
means of which they may be filled at the rate of a ton of water in four
minutes. The apparatus consists, simply, of a forcing pump with a five-
inch cylinder, which may be carried by two men, in a hand-barrow, to a

• See Vol. I. Part II, p. 631, etseq.

906 POST-CAPTAINS OP l811.

well, river, pond, or any reservoir of fresh water, and the water b then
forced throuj^h some newly invented hoses to any distance. The chief
merit of the plan lies in the hoses, which are manufactured under Capt.
Fisher's directions, and were the result of a long-, expensive, and arduous
application to the subject. They are made of canvas, in fifty feet lengths,
fastened to each other by brass noizles, which are secured by a moving
screw collar ; therefore in screwing them together, the hoses need not
be turned over. The hoses are made without seams, and are perfectly air
and water tight, capable even of holding gas and ardent spirits ; and beside
being made of canvas, are thoroughly saturated with a composition, of
which catechu, or common Indian rubber, is the principal or sole ingre-
dient. They are rolled to the size required over a cylinder, and by a pe-
culiar press and slight beat, are rendered into a compact pliable tube, in-
capable of injury, not liable to wear, proof against the effect of rot arising
from damp, resisting the attacks of all vermin, and requiring no oil nor
cleaning. An experiment of the usefulness of the invention was some
time since tried in London, and was then so far found to answer the pur-
pose required, that the Admiralty directed the apparatus and a set of
hoses to be supplied for the use of his majesty's ship Barham ; as that
ship is now at Spithead, the inventor solicited that an experiment should
be tried here, which was done yesterday morning at the dock-yard, in the
presence of Admirals Sir George Martin and Sir Thomas M, Hardy, all
the captains in commission, and a number of other naval officers, of con-
siderable experience in the service. A report of the usefulness of the
machine has been sent to the Admiralty, drawn up by Sir Michael Sey-
mour, strongly recommending its general adoption. These hoses are
particularly useful in breweries and mines, and most particularly for fire
engines. The invention is secured to Capt. Fisher by a patent."

Agents,— 'Me&sTS, Maude & Co.

ABEL FERRIS, Esq.

Was made a lieutenant April 22, 1799; and advanced to
the rank of commander Oct. 10, I8O7. On the 10th May,
1808, being then in command of the Wizard, a brig mounting
fourteen 24-pounder carronades and two long sixes, with a
complement of 95 ofl&cers, men, and boys, on the Medi-
terranean station, he fought a gallant, though indecisive
action, with la Requin, a French brig similarly armed, but
manned with 1 10 persons. The details of this affair will be
found in James's Nav. Hist. Vol. V. pp. 70-74.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 361

Lord CoUingwood, in order to evince his opinion of the
conduct of Captain Ferris, appointed him, at the earliest
possible period, to the command of the Royal Sovereign, a first
rate ; but his post commission was not confirmed by the Ad-
miralty until April 18, 181 1. In Aug. 1808, Captain Ferris
assisted at the capture of a French gun-vessel and fourteen
coasting traders, between Leghorn and Genoa*.

This officer obtained the out-pension of Greenwich Hos-
pital, Dec. 10, 1825.

EDWARD HARVEY, Esq.

Third and youngest son of the gallant Captain John Har-
vey, whose death, June 1, 17^, has been recorded at p. 613,
of Vol. I. Part 11.

This ofl&cer was born in 1/83, and he entered the navy
in April, 1796, as a midshipman on board the Prince of
Wales, a second rate, bearing the flag of his uncle, the late
Sir Henry Harvey, K. B. and commanded by his brother.
Captain (now Vice-Admiral) John Harvey. In that ship he
was present at the capture of Trinidad, and the destruction
of a Spanish squadron in Shagaramus bay, Feb. 1797t« He
returned home in the Zebra sloop of war, and joined the
Beaulieu frigate time enough to witness the defeat of the
Dutch fleet, near Camperdown, Oct. 11, 1797t«

In 1799, Mr. Harvey was appointed to act as lieutenant
of the Southampton frigate, and in her he assisted at the
capture of the Danish and Swedish West India islands. Mar.
1801§. His first commission bears date July 24, in the latter
year ; at which period he was removed to the Amphitrite 28.

In 1802, Lieutenant Harvey was successively appointed to
the Iris 32, and Apollo 36. The destruction of the last
named ship, on the coast of Portugal, April 2, 1804, is thus

■ See Nav. Chron, r. 21, p. 74, et seq.

t See Vol. I, Part I, note at p. 1 12.

X See Suppl. Part I, p. 252.

$ Sec Vol. I, Part 11. note f at p. 798, et teq.

362 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

correctly described by Mr. Evan Lewis, a gentlemati who
then belonged to her : —

" On the 26th March we sailed from the Cove of Cork, in company
with H. M. ship Carysfort, and 69 sail of raerchantmea under convoy for
the West Indies. On the 27th we were out of sight of land, with a fair
wind, blowing a strong gale, and steering about W. S. W. On the 2Sth,
29th, and 30th, the weather and our course were nearly the same. On
the 31st, the wind came more to the westward, but did not blow so hard.
On the 1st April, at noon, we observed in lat. 40° 51' N. long, per ac-
count, 12° 29' W. At 8 P. M. the wind shifted to the S. W. blowinjr
fresh, course S. S, E, At 10, up mahi-sail and set the raain-stay-sail.
At 10-15, the latter split by the sheet giving way ; called all hands upon
deck. At 10-30, strong breezes and squally: took in the fore-top-sail
and set the fore-sail. At 11-30 the main-top-sail split ; furled it and the
main-sail. The ship was now under her fore-sail, and main and mizen-
storm-stay-sails ; the wind blowing hard with a heavy sea.

** About 3-30 A. M. on the 2d April, the ship struck the ground, to the
astonishment of every one on board, and by the above reckoning, we then
conjectured, upon an unknown shoal. She continued striking the ground
very heavy, by which her bottom was materially damaged, and making
much water; the chain-pumps were ri^rged with the utmost despatch, but,
in about ten minutes, she beat and drove over the shoal. On endeavour-
ing to steer her, we found the rudder carried away. She then got before
the wind. The pumps were kept going ; but from the quantity of water
she shipped, there was every probability of her soon foundering, as she
was filling, and sinking very fast.

" After running about five minutes, the ship struck the ground again,
with such tremendous shocks, that we were fearful she would instantly go
to pieces, and kept striking and driving further on the sands, the sea
making breaches completely over her. We cut away the laniards of the
main and mizen rigging, and the masts fell with u tremendous crash over
the larboard side : the fore-mast went immediately after. The ship then
fell on her starboard side, with the gunwale under water. The violence
ivith which she struck the ground, and the weight of the guns, these on
the quarter-deck tearing away the bulwark, soon made the ship a perfect
wreck abaft : only four or five guns could possibly l)c fired to alarm the
convoy, and give notice of danger. On her striking the second time, most
pitiful cries were heard every where between decks, many of the men
giving themselves up to inevitable death. I was told that I might as weJl
stay below, as there was an equal likelihood of perishing if I got upon
deck. I was determined to go, but first attempted to enter my cabin,
and was in danger of having my legs broke by the chests floating about,
as the bulk-heads were giving way : I therefore desisted, and endeavoured
to get upon deck, which I effected, after being several times washed down

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 363

the hatchway by the immense volume of water incessantly pouring down.
The ship still beating the ground very heavy, made it necessary to cling
fast to some part of the wreck, to prevent being washed by the surges,
or hurled by the dreadful concussions overboard, the people holding fast
by the larboard bulwark of the quarter-deck, and in the main-channel,
while our good Captain (John William Taylor Dixon) stood naked upon
the cabin skylight-grating, holding fast by the stump of the mizen-mast,
and making use of every soothing expression which could have been sug-
gested to encourage men in such a perilous situation. Most of the officers
and men were entirely naked, not having had time to slip on even a pair
of trowsers. Our horrible situation every moment became more dreadful,
until day-light appearing, about half-past 4 o'clock, discovered to us the
land, at two cables distance, a long sandy l>each, reaching to cape Mon-
dego, three leagues to the southward of us. We afterwards perceived
between 21) and 30 sul of the convoy ashore, both to the northward and
(Southward, and several of them perfect wrecks. We were now certain of
lieiiig on the coast of Portugal, from seeing the above cape, though, I
am sorry to say, no person in the ship had the least idea of being so near
that coast. It blowing hard, and a very great swell of the sea, or what is
generally termed waves running mountains high, there was little prospect
of being saved. About 8 A. M. there being every Kkelihood of the ship
going to pieces, and the after part of her lying lowest. Captain Dixon
onlered every person fonvard, which it was very difficult to comply with,
from the motion of the main-mast working on the larboard gunwale, there
l»eing no other way to remove ourselves. Mr. Cook, the boatswain, had
his thigh broke in endeavouring to get a boat over the side. Of sLx fine
boats not one was saved, they being all stove, and washed overboard with
the booms, &c. Soon after the people got forward the ship parted at the
i.r The crew were now obliged to stow themselves in the fore-

r and from thence to the bowsprit-end, to the number of 220 ;

for out of 2-10 persons on boani when the ship first struck, I suppose
20 to have previously perished between decks and otherwise. Mr.
Lawton, the gunner, the first person who attempted to swim ashore, was
drowned : after^vards Lieutenant Wilson, Mr. Runcie, surgeon, Mr.
W'Cabe, surgeon's-mate, Mr. Standley, master's-mate, and several men
shared the same fate, though excellent swimmers. About thirty persons
had the good fortune to reach the shore, upon planks and spars, among
whom were Lieutenant Harvey, and Mr. Callaro, master's-mate. In the
ensuing night our situation was truly horrid, the old men and boys dying
through hunger and fatigue — also Messrs. Proby and Hayes, midshipmen.
Captain Dixon remained all this night upon the bowsprit.

" Tuesday morning, April 3, presented us no better prospect of being
relieved from the jaws of death, the wind blowing stronger and the sea
much more turbulent. About noon, however, our drooping spirits were

364 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

eometvkat raised by seeing Lieutenant Hanrey and Mr. Callam hoisting
out a boat from one of the merchant ships to come to the assistance of
their distressed shipmates. They several times attempted to launch her
through the surf, but being a very heavy boat, and the sea on the beach
acting so powerfully against them, they could not possibly effect it,
though assisted by nearly 100 of the merchant sailors and Portuguese
peasants. Several men went upon rafts this day, made from pieces of
the wreck, but not one soul reached the shore ; the wind having shifted,
and the current setting out, they were all driven to sea ; among whom
was our captain, who, about 3 P. M. went on the jib-boom with three
seamen : anxious to save the remainder of the ship's company, and too
sanguine of getting safe ashore, he ventured upon the spar, saying, as
he jumped into the sea, ' My lads, I'll save you all.' In a few seconds
he lost his hold of the jib-boom, which he could not regiun: he drifted
to sea, and perished. Such was also the fate of the three brave volunteers
who chose to follow his fortune.

** The loss of our captain, who, until now, had animated the almost
lifeless crew, as well as the noble exertions of Lietiteuant Harvey and
Mr. Callam, to launch the boat, not succeeding, every gleam of hope
vanished, and we looked fonvard for certain death the ensuing night, not
only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but the e-\pcctatiou of the remaining
part of the wreck going to pieces every moment. Had not the Apollo
been a new and well-built ship, that small portion could never have re-
sisted the waves and stuck so well together, particularly as all the after
part from the chess-trees was gone, the Btarl)oard bow under water, the
forecastle deck nearly perpendicular, the weight of the guns hanging to
the larboard bulwark on the inside, and the bower and spare anchors oa
the outside, which it was not prudent to cut away, as they afforded resting
places to a considerable number of men, there being only the fore-channel
and cat-head where it was possible to live, and about which were stowed
upwards of 150 persons ; it being impracticable to continue any longer iu
the head, or upon the bowsprit, by reason of the breakers washing com-
pletely over them. The night drawing on, the wind increasing, with fre-
quent showers of rain, and the forecastle being every instant expected to
give way, when we must have all perished together, afforded a spectacle
truly deplorable, the bare recollection of which even now makes me
shudder. The piercing cries of the people this dismal night, whenever
a sea came over them, which happened every two minutes, were pitiful
in the extreme ; the water running down all over the body kept us conti-
nually wet : the remaining strength of every one was exerted for his indi-
vidual safety. From the crowding so close together in so narrow a com-
pass, and the want of something to moisten their mouths with, several
poor wretches were suffocated, which frequently reminded me of the
Black Hole ; with this only difference, that these poor sufferers were con-

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1811. 365

fined by strong trails, we by water. The least movement, without clinging
fast, would have launched ns into eternity. Some unfortunate wretches
drank salt water ; several their own urine ; some chewed leather ; myself
and many more chewed lead, from which we found considerable relief, by
reason of its drawinor the saliva, which we swallowed. In less than an
hour after the ship first struck the ground, all the provisions were under
water, so that it was impossible to procure any. After the most painful
ni:Ljht that it is possible to conceive, on day-light appearing, we observed
Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam again endeavouring to launch the boat.
Several attempts were made without success, a number of men belonging
to the merchant ships being much bruised and hurt in assisting ; alternate
hopes and fears now pervaded our wretched minds ; fifteen men got
safe on shore this morning, on pieces of the wreck. About three in the
afternoon of the 4th, we had the inexpressible happiness of seeing the
boat Iaunche<l through the surf, by the indefatigable exertion of the above
officers, assisted by the masters of the merchant ships, with a number of
Portuguese peasants, who were encouraged by Mr. Whitney, the British
consul from Rguiera. .Ml the crew then remaining on the wreck were
brought safe on shore, praising God for their happy deliverance from a
shipwreck which has never had its parallel. As soon as I slept out of the
boat, I found several persons whose humanity prompted them to offer
me sustenance, though improperly, in spirits, which I avoided as much as
possible. Our weak state may be conceived, when it is considered that
we received no nourishment from Sunday to Wednesday afternoon, and
were continually expose<I to the fury of the elements -y the greater part of
us were badly bruised and wounded. After eating and drinking a little,
I found myself weaker than before, occasioned, I apprehend, from having
been so long without either. Some men died soon after getting on shore,
from imprudently drinking too large a quantity of spirits. About 40 sail
of merchant ships were wrecked at the same time on this dreadful beach ;
but as they drew a less draught of water than the frigate, they were of
course driven much closer to the shore than her and although the number
of persons that perished in them was very considerable, not a soul re-
mained on board either after the first morning. Thus was lost one of
the finest frigates in the British navy, with 61 of her officers and crew."

The Carysfort and about 30 sail of merchantmen escaped
a similar fate by wearing, without orders from Captain Dixon,
shortly after the wind had shifted, in the evening of April 1st.
The surviving officers and men of the Apollo had to march to
Figuiera, a distance of eighteen miles, whence they were
conveyed in a schooner to Lisbon, and there received on
board the Orpheus frigate for a passage to Portsmouth.

Lieutenant Harvey subsequently served in the Amethyst

366 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

36, Captain John William Spranger ; Amaranthe sloop, Cap-
tain Edward Pelhtiin Brenton ; and Intrepid 64, Captain the
Hon. Philip Wodehouse. His promotion to the rank of
commander took place Jan. 8, 1808, on which occasion he
was appointed to the Cephalus, a fine 18-gun brig, on the
Mediterranean station, where he captured four of the enemy's
privateers and several merchant vessels. His post commis-
sion bears date April 18, 1811, at which period he was acting
as Captain of the Cumberland 74. He subsequently com-
manded the Topaze 36, and was employed off Corfu till the
month of Dec. following. That frigate being then in a very
defective state, he returned to England with the homeward
bound trade under his protection, and paid her off at Ports-
mouth in Feb. 1812.

Captain Harvey married Miss Cannon, of Sandwich.

Agent. — Sir F. M. Ommanney.

ROBERT MERRICK FOWLER, Esq.

This officer was made a Lieutenant early in 1800 ; and
appointed first of the Investigator sloop, Captain Matthew
Flinders, at the commencement of 1801.

The Investigator (formerly Xenophon) was a north-coun-
try-built ship, of 334 tons ; and, in form, she nearly resem-
bled the description of vessel recommended by Captain Cook
as best calculated for voyages of discovery. She had been
purchased some years before into his Majesty's service ; and
having been newly coppered and repaired, was considered to
be the best vessel which could, at the time of Mr. Fowler's
appointment to her, be spared for the purpose of making a com-
plete examination and survey of the coast of New Holland.

In this sloop. Lieutenant Fowler accompanied Captain
Flinders to Terra Australis, and continued until she was laid
up at Port Jackson, when he was appointed to command the
Porpoise colonial store-ship, formerly the Infanta Amelia
Spanish packet *, and ordered to convey Captain Flinders

• See Vol. II. Port I. p. 98.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 36/

back to England, in expectation of getting another ship to
renew and complete his survey. The loss of the Porpoise
is thus described by the hitter officer :

" In the beginning of Aug. (1803), ihe Porpoise was nearly ready to sail ;
and two ships then lying in Sydney Cove, bound to Batavia, desired leave
to accompany us through Torres' Strait. These were the Hon. E. I. Com-
pany's extra-ship Bridgewater, commanded by Edwin H. Palmer, Esq. and
the ehip Cato of London, commanded by Mr. John Park. The company
of these ships gave me pleasure; for if we should be able to make a safe
and expeditious passage through the strait with them, of which I had but
liltlo doubt, it would be a manifest proof of the advantage of the route
discovered in the Investigator, and tend to bring it into general use. On
the 10th, I took leave of my respected Iriend the Governor of New South
Wall's, and received his despatches for England ; and Lieutenant Fowler
having given a small code of signals to the Bridgwater and Cato, we sailed
out of Port Jackson together, at 1 1 A. M., and steered northeastward for
Torres' Strait. • • • • On the 1 7th at noon, we were in lat. 23<> 22',
'long. ISG" 34', and had the wind at S. E. by S. Soon after two o'clock,
the Cuto being some distance on our larboard quarter, made the signal for
seeing land. Tliis proved to be a dry sand bank, which bore S. S. W. about
i leagues ; and the Porpoise sailing faster than the other ships, they were
directed to keep on their course whilst we hauled up to take a nearer view
of the bank. At 3 o'clock, when it bore S. by E. 5 or 6 miles, we hove to
and sounded, but hud no !)ottom ai 80 fathoms. The Colo's Dank, for so
it was named, is small, and seemed to be destitute of vegetation ; there
was an innumerable quantity of birds hovering about, and it was surround-
ed with breakers; but their extent seemed very little to exceed that of the
bank, nor could any oilier reef near it be discovered. The situation was
ascertained to be nearly 23° 6' S., and 155° 23' E.; and we then made
sail aftiT the Bridgewater and Cato, to take our station a-head of them as
before.

" Some apprehensions were excited for the following night by meeting
with this bank ; but as it was more than two degrees to the eastward of tiie
great Barrier Reefs, we thought it unconnected with any other, like the
two discovered by Captain Ball and Mr. Bampton, further towards the north
end of New Caledonia. I had, besides, steered for Torres' Strait in the
liivcstigator, from reefs several degrees to the westward, without meeting
with any other danger than what lay near the Barrier, or belonged to the
Strait ; and by the time we had rejoined the ships in the evening, the dis-
tance run from the bank was 35 miles, and no other danger had been des-
cried. It did not therefore seem necessary to lose a good night's run by
heaving to ; and I agreed with Lieutenant Fowler, that it would be sufficient
to make the signal for the ships to run under easy working sail during the
night, — to take our usual station a-head, — and to charge one of the Inves-

368 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

ti^ator's warrant officers with the louk-out on the forcastle. These precau-
tions being taken, and the top-sails double reefed, our course was pursued
to the N. by W., with a fresh breeze and cloudy weather ; and at 8 o'clock
the lead was cast, but no bottom found at 35 fathoms. The Bridgewater
was then about half a mile on the starboard, and the Cato a mile on the
larboard quarter ; and their distance seeming to increase at 9, when our
rate of going was eight knots, the fore-sail was hauled up to keep them in
sight : wind then at S. E. by E.

" In half an hour, and almost at the same instant by the Investigator's
carpenter on the fore-castle, and the master who had charge of the watch
on the quarter-deck,— breakers were seen a-head. The helm was imme-
diately put down, with the intention of tacking from them ; but the Por-
poise having only her three top-sails set, double-reefed, scarcely came up
to the wind. Lieutenant Fowler sprang upon deck, on hearing the noise }
but supposing it to be occasioned by carrying away the tiller-rope, a cir-
cumstance which had often occurred in the Investigator, and having no
orders to give, I remained some minutes longer, conversing with the gen-
tlemen in the gun-room. On going up, I foimd the sails shaking in the
wind, and the ship in the act of paying off; at the same time there were
very high breakers at not a quarter of a ca!)le'8 length to leeward. In
about a minute, the ship was carried amongst the breakers ; and striking
upon a coral reef she took a fearful heel over on her larboard beam-ends,
her head being north-eastward. A gun was attempted to be fired, to warn
the other vessels of the danger ; but owing to the violent motion and the
lieavy surfs flying over, this could not be done immediately ; and before
lights were brought up, the Bridgewater and Cato had hauled to the wind
across each other.

** Our fore-mast was carried away at the second or third shock ; and the
bottom was presently reported to be stove in, and the hold full of water.
When the surfs permitted us to look to windward, the Bridgewater and Cato
were perceived at not more than a cable's length distance : and approaching
each other so closely, that their running aboard seemed to us inevitable.
This was an awful moment ; the utmost silence prevailed; and when the
bows of the two ships went to meet, even respiration seemed to be sus-
pended. The ships advanced, and we expected to hear the dreadful crash ;
but presently they opened off from each other, having passed side by side
without touching ; the Cato steering to the N. E., and the Bridgewater to
the southward. Our own safety seemed to have no other dependence than
upon the two ships, and the exultation we felt at seeing this most immi-
nent danger passed, was great, but of short duration ; the Cato struck
upon the reef about two cables' length from the Porpoise : we saw her fall
over on her broadside, and the masts almost instantly disappeared ; but the
darkness of the night did not admit of distinguishing, at that distance, what
further might have happened.

" Turning our eyes towards the Bridgewater, a light was perceived at

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 369

hef mast-head, by which we knew she had cleared the reef ; aJid our first
sensations were, that the commaDder would certainly tack, and send boats
to our assistance ; but when a little reflection had enabled us to put our-
selves in his place, it became evident that he would not choose to come so
near the reef in the niu'lit, blowing fresh as it did ; and still less to send
his boats and people into the breakers, to their certain destruction.

"The Porpoise had very fortunately heeled towards the reef; so that
the surfs which struck a^inst her tumed-up side, flew over without wash-
infif any thine off the decks ; and the smooth appearance of the water under
<f' ' ^ prospect of being able to get the boats out on that side,

Tl ^ was tried with a small four-oared gig, and succeeded;

but a six-oared cutter was jerked agunst the sheet anchor by the violence
of the shocks, and being stove was filled with water.

" It was by no means certun how loug the ship, being slightly built and
not in a sound state, mi£;ht hold together; it was therefore deemed expe-
dient to lighten her, that she might drive further up the coral bank, and
lie more easily. On sounding, the depth was found to be 17 fathoms on
till ■ ■ ' " 'lut no more than a few feet on the reef ; and Mr.
Fi' ain and niizen-masts, and the starboard anchor to be

cut away ; but on my suggesting to him the possibility of driving over the
reef, uith the rise of the tide, and sinking in deep water as the Pandora
had done •, the lightening of the ship was not prosecuted further.

' ' Mjwater close under the lee, there was a line of break-

er- .'0 sea appeared to be tranquil; it therefore seemed

probable that boats might approach the ship on that side, and if this in-
formation could be conveyed to Captain Palmer of the Bridgewater, that
something mii^ht be speedily done towards saving the crew ; and as it was
likely that my influence with him might be greatest, and being a passen-
ger in the Porpoise, no charge made my presence on board immediately
necessary, I proposed to make the attempt in the gig, to which Mr. Fow-
ler assented. The boat being obliged to lie at a little distance from the
ship, to prevent being stove, I jumped overboard and s\\-am to her ; and
we pushed through the breakers to the smooth water, receiving two or
three surfs by the ^vay, from which we hardly escaped sinking. On ex-
amining into the condition of the boat, I found nothing to bale out the
water, and only two oars, which did not belong to it ; and instead of the
proper crew of four men, there were only three ; but under the thwarts
were stowed away three others, the armourer, a cook, and a marine,
who did not know how to handle an oar. These last were set to baling
u-ith their hats and shoes, and we rowed towards the Bridgewater's light,
keeping under the lee of the breakers. That ship was standing from us,
and I saw that any attempt to get nearer before she tacked would <)e

.1
• See Vol. II. Part II. p. 768 et seq.

SUPPL. PART n. 2 b

370 POST-CAPTAINB OF 1811.

fruitless ; i^d even afterwarde, it was much to be doubted whether, with
two awkward oars and an overloaded boat, we could make any way against
the sea on the windward side of the reef; I therefore determined to re-
main under the lee of the breakers until she should approach, and to lie
near the Porpoise, that in case of her cfoing to pieces before morning, we
might save some of the people. In rowing back we met the cutter, which,
the men in her having got the leak partly stopped, bad pushed off without
an officer, and were going they scarcely knew whither ; they furnished us
with a third oar, and I desired them to keep close to the gig, near the
wreck, until morning. We found tlic bottom here to be coral rock, and
the water so shallow that a man might stiimi up in many places without
being over-head.

" I wished to hare got on board the ship, to let them know of the boats
being safe, and what we had discovered of the reef; but the breakers be-
tween us, and the darkness of the night, cut of! all hope of communication
before morning. Tliey burned blue lights every half hour, as a guide to
the Bridgewater ; but her light was lost to us in the boats at 1 1 o'clock,
and after 2 in the morning it was no longer seen from the Porpoise. At
that time it appeared to be low water, and the ship lay so much more quiet
than before, that the apprehension of her going to pieces before daylight
had much subsided: to be prepared however for tl>c next flood, Mr. Fow-
ler employed his people during the night in making a raft of the spare
top-masts, yards, &c. with short ropes all round it, by which the people
might hold on ; and a cask of water, with a chest containing some provi-
.<)ioDs, a sextant, and the Investigator's log books, vverc secured upon
the raft.

*^0f tl»e poor Cato, we could neithtT see nor hear any thing. It appeared
that Captain Park, when meeting the Bridgewater on opposite tacks, stop-
pet! setting his main-sail and bore away to leeward ; had he persevered,
both ships must have come upon the reef together; but by his preseuce
of mind on this occasion, the Bridgewater weathere<l the breaker and es-
caped the impending danger. When the Cato struck the reef, it was upon
the point of a rock, under the larboard chesstree; and she fell over tt>
windward, with her decks cxposetl to the waves. In a short time the decks
and holds were torn up, and every thing washed away ; and the sole place
left, where the unfortunate people could hui>c to avoid the fury of the scn»
^▼as in the larboard fore-channel, where they all crowded togetlier, the
greater part with no other covering than their shirts. Every time the sea
struck the Cuto, it twisted her about u|>on the rock with such violent jerks,
tliat they expected the stern, which was down in the water, would part
every moment. In this situation, some lashing themselves to the tin^ber^
heads, others clinging to the chain-plates and dead-eyes, and to each other.
Captain Park and his crew passed tho night ; their hope being, that the
forecastle of the ship might hold upon the rock till morning, and that the

P6$T-CAPTAIN8 OF 1811. 371

Bridfi^etvater vranld then send her boats to save them. From tRe Poq^ise
they entertained no hope ; and until the signal lijjhts were seen, they
thoiig-ht her gone to pieces.

" At the first dawning of day, I got on board the Porpoise by the help
of the fallen masts. Erery body was in good spirits at seeing the ship
hold toifether so well, and finding the boats safe ; for the gig, with all in
her, had Ween given up for lost, some one having thought he saw her sink
in the breakers. With the day-light appeared a dry sand bank, not more
than half a mile distai\t, sutlicicntly large to reeeive «8 all, with what pro-
viKiuns mi^rht be got out of the ship ; and the satisfiKtSm arising from this
discovery was increased by tke Bridgewater being perceived under sail, and
though distant, that she was standing towards the reef. On the other side,
the appearance of the poor Cato, with the people waving to us from the
bowsprit ami forecastle, the only parts above water, was truly distressing.
" The reef seemed to be a mile in breadth, and it extended in an east
and We- .ri, to a distance beyond what could be distinguiahcd from

thePoiji 'ck ; but there were in it several wide, and apparently

deep openings, by which the Bridgewater might run to leeward ; and there
anchor or lie to, whilst sending her boats to our assistance. Having made
these remarks, I left .Mr. Fowler and his people getting up water and pro-
visions ; and went to the bank for the purpose of being ready to go off in
the gig, so soon as that ship should be near enough, and pointing out to
Captain Palmer the means by wluch he might take on board the two crews,
and what else might be saved ; but he went upon the other tack soon after-
ward, and no more was seen of hioi during the day.

*' A number of sea-birds' eggs scattered over the bank, showed that it
was above high-water mark ; and I sent the gig back with this intelligence
to Lieutenant Fowler. Seeing that the Bridgewater did not approach, he
ordered the boat to lie opposite to the Cato ; and Captain Park and his
men, throwing themselves into the water with any pieces of spar or plank
they could find, s«vam to her through the breakers ; and were then taken
to the Porpoise, where they received food and some clothing. Several
were bruised against the coral rocks, and three young lads were drowned.
" At low-water, which happened about two o'clock, the reef was dry
very near to the Porpoise, and both officers and men were assiduously em-
ployed in getting upon it provisions and their clothes ; they were brought
from thence by the boats, for the depth was several feet at a distance round
the bank. Before dark, five half hogsheads of water, some flour, salt meat,
rice, and spirits were landed, with such of the pigs and sheep as had es-
caped drowning; and every man from both ships had got on shore. Some
of the Cato's sailors appeared in officers' uniforms, given to them in the
Porpoise ; and I was pleased to see that our situation was not thought so
bad by the people, as to hinder all pleasantry upon these promotions.
Those who had saved great coats or blankets shared with the less fortunate,
and we laid down to sleep on the sand in tolerable tranquillity, being much

2b2

372 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

oppressed with fatigue ; and except from those of the Cato's men who'
had been bruised or cut by the rocks, there was not a complaining voice
heard on the bank.

** The Porpoise's two cutters and the gig were hauled up to high-water
mark ; but the latter not having been well secured, and the night tide
rising higher than was expected, it was carried away, to our great loss.
In the morning, we had the satisfaction to see the ship still entire, and
thrown higher up the reef; the Cato had gone to pieces, and all that re-
mained was one of the quarters, which had floated over the front ledge of
the reef, and lodged near our bank. Of the Bridgewater nothing could be
seen ; and many fears were entertained for her safety.

** For the better preservation of discipline, and of that union between
the crews of the Porpoise and Cato and passengers of the Investigator, so
necessary in our circumstanrcs, it was highly expedient that they should
be put on the same footing, and united under one head. The Porpoise was
lost beyond a possibility of hope, and the situation of the commander and
crew thereby rendered similar to that of their passengers; I therefore
considered myself authorized and called upon, as the senior officer, to take
the command of the whole ; and my intention being communicated to
Lieutenant Fowler, he assented without hesitation to its expediency and
propriety ; and I owe to Captain Park a similar acknowledgment. ♦ • •

" A top-sail yard was set up and secured as a flag staff on the highest
part of the bank, and a large blue ensign hoisted to it with the union down-
ward, as a signal to the Hritigcwater. We expected, if no accident had
happened, that she would come to relieve us from our critical situation so
soon as the wind should be perfectly moderate ; but I judged it most pru-
dent to act as if we had no such resource, and this was justified by the
event. Captain Palmer had even then abandoned us to our fate, and was,
at the moment, steering away for Batavia, without having made any cfl'ort
to give us assistance. He saw the wrecks, as also the sand bank, on tlic
morning after our disaster, and must have known that the reef was not all
connected, since it is spoken of by him as lying in patches ; but he did not
seek to ascertain whether any of the openings were passable for the Bridg-
water, and might enable him to take those on board who had escaped
drowning. He bore away round all ; and whilst the two hapless vessels
were still visible from the mast>head, passed the leeward extremity of the
reef, and hove to for the night. The apprehension of danger to himself
must then have ceased ; but he neither attempted to work up in the smooth
water, nor sent any of his boats to see whether some unfortunate indivi-
duals were not clinging to the wrecks, whom he might snatch from the
sharks, or save from a more lingering death : it was safer, in his estimation, j
to continue on his voyage and publish that we were all lost, as he did not
f{ul to do on his arrival in India.

*' The wind blew fresh from the south-eastward on the IStli and 19tb,
but on the two following days it was moderate, with fine weather ; wc

--^ POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 373

Wtfrlced bard on board the Porpoise, and by the 22d had got most of the
water and provisions secured in a lar^^e teut made with spars and sails ;
each mess of officers and men had also their private tent; and our manner
of living and working had assumed the same regularity as before the ship-
'vreck.

" Our prospects of receiving succour from the Bridgewater having be-
come very feel)le, after two days of moderate weather had elapsed, I called
a council of all the officers, to deliberate upon the best means of relieving
ourselves from the precarious situation in which our misfortune, and Cap-
tain Palmer's want of energy and humanity, had left U8 exposed ; and it
tvas finally determined, that an officer and crew, in the largest of the two
six-oared cutters, should endeavour to get to Sandy Cape, 63 leagues dis-
tant, and from thence along the coast to Port Jackson, and pray his Ex-
cellency, the Governor, to send vessels to carry us either back to that port,
or on towards England. But as the safe arrival of the cutter at that sea-
son of the year, when strong winds usually prevail from the southward,
was a subject of much apprehension ; it was resolved that two decked
boats, capable of transporting every person remaining on the bank, ex-
cepting one officer and boat's crew, should be immediately laid down by
the carf)enters, to be built from what was already, and might be still fur-
ther su the wreck ; and that, if the officer in the cutter did not
return > lance in two mouths, the boats should then, or as soon
after as they could be ready to sail, proceed to Port Jackson. The first,
and principal means, however, through which our deliverance was to be
expected, being the safe arrival of the cutter, the choice of an officer to
conduct her was next considered. Lieutenant Fowler proposed, and it
seemed to be the general wish, that I should undertake the execution of
the task ) and being satisfied that the preservation of order on the bank,
and the saving of the stores would be left in good hands, the hope of being
instrumental to the general safety induced me readily to comply. • • •

" On Aug. 26, the largest cutter being ready for her expedition, was
launched, and named the Hope. The morning was fine, and wind light
from the southward ; and notwithstanding its being Friday, which in the
seaman's calendar is the niost unfortunate of the whole week to commence,
a voyage, I embarked for Port Jackson, with the commander of the Cato.
•••••♦. The reader has perhaps never gone 250 leagues at
sea in an open boat, or along a strange coast inhabited by savages ; but
if he recollect the 80 officers and men upon Wreck-Reef Bank, and how
important was o"- arrival to their safety, and to the saving of the charts,
journals, and papers of the Investigator's voyage, he may have some idea
of the pleasure we felt, but particularly myself, at entering our dest'med
port *."

* See Flinders' Voyage to Terra Australis, II. 297—321.

^^4: POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

An oflBcer who remained on the bank, relating what occur-
red there during the absence of Captain Flinders, says,

" A saw-pit was formed, the forge set up, and everj' thing got in for-
wardness for laying down a new boat. Our toils were for the present at
an end, and we were a very comfortable community, lodged in huts made
of sails, looking forward with patience to the arrival of a ship, and each
amusing himself in the way best suited to his inclination. An island,
situated about nine or ten miles E. by N. of us, attracted our attention,
and was visited in the remaining boat, by Lieutenant Fowler, soon after
the departure of Captain Flinders. It was much larger, and more perfect
in its formation, than our own, being nearly a mile in circumference,
abounding in birds, with turtle occasionally visiting it ; and it moreover
was covered pretty deeply with vegetable soil. The birds were chiefly
oceanic, and had resorted thither to hatch their young, which affonled us
an opportunity of procuring eggs in plenty. The first visit to this spot
repaid us with a supply of all its delicacies, for the boat returned loaded ;
one turtle was caught, and the cargo was completed with eggs and birds,
which was an incitement to future adventurers. About this time also, we
had a heavy and productive fall of rau), which came down in such torrents
one morning, that our tents were not proof against its violence, and we
were turned out of our beds ; but were amply repaid for the interruption
of our repose by a fortnight's supply of excellent wholesome water. This
was put to the general stock, and gave confirmation to our hopes of re-
lease ; for we dreaded at first want of water, which, under a hot sun, is
infinitely more distressing than scarcity of victuals. Bread was the only
perishable article in the ship, and it was, as you can easily suppose,
spoiled by the salt water ; but we had flour in abundance, which, when
mixed up with a little salt water and hog's-lard, and baked in the ashes,
made a palatable substitute : of fresh water, we had never less than half
a gallon a day, so that our situation was neither irksome nor painful.
Half allowance, or a gill of spirits, was daily served, over which we
talked in the evening ; oeconomy and care were only wanting, to make
the allowance adequate to our appetites*."

Captain Flinders arrived at Port Jackson on the 8th Sept.
1803 : the following is an extract of his official letter to
Governor King, announcing the fate of the Porpoise :

•' I think it proper to notice to your Excellency, that the great exer-
tions of Lieutenant Fowler, and his officers and ship's company, as well
as the passengers belonging to the Investigator, in saving his Majesty's
stores, have been ver}' praise- worthy ; and I judge, that the precautions
that were taken will exonerate the commander of the Porpoise from the

* Nao. Ckron. xvi, 227 ft *eq-

POST-CAI'TAINS OF 1811. JJ75

blame that m'^ht otbermsc be attachw! to the loss of his Majesty's
'tnnad vetwl*."

Governor King lost no time in engaging the ship Rolla,
Mr. Robert Cumming commander, then lying in Sydney
Cove, bound to China, to go to the rescue of the officers and
men on Wreck-Reef Bank ; and as Captain Flinders agreed
with him, that the Cumberland colonial schooner, of 29 tons,
was capable of performing the voyage to England by way of
Torres' Strait, he directed the commissary to make that
vessel over to him, and to complete her from the stores of
the Investigator. The Francis, another vessel of the same
description, was likewise ordered to accompany the Rolla,
for the purpose of receiving and bringing back those who
preferred returning to Port Jackson, and as many stores as
she could carry.

Every thing being prepared for his departure, Captain
Flinders sailed out of the harbour on the 21 st Sept. at day-
light, but did not get sight of the ensign upon the top of the
bank till the 7tli of the following month.

•* It was six weeks on this day," says he, '* since I had quitted the
reef in the boat, for the purpose of seeking the ineaus to relieve my offi-
cers and people. The hank was first seen from the Holla's mast head,
and soon afterwards two boats were perceived under sail: advancing
nearer, w« taw one boat make for the Rolla, and the other returning to
the bank. The Porpoise had not yet gone to pieces ; but was still lying
on her beam ends, high up on the reef, a frail, but impressive monument
of our inisfortune. In the afternoon I anchored under the lee of the
bank, in 18 fathoms coral sand, and a salute of 11 guns from it was
immediately fired, the carronades of the Porpoise having been trans-
ported from the wreck. • • • •

" The two boats we had seen were the Porpoise's remaining cutter, and
a new boat coitstructed during my absence ; it was just completed, and
Lieutenant Fowler had this morning gone out to try its sailing against the
cutter. It teat about the size of the Cumberland, had a deck, and was
called the Resource.

" On the 10th, three days after our arrival, the Rolla had received the
people destined for her, with part of the provisions and stores j and the
Cumberland was ready to sail. • • • •

*' The officers' journals, which were to be sent to the admiralty at the
conclusion of the voyage, had not been demanded at the time of our

• Nov. Chron. v. 32, p. 184.

376 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

shipwreck ; Lieutenant Fowler was therefore directed to take all that were
saved belonging? to the officers embarked with him in the RoUa ; and lest
any accident should happen to the Cumberland, I committed to his charge
a copy of four charts, being all of the east and north coasts which there
had been time to get ready ; with these he took a short letter to the Se-
cretary of the Admiralty, and one to the Victualling Board, inclosing
such vouchers as liad been saved from the wreck." • ♦ • • «* At noon
(Oct. 11) we parted company wth three cheers, the Rolla steering north-
eastward for China, whilst my course was directed for Torres' Strait •.*'

At Canton, Lieutenant Fowler embarked as a passenger on
board the Hon. £. I. C. ship Earl Camden, commanded by
Captain Nathaniel Dance, the senior officer of a most valu-
able homeward bound China fleet, consisting of sixteen sail
of what are commonly denominated " 1200- ton ships," the
registered tonnage of most of which exceeds 1300, and in
some cases amounts to 1500 tons.

On the 31st Jan. 1804, this fleet sailed from Canton, ac-
companied by eleven country ships and two other merchant-
men, which Captain Dance had been ordered by the Select
Committee to convoy as far as their courses lay in the same
direction. The Ganges, a fast sailing armed-brig, in the
Hon. Company's service, likewise sailed with him, to be em-
ployed in any manner that might tend to the safety or con-
venience of his charge.

Captain Dance's celebrated rencontre with the French Rear-
Admiral Linois is described in an official letter from him to
the Hon. Court of Directors, of which the following are ex-
tracts : —

*' On the 14th Feb., at day-break, we saw Pulo Auro, W. S. W. and at 8
A. M. the Royal George made the signal for seeing four strange sail in the
S. W. I made the signal for the four ships named in the margin f to go
down and examine them ; and Lieutenant Fowler, R. N. late commander of
the Porpoise, having handsomely offered to go in the Ganges and inspect
them nearly, I afterwards sent her down likewise ; and from their signals I
perceived it was an enemy's squadron, consisting of a line-of- battle ship,
three frigates, and a brig. At I P. M., I recalled the look-out ships, and
formed the line of battle in close order.

" As soon as the enemy could fetch our wake, they put about; we kept

• See Flinders' Voyage, v. 2, pp. 322— .330.
t Alfred, Royal George, Bombay Castle, and Hope,

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 377

on our course under an easy sail : at near sun-set they were close in our
rear, and I was in momentary expectation of an attack there, and prepared
to support it; but at the close of the day we perceived them haul to wind-
ward. I sent Lieutenant Fowler, in the Ganges brig, to station the country
ships on our lee-bow, by which we were between them and the enemy j and
haring so done, he returned with some volunteers from them.

*' We lay-to in line of battle all night, our men at their quarters : at day
break on the 15th, we saw the enemy about 3 miles to windward, lying-to ;
we hoisted our colours, offering him battle if he chose to come down. The
enemy's four sliips hoisted French colours, the line-of-battle-ship carrying
a Rear-Admiral's flag ; the brig was under Batavian colours.

" At 9 A. M. finding they would not come down, we formed the order
of sailing, and steered our course imder an easy sail ; the enemy then filled,
and stood towards us.

" At 1 P. M. finding they proposed to attack and cut off our rear,
I made the signal to tack anil bear down on them, and engage in succes-
sion, the Royal George being the leading ship, the Ganges next*, and then
tlu' Karl Camden. This mancpuvre was correctly performed, and we stood to-
wards him under a press of sail. The enemy then formed in a very close
line, and opened their fire on the headmost ships, which was not returned
' -s till we approached nearer. The Royal George bore the brunt of the
a, and got as near the enemy as they would permit her. The Ganges
aud Earl Camden opened their fire as soon as their guns could have effect;
but before any other ship could get into action, the enemy hauled their
ivind, and stood away to the eastward, under all the sail they could set.
At 2 P. M. I made the signal for a general chase, and we pursued them
till 4 P. M. ; when fearing a longer pursuit would carry us too far from the
mouth of the straits, aud considering the immense property at stake, I
made the signal to tack : at 8 P. M. we anchored in a situation to proceed
for the entrance of the straits in the morning. As long as we could dis-
tinguish the enemy, we perceived them steering to the eastward under a
press of sail. The Royal George had one man killed and another wounded,
many shot in her hull, and more in her sails ; but few shot touched either
the Camden or Ganges ••••••.

** [ received great amstance from the adoice and exertions o/ Lieutenant
Fotoler, whose meritorious conduct in this instance, I hope the Hon. Court
teill communicate to the Lords of the Admiralty.

** From Malacca, I despatched Lieutenant Fowler, in the Ganges brig,
to Pulo Penang, with a packet from the Select Committee to the captain of
any of his Majesty's ships, soliciting convoy to this very valuable fleet.
•••♦♦•, VVe arrived at St. Helena the 9th June, under convoy
ofH.M. ships Albion and Sceptre t" •••••'••

The squadron under Mons. Linois consisted of the Ma-

• Another 1200.ton ship.
t See Suppl. Part L p. 146.

378 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

rengo 74, Belle Poule and Semillante, frigates, Burceau 22-
gun corvette, and Aventurier 16-gunbrig; the latter belong-
ing to the colonial government at Batavia, from whence he
had sailed purposely to intercept the China fleet, the pro-
perty on board of which it is said was of the value of more
than 11,000,000/. sterling ! The East India Company most
liberally rewarded the commanders, officers, and seamen of this
fleet, for their excellent conduct on the above occasion. To
Lieutenant Fowler they presented 300 guineas for the purchase
of a piece of plate. The Committee for managing the Pa-
triotic Fund also came forward in a munificent manner.
From that Society he received a sword value 50 guineas,
with a suitable inscription. Captain Dance was further re-
warded with the honor of knighthood, and the most marked
expressions of his late Majesty's approbation *.

The subject of this memoir arrived at the Admiralty, Aug.
9, 1804 ; obtained the rank of Commander Feb. 4, 1806,
and was appointed to the Crocus brig about Aug. 1808. His
post commission bears date April 20, 1811. He married,
June 16, 1813, Caroline Matilda, eldest daughter of James
Dashwood, of Harley Street, London, Esq. Mrs. Fowler
died in 1816.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM OWEN, Esq.

Governor of the Island of Fernando Po ; and a Member of the Asfi'onomi'

cal Society f.

Brother to Sir Edward W. C. R. Owen, K. C. B. M. P.
&c. &c.

• Sir Nathaniel Dance died at En6ekl, co. Middlesex, in Mar. 1827,
aged nearly /^ years.

t We cannot but notice with exultation the number of naval officers
who arc associated in the meritorious labour of that useful body the As-
tronomical Society : by subjoining their names, a proof will be afforded that
our service combines a prominent scientific rank with its zeal and courage:

II. 11. H. the Lord High Admiral, Sir lidward W. C. R. Owen \ ; Cap-
tains William D'Urban, William Henry Shirreff, Francis Beaufort J, Wil-
liam F. Owen, Basil Hall, John Ross, Armar Lowry Corry, William Ed-

X Member I of the Council.

posT-cAr^rAiNs OF 1811. ^79

This officer served as a midshipman of the Cullodeii 74,
Captain Isaac Schomberg, on the glorious first of June,
1794 J and was in the Ruby 64, Captain Edwin Henry Stan-
hope, at the capture of a Dutch squadron, in Saldanha bay.
Cape of Good Hope, Aug. 18, 1790*: he subsequently joined
the London 98, bearing the flag of Vice- Admiral John Colpoys,
with whom he quitted her during the general mutiny at Spit-
head, in May 1797. For his conduct on that trying occasion,
he was soon afterwards presented with a commission.

At the renewal of hostilities, in 1S03, Lieutenant Owen
obtained the command of the Sea Flower, a 14-gun brig, in
which vessel he captured le Charles, French national ketch,
at the island of Rodriguez, July 15, 1806. In Sept following,
we find him exploring part of the Maldiva islands, and their
separating channels, which had never been regularly investi-
gated : the additional information thus procured respecting
them is duly acknowledged in an appendix to " Horsburgh*s
Sailitig Directions." On the 10th Nov. in the same year,
he discovered an excellent channel, now bearing the name of
his brig, situated between the islands of Se-Beeroo and Se
Fora, near the west coast of Sumatra.

In our memoir of Viscount Exmouth, we have stated, that
the Sea Flower conducted that officer's squadron through a
very intricate navigation into Batavia roads, Nov. 27, 1806:
his gallant conduct, at the destruction of the Dutch shipping
lying there, is thus acknowledged in the official letter an-
nouncing that event : —

" The boats of the squadron assembled alongside the Terpsichore,
which, »vith the Sir Francis Drake, had been placed as near as possible to
cover them, and were led in to destroy the enemy's ships by Captain Fleet-
wood Pellew, under a heavy fire from the ships and batteries. • • • • •

" The gallant conduct of Captain Fleetwood Pellew, Lieutenant W.
Fitzwilliam Owen, and Lieutenant T, Groube, first of the Culloden, the
officers, seamen, and marines employed under their command, in this im-

ward Parry, John Franklin, William Henry Smyth J, John George Graham,
Fretlerick William Beeoheyj Commanders John Molesworth, Pringle
Stokes, Henry Foster, Hon. John FVederick F. De Roos, James Clark
Ross ; Lieutenants George Young, William Samuel Stratford %, George
Beaufoy, Charles Ramsay Drinkwater, Thomas Graves, and -^— Kendall.
• See Vol. I. Parti, p. 51.

380 P08T-CAPTA1NS OF 1811.

portant duty, is deserving of every praise. The service was directed with
great coolness and judgment, and executed in the most steady, zealous,
and active manner. ♦ • • • •

** The necessary destruction of the William corvette * has deprived me
of an opportunity of rewarding the services of Lieutenant Owen on this
occasion ; I therefore beg leave to recommend him and Lieutenant Groube,
who were appointed to lead divisions on this service, to their lordships*
protection."

(Signed) " Edw. Pbllew."

On the Uth Dec. 1807, Lieutenant Owen assisted at the
total annihilation of the Dutch naval force in the Eastern
Seas t : his commission as a Commander bears date May 20,
1808. Some time afterwards, he had the misfortune to be
taken prisoner, and carried to the Isle of France ; from whence
he was allowed to depart in a cartel, just before the conquest
of that valuable colony in 1810.

Captain Owen's next appointment was to the Barracouta
of 18 guns, on the East Indii station ; and he joined that
vessel time enough to assist at the blockade of Batavia, pre-
paratory to the invasion of Java. Whilst thus employed, one
of his boats, with 8 men, under the command of acting Lieu-
tenant George Tyrrell, was attacked by a piratical proa, hav-
ing on board about 50 Malays, every one of whom was either
killed or driven into the sea j Mr. Tyrrell then secured tlu
vessel and carried her off to the Leda frigate, which had hove
in sight just at the close of the desperate conflict X-

On the arrival of the expedition under Lieutenant-General
Sir Samuel Auchmuty and Commotlore Broughton, the sub-
ject of this sketch was ordered to assist Captain Sayer, of the
Leda, in directing the debarkation of the troops, at Chilling-
ching ; and he continued attached to the army until after the
surrender of Batavia, Aug. 8, 181 1 §. His promotion to post
rank took place on the 2d May, in the same year.

We next find Captain Owen commanding the Cornelia, a
32-gun frigate. On the 20th Nov. 1811, when escorting
some transports from Batavia towards Bombay, he accidentally

• See Vol. I, Part I, p. 223.

t See Suppl. Part I, p. 404 ei teg.

I Afiv. Chrotu V. 27, p. 198.

§ Sec Vol. II. Part I. p. 365.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 881

saw the bottom, and carried Boundings of 19 and 20 fathoms
over a bank now bearing his name, but the extent of which
he could not stop to ascertain : at the time of his discovering
it, he made the latitude 6° 46' 30* S. and the longitude by
chronometer was 70° 12' E. The ships in company with him
had no soundings. The Cornelia returned home M'ith a con-
voy from China, and was paid off, in 1813.
. Since 1815, Captain Owen has surveyed the Lakes in Ca-
nada ; and the coasts of Asia and Africa, from Cape Comorin,
iUong the coasts of Malabar and Surat, the whole extent of
the sea-side of Persia and Arabia, the east side of Africa (in-
cluding Madjigascar, the Seychelles, and other islands), and
the Atlantic shores of that continent, to the river Gambia.
He is at present employed in forming a new settlement at Fer-
nando Po, an island in the Bight of Benin ; it being supposed
that it will prove not only a more healtliy situation than
Sierra Leone, but that it will also afford greater facilities for
the prevention of the slave-trade.

We very much regret, that it is not at present in our power
to give a more perfect sketcli of the services of this gallant,
enterprising, and scientific officer. At a future period we may
be enabled to do so.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude and Co.

MANLEY HALL DIXON, Esq.

Eldest surviving child of Admiral Sir Manley Dixon, K.C.B.
by Miss Christiana Hall, of Jamaica.

This officer was born in the parish of Stoke Damarell, co.
Devon, June 8, 1786; and he entered the navy in June,
170-1, under the immediate protection of his father, with
whom he served as midshipman, master's mate, and acting
Lieutenant, in the Porcupine of 24 guns, I'Espion 40, the Lion
64, and le Gen(*reux 74 ; on the Channel, North Sea, Irish,
and Mediterranean stations, until Captain Dixon's removal to
the Alexander 74, about June 1801.

In I'Espion, Mr. Dixon witnessed the capture of le Buo-
naparte French privateer, of 17 guns and 110 men, Feb. 14,
1707 : the important services performed by the Lion have
been fully described at pp. 375—378 of Vol. I. Part I. Le

382 FOST. CAPTAINS OF 1811.

Gdndreiix, while employed in the blockade of Malta, assisted
at the capture of la Diane French frigate, mounting 42 guns,
but with only 114 men on board, the remainder having been
landed at la Valette, to assist at the defence of that garrison *.

In Aug. 1801, Mr. Dixon was appointed acting Lieutenant
of the Alexander, in which ship he continued, under the com-
mand of his father, until she was paid off at Portsmouth, in
Aug. 1802. His first commission bears date April 18, 1802.

Lieutenant Dixon's next appointment was, Oct. 1803, to
be third of the Temble 74, Captain Lord Henry Paulet, then
employed in the blockade of the enemy's ports, but subse-
quently fonning part of the squadron under Sir R.J. Strachan,
despatched to St. Helena in quest of an equal number of
French line-of-battle- ships, one of which was commanded by
Jerome, brother to Napoleon Buonaparte.

On the 19th May, I80G, Sir Richard J. Straclian again sailed
from Plymouth in pursuit of the same French squadron ; and
on this occasion he was likewise accompanied by the Ter-
rible. After cruising for some time off Madeira and the Ca-
nary islands, he proceeded to Barbadoes, where he received
so good information, that the night of Aug. 18th fell upon
both squadrons nearly in the same latitude, and within a de-
gree of the same longitude ; the British experiencing a tre-
mendous hurricane in lat. 21° 25' N. long. 62° W. the enemy,
in lat. 22" N. long. 63° W. The accidental circumstance of
a day's earlier departure from Carlisle bay, might have ena-
bled Sir Richard to have crossed the path of the French Ad-
miral, Mons. Villaumez, as^ the latter was returning to his
cruising ground from the eastward, after unsuccessfully seek-
ing for Jerome Buonaparte, who had unceremoniously quitted
his protection, eighteen days before.

In the above hurricane, which continued with unabated vio-
lence for 36 hours, the Terrible was totally dismasted, and
had all her boats either blown or washed away ; her tiller
broke, and the spare one was scarcely shipped before it did
the same : — in this alarming situation, and left to the fury of

* La Diane struck to the squadron under Captain George Martin, after
a chase of some hours, and a running fight with the Success frigate. Cap-
tain Shuldhain Peard.

POST. CAPTAINS OF 1811. 96S

the storm, without a vessel of any description in sight, one of
her lower-deci< guns nearly got adrift, but, providentially,
through the active exertions of her othcers and crew, the im-
minent danger that at this instant seemed to threaten every
one on board was speedily averted. In 48 hours iiftcr the
hurricane subsided, the Terrible was completely jury-rigged,
and ready to set studding sails if wanted ! !

Lieutenant Dixon quitted the Terrible, at Plymouth, in
Nov. 1806; and remained upon half pay till June 4, 1807,
when he was appointed second of the Horatio frigate. Captain
George Scott.

In Sept. following, the Horatio sailed from Portsmouth for
Quebec, with Sir James Craig, the newly-appointed Gover-
nor-General of Canada. She was subsequently employed on
the North American and West India stations.

In 1 808, Lieutenant Dixon became first of the Horatio ;
and on the 10th Feb. 1809, he was badly wounded by a mus-
ket-ball (which entered his left groin and passed through
the I high), while engaging la Junon French frigate, — the
capture of which ship has been described at p. 147 e/ seq. of
Vol. II. Part L For his gallant conduct on this occasion, he
was promoted to the rank of Commander, and his commission
as such dated back to the day of the action. He returned to
England, as a passenger on board the Hussar frigate, in the
inuMth of June following.

In the summer of lb 10, we find Captain Dixon serving as
a volunteer under his father, on the Baltic station. Towards
the latter end of the same year, he obtained the command of
the Fly brig, in which vessel he continued until his advance-
ment to post rank, June 28, 1811. From that period he
-crved as flag-captain to Rear Admiral Dixon, in the Vigo
and Montague, 74*s, on the Baltic and South American sta-
tions, until July 1813, when he exchanged with Captain Pe-
ter Heywood into the Nereus 42.

After accompanying the homeward bound trade to the
northward as far as the equator. Captain Dixon returned to
Rio de Janeiro, from whence he was sent to assume the
command of a small squadron stationed in the Rio de la
Plata, where he continued until relieved by Captain Sir Ed-

384 POSt-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

ward Tucker, in Aug. 1814. The Nereus was paid off in
Jan. 1815.

Captain Dixon enjoys a pension of 250/. per annum for the
wound he received Feb. 10, 1809. He married, April 18,
1815, Harriet, second daughter of William Foot, of Devon-
port, Esq. His only surviving brother, Mathew Charles
Dixon, Esq. is a captain in the royal engineers.

WILLIAM BROOKING DOLLING, Esq.

Nephew to Superannuated Rear- Admiral Samuel Brooking.

This officer was made a Lieutenant in Aug. 17^7, and he
received the Turkish gold medal for his services during the
Egyptian campaign : his promotion to the rank of Comman-
der took place, Aug. 6, 1805. We subsequently find him in
the Trompeuse corvette, on the Downs station.

On the 15th May, 1809, being then in company with the
Badger brig, Captain Dolling discovered eleven French armed
schuyts, standing to the eastward from Boulogne ; and on his
approach, they endeavoured to put into Ambleteuse ; but
three of them having overshot that harbour, were obliged
to go round Cape Grisnez, where they were attacked in the
ensuing night by the boats of the British vessels, under the
direction of Lieutenant Strong, of the Trompeuse : two of
them, mounting 2 long 6-pounders and 2 howitzers, with 13
men each, were boarded and brought out under a heavy fire
from the enemy's batteries and musketry on the beach ; and
the third was driven amongst the rocks, where she appeared
to be rendered useless. One person belonging to the Trom-
peuse was slightly wounded ; the enemy had two men wound-
ed, and six threw themselves into the sea.

Captain DoUing's post commission bears date, Aug. 1,
1811.

Agents. — Messrs. Atkins & Son.

JOHN RICHARDS LAPENOTIERE, Esq.

This officer's great-grandfather, Frederick De La Penotiere,
was the son of a French nobleman j but he held the rank of
Colonel in the English army, and married Bridget, daughter
of the Hon. John Fielding, D, D. fifth apd youngest son of

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

William, third Earl of Denbigh, and chaplain to King Wil-
liam III.

Mr. John Richards Lapenotiere was born at Ilfracombe, co.
Devon, in 1/70 ; and he first went to sea in the Three Sisters,
hired armed ship, under the protection of his father, Lieuten-
ant Frederick Lapenotiere, in 1780*. His first professional
patron was Rear- Admiral the Hon. John Leveson Gower, a
Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.

In May, 1785, Mr. Richard Cadman Etches and other tra-
ders entered into a commercial partnership, under the title of
the King George's Sound Company, for carrying on a fur trade
from the western coast of America, to China ; and in order
to execute this design, they purchased a ship of 320 tons,
and a snow of 200 tons ; the command of the former, and 6i
the intended expedition, was given to Mr. Nathaniel Port-
lock, a gentleman who had accompanied Captain Cook in his
last voyage into the Pacific Ocean, and who was therefore
considered a proper person to conduct an adventure which
required no common knowledge and experience. The novelty
of this enterprise attracted the notice of several eminent per-
sons, who promoted it by their approbation and countenance.
Several young gentlemen, who had evinced an inclination to
engage in a seafaring life, were put under Mr. Portlock's
care, for the purpose of being initiated in the knowledge of
a profession which requires length of experience, rather than
supereminence of genius. Amongst these youngsters was
Mr. John R. Lapenotiere, whose great-uncle, Samuel Salt, of
the Middle Temple, Esq. M. P. was at that time Deputy-Go-
vernor of the South Sea Company, and a warm patron of the
new undertaking.

Mr. Portlock sailed from Gravesend, Aug. 30, 1785 ; and
anchored in Margate roads, on his return home, Aug. 24,

• Lieutenant Frederick Lapenotiere entered the navy under the patron-
age of Daniel, seventh Earl of Winclielsea, then First Lord of the Admiralty,
but who unfortunately died before his proteg^ had been long at sea. Lieu-
tenant Lapenotiere was distantly related to the Countess of VVinchelsea.

SUPPL. PART II. 2 C

386 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

1788. The result of the voyage will be seen by the following
extract of his narrative, published in J 789 : —

" That the King George's Sound Company have not accumulated im-
mense fortunes may perhaps be true ; but it is no less certain that tlicy
are gainers to the amount of some thousands of pounds ; and that the voy-
age did not answer the utmost extent of their wishes, undoubtedly was
owing to their own inexperience ; for when the King George and Queen
Charlotte arrived at Canton, and even a month after that period, prime
sea-otter skins sold for from 80 to 90 dollars each. Of this quality, these
ships had at least *2000 on board, besides a large quantity of furs of infe-
rior value : but though we could have eold our cargo with ease, we were
not at liberty to dispose of one single article ; the sole management of it
being vested in the hands of the East India Company's supercargoes ; and at
length the skins just mentioned were sold for less than 20 dollars each*."

Some time after Mr. Lapenotiere'a return to England, in
the King George, the late commander of H. M. armed ship
Bounty also returned from the South Pacific, with an ac-
count of his having been turned out of her, and obliged to
cross a sea of more than 1200 leagues in an open and deeply
Ibaded boat : — all the circumstances attending that transac-
tion have been truly stated at p. 747 ^' seq. of Vol. II. Part II.

Although the mutiny to which we allude had entirely frus-
trated the designs of the British government in sending out
the Bounty, yet it did not lessen their zeal for benefiting the
West India islands ; accordingly, as soon as circumstances
permitted, a new bread-fruit expedition was set on foot under
the same commander, but who, on this occasion, was pro-
vided with a tender to succour him in case of a similar mis-
hap. In this tender (the Assistance of 1 10 tons, with & com-
plement of 27 men) Mr. Lapenotiere again left England, under
the command of Lieutenant Portlock, Aug. 2, 1791 ; and re-
turned home with that officer, at the commencement of Aug.
1793 f. During these two interesting voyages to and -from
the South Seas, Mr. Lapenotiere successively visited Guern-
sey, Madeira, St. J ago, Falklands and the Sandwich islands,
Cook's river, Prince William's Sound, Macao, and St. Helena;
Tcneriffe, the Cape of Good Hope, Van Dieman's Land, Otu-

• Portlock's Voyage round the ITorld, p. 382.
t See Vol. 11. Part II. note •at p. 6Q0.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 387

hcile, Coupang (Timor), the island of St. Vincent, Jamaica,
and the Grand Cayman *.

In Mar. J 794, Mr. Lapenotiere joined the flag-ship of Sir
John Jervis, under whom he served at the reduction of the
French West India islands, after which conquests he was pro-
moted by that officer to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed
to command the Berbice schooner. He returned home as
first of the Resource frigate, Captain Frederick VVatkinsf.

In IHOO, Lieutenant Lapenotiere obtained the command of
the Joseph hired cutter, in which vessel he was several times
engaged with the enemy, near Brest, and when employed
in affording protection to the Mediterranean trade. On each
of these occasions, his gallant conduct obtained him the high
approbation of his commander-in-chief. Earl St. Vincent and
Sir James Saumarez : that of the Admiralty was also con-
veyed to him, in a flattering letter from the former officer.

The Joseph was paid off in the spring of 1802 ; and Lieu-
tenant Lapenotiere soon afterwards obtained the command of
another small vessel, — the Pickle schooner, mounting 10 guns,
with a complement of 35 men. His exertions in saving the
crew of the Magnificent 74, when that ship was wrecked near
Brest, Mar. 25, 1804, obtained him very great credit.

The Pickle was attached to Lord Nelson's fleet at the bat-
tle of Trafalgar ; a few days previous to which great and glo-
rious event, she rendered an essential service, by capturing
a Portuguese settee with a cargo of bullocks from Tangier,
that was endeavouring with a fresh breeze at east to work
into Cadiz, where such a supply was much wanted, both by
the French and Spaniards.

On the ever memorable 21st Oct. 1805, observing I'Achille,
a French 74, in flames. Lieutenant Lapenotiere hastened to
the relief of her crew, and succeeded in picking up 2 women
and about 100 men who had thrown themselves into the
sea. This was a dangerous service, on account of her guns

• Lieutenant Portlock was made a Commander in 1 7^3, and promoted
to post rank Sept. 28, 1/99 : he died at the Royal Hospital, Greenwich,
after a short but severe illness, Sept. 12, 181/.

t See Vol. II, Part I. p. 1 1 ef seq.
2 c 2

388 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

going off as they became heated, in consequence of which 2
or 3 British sailors lost their lives, but fortunately none of the
Pickle's little crew sustained any injury. One of the women
thus saved was floating on an oar, and perfectly naked ; a
seaman immediately pulled off his trowsers and gave them to
her : when she got on board the schooner, she immediately
began to relate with much seeming pleasure, the number of
men she had sent to the bottom, for endeavouring to take
the oar from her ; and she appeared as happy and contented
as if nothing had happened, although her husband had fallen
in the battle.

In return for the humanity of their conquerors, the pri-
soners, one night, were heard conversing about the practica-
bility of taking the Pickle into Cadiz, they being nearly
treble in number to her crew. It is scarcely necessary to add
that no opportunity was afforded them of making the experi-
ment, all hands being constantly kept guarding them until
they were removed fr^mi her.

Lieutenant Lapcnotiere had the honor of bringing home
Vice-Admiral Collingwood's despatches, announcing that
most glorious victory ; and he was promoted to the rank of
Commander immediately on his arrival, Nov. 6, 1805. The
Committee of the Patriotic Fund subsequently presented him
with a sword value 100 guineas.

In 1806, Captain Liipenotiere was appointed to the Orestes
brig, mounting 16 guns, with a complement of 95 officers,
men, and boys. In that vessel ho was employed on the
North Sea. station until the summer of 1807, when we find
him attached to the armament sent against Copenhagen, under
Aidminil Gambier.

After the evacuation of Zealand, the Orestes formed part
of the squadron left in that neighbourhood to protect the
trade passing through the Sound. Whilst thus employed
Captain Lapenotiere was most drcadfidly burnt, and otherwise
much injured by an accidental explosion, as will be seen by
the following copy of his official letter to the senior officer
then present : —

*• Xov. 17, 1B07.

** Sir, — During the lime I have been stat'oned in Elslncur roads, for

POST-CAPTAINS €>F 1811. 889

the protection of the British trade, ami the blockade of lliat place, 1 have
frecjuently heeri ol»li;jed to 8tan<I iti so close with the enemy's batteries, for
the purpose of ordering away the different vessels that have anchored there
during the night (not knowing of the war), as to be much exposed to their
fire, and have been frequently obliged to return it. This happened again
ycstonlay ; and in firing one of the after guns, by some unforeseen acci-
dent, it CDiiMHunicated to a drawer, containing the powder-horns and a
few cartridges, the explosion of which, I am sorry to say, has so far dis-
abled me, as to prevent, I fear, my being able to perform my duty, for
some time to come. The skin of my (ace, ears, and neck, is completely
burnt off; arxl the greater part of the hair off my head, the skin of which
I fear must follow. But what concerns me n^ost, is, that I am in some
danger of lo^ng my right eye likewise. The whole of the right side of
toy head is much contuied, by a piece of plank forced against it by the
explosion. I atn at this moment obliged to keep my bed. I have the
honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " J. R. Lapknotiere."

" To Cfiptain Thomas Staines, H. M. S. Ctfane.**

At the time when he met with this disaster. Captain La-
pcnoticre was endeavouring to cut off an English vessel which
tiad been taken by the Danes. The following is a copy of
the handsome letter he received in answer to the above :

" Cyane, off Helslnburgh, Nov. 18, 1807.

" Dear Sir, — I wm extremely concerned, by the receipt of your letter
of yesterday's date, to hear of the unfortunate accident which took place
on board the Orestes under your command, by the explosion of a small
niagaziiie abaft, while in the act of returning the fire from the batteries
near Elsiueur, in obedience to the orders which you had received from me,
for the protection of the British commerce, &c. and indeed. Sir, I most
sincerely lament that you are so great a sufferer on this melancholy occa-
sion, but more particularly so, as I fear his Majesty will, at least for a
considerable length of time, be deprived of the services of so meritorious
and zealous an officer. I hope and trust, however, that the fears which
you entertain of the loss of your right eye will soon be removed, and that
your speedy recovery may enable you to continue those indefatigable exer-
tions in the public service which I have, with admiration, had an opportu-
nity of witnessing, since I have been favoured with your co-operation under
my command. I shall take the earliest opportunity of communicating to
Captiun Fraser, under whose command I have the honor to be, the account
of your unfortunate case ; and be assured, my dear Sir, I should feel the
highest satisfaction in being able, by any means in my power, to alleviate
the distressing pains which you must unavoidably suffer by an accident of
80 serious a description. I have the honor to be, with sincere condolence
on your misfortune, &c.

(Signed) " Thomas Staiuks."

390 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

After his recovery, Captain Lapeiiotiere was employed oii
the Plymouth station, where he captured la Concepcion letter
of marque, mounting 12 guns ; and retook an American ship
bound to Plymouth with timber. On the 9th May, 1810, la
Dorade French schooner privateer, of 10 guns and 43 men,
was taken by the Orestes and Favorite, the latter a ship-sloop
commanded by Captain Benjamin Clement. On the 27th
Oct. in the same year, being then in lat. 48" 30^ N. long.
S° 56' W. Captain Lapenotiere fell in with a brig, which,
from her manoeuvres, he supposed to be a French cruiser :
the Orestes immediately made sail in chase, and he had the
satisfaction of bringing her to close action in less than an
hour ; she kept up a smart fire for about thirty minutes, when
she struck, and proved to be the Loup Garou French priva-
teer, of 16 guns and 100 men ; a remarkable fine vessel, well
found in every thing, and calculated to do much mischief to
our trade. " This capture," says Admiral Sir Robert Calder,
" does very great credit to the captain, officers, and men of
the Orestes, from the prompt and neat manner in which it
has been effected, without any loss to his Majesty's service ;
and confirms the good opinion I have long since entertained
of Captain Lapenotiere as an officer, whilst serving under my
command at different times." The enemy had four men
wounded, two of them dangerously.

Captain Lapenotiere obtained post rank Aug. I, 1811. He
married in 1805, Mary Ann, daughter of the late Lieutenant
John Graves, by whom he has had seven children. One of
his sons is in the navy.

Hon. ALEXANDER JONES.

Ninth son of Charles, fourth Viscount Ranelagh (in the
Irish Peerage).

This officer was born Mar. 9, 1/78; and we first find him

serving as a midshipman on board the Providence of 1 6 guns,

commanded by the late Captain William R. Broughton, with

whom he proceeded to Nootka Sound, &c. &c. &c. *. It will

• See Vol. II. Part II. pp. 865—868.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 391

be seen by reference to the note at p. 222 of Suppl. Part I.,
that he was serving as a Lieutenant of the Sceptre 64, when
that ship was driven on shore and totally wrecked in Table
Bay, Nov. b, 1799. His commission was confirmed about
May, 1/99.

In 1804, Lieutenant Jones, then second of the Naiad
frigate, had a violent (juarrel with Mr. Dean, senior Lieu-
tenant of that ship, whom he struck on the quarter-deck.
The parties were tried by a court-martial, at Plymouth, June
15 ; when it being proved that Lieutenant Dean had behaved
in an ungentlenianly manner to his messmate, he was dis-
missed his Majesty's service; and Lieutenant Jones, for
striking his superior ofl&cer, was sentenced to be shot, but
strongly recommended to mercy. His sovereign's free par-
don was communicated to him on the tenth day after the
trial ; and he was immediately restored to his former rank in
the service. His promotion to the rank of Commander took
place, Jan. 22, 18fX5.

In June IS09, Captain Jones, then in the Talbot sloop of
war, captured the Loven, a small Danish privateer, off the
Naze of Norway. He obtained post rank, Aug. 1, 1811;
and subsequently commanded the Levant of 20 guns.

Captain Jones married, in 1807, Miss Palmer, of Ports-
mouth.

j^getiis.' — Messrs. Maude & Co.

BENJAMIN CLEMENT, Esq.

Son of the late Thomas Clement, Esq. a solicitor of consi-
derable eminence, and extensive practice, at Alton, in Hamp-
shire ; and descended from a family of great respectability,
who possessed considerable landed property at Steep, near
Petersfield, in the same county.

This officer was born at Alton ; and he entered the navy,
in 1794, as a midshipman on board the Prince 98, Captain
Charles Powell Hamilton, which ship formed part of Lord
JBridport's fleet, off I'Orient, June 23, 1795 *.

• See Vol. I. Part I. p. 246.

302 I»OST- CAPlAlJf S OF 1811.

The Prince being paid off in 1796, Mr. Clement then joined
the Diana 38, and continued in that frigate, on the Irish
station, till July, 1797- He subsequently served under Cap-
tain Edward O'Bryen, in the Nassau of 64 guns, and Mo-
narch 74, the latter ship bearing the flag of Vice- Admiral
Pnslovv, in the North Sea fleet.

In Sept. 1797* Mr. Clement was sent in the Monarch's
jolly-boat to the Nassau, where hie men got intoxicated,
and thereby exposed both him and themselves to the most
imminent peril, the night closing while he was vainly endea-
vouring to regain his own ship, and the whole fleet being out
of sight next morning. In tliis perilous situation, and without
any thing to eat or drink, he remained upwards of 40 hours,
but was at length picked up by the Astr^ea frigate, in a
dreadfully exhausted state, both from cold and hunger.

We have already stated in our first volume (p. 151), that
the glorious battle of Camperdown was commenced by the
Monarch ; — her loss on that occasion amounted to 36 slain
and 100 wounded, one of whom was the subject of this me-
moir, as will be seen by the following extract of a letter from
his gallant captain to Mr. Clement, senior :

** My dear Sir, — In justice to your son, Mr. Benjamin Clement, I beg
leave to assure you that he not only merits from mc the most ample testi-
mony as to his general character, but deserves to be spoken of for his spi-
rited behaviour, and for his conduct when under my command on board
the Monarch, on the 11th October, 1797- He was wounded early in the
action, and was carried oflf the deck to be dressed, after which he returned
to his duty and carried my orders to the different parts of the ship, very
much to my satisfaction, until he received a second severe wound, which
nearly proved fatal, and deprived me of his further services."

The first wound mentioned by Captain O'Bryen was in
the left thigh j the latter, in the head, by a musket-ball ; —
in the intermediate time Mr. Clement was also slightly
wounded in the left arm.

On the Monarch's arrival in England, Mr. Clement re-
turned to his paternal residence, where he continued until his
health was re-established. The wound in his thigh compel-
led him to use crutches for more than four months, and that
in his head continued open, with frequent exfoliations^ nearly

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 393

as long: he was of course under medical care the whole
time, and consequently at a heavy expence. The committee
at Lloyd's presented him with 50/. in consideration of his
suiferings ; but Captain O'Bryen advised him not to accept
a smart-ticket, as it might weaken his claim to promotion.

Immediately after his recovery, Mr. Clement re-joined the
Monarch, then commanded by Captain Archibald Colling-
wood Dickson, with whom he afterwards removed to the
Veteran 64, in which ship we find him at the capture of the
Texel squadron, Aug. 30, J 799; and the passage of the
Sound, by the armaments under V ice-Admiral Dickson and
Sir Hyde Parker, in 1800 and 1801*.

Previous to the battle off Copenhagen, April 2, in the latter
year, Mr. Clement was sent in a Bat-bottomed-boat to the
division under Lord Nelson, and he had the honor of being
on board the Elephant in the latter part of that sanguinary
combat. He afterwards assisted in removing the riotous
crew of the Provesteen, a block-ship which had been boarded,
under very peculiar circumstances, by Lieutenant, now Sir
Nisbet J., Willoughbyf.

Some time after this event, Mr. Clement's father was gra-
tified with the receipt of Captain O'Bryen's letter, of which
we have already given an extract : the following is a copy of
the remainder of its contents :

*' It h very pleasing to me to leara from Captain Dickson, that your
son continues to du his duty in every particular to his satisfaction.

" I am happy to say, that I feel very little the effects of the blow which
1 ''■!'_'■• ' ;iio to leave a set of very gallant fellows in the Monarch; but I
am ;i (i\ i cd by the faculty to keep quiet some time longer, to get perfectly
sound, after which, should I enter on active service, it will give me plea-
sure to take your young man again under my protection. I am, with
much regard, yours,

(Signed) " Edw. O'Bbyen t."

Mr. Clement continued in the Veteran till July 1801 , when
he passed his examination for a lieutenant, and was imme-
diately promoted to that rank, " as a reward," said Earl S|.

• See Vol. I. Part II. p. 759. f See p. 11 7, et teq.

I Captain O'Bryen obtained the rank of Rear-Admiral, Nov. 9, 1805 ;
and died at Fareham, Hants, Dec. 18, 1808.

394 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

Vincent, " due to his meritorious and gallant conduct.'*
From this period, lie served in the Zebra bomb, on the Bou-
logne station, until the peace of Amiens.

On the renewal of hostilities, Lieutenant Clement was ap-
pointed to the Tonnant 80, then commanded by Sir Edward
Pellew, but subsequently by Captain (nowSir Charles) Tyler;
in which ship he continued, oflF Ferrol, Carthagena, and Cadiz,
till the commencement of 1806.

The Tonnant's loss at the battle of Trafalgar amounted to
76 killed and wounded. Towards the close of that ever me-
morable conflict. Lieutenant Clement was sent in the jolly-
boat, with two hands, to take possession of the San-Juan
Nepomuceno, Spanish 74. The boat, being damaged, swamp-
ed before she reached a quarter of the way, and soon after-
wards a shot knocked off her quarter ; she then turned bottom
upwards, and Lieutenant Clement was obliged to hold fast
by the keel until one of his men, who could swim, brought
him a rope by which he was hauled on board again in a very
exhausted state, some time having elapsed in consequence
of the ship being still engaged with the enemy.

Lieutenant Clement's next appointment was to be first of
la Constance 22, Captain Alexander S. Burrowes ; but he
soon left that ship in order to join the Cerberus 32, Captain
William Selby, then about to sail for the Jamaica station ;
where he was employed in cutting many vessels out of the
enemy's harbours, particularly about the I lavannah. Ou one
occasion he appears to have been placed in a moAt perilous
situation, a gale of wind having blown the Cerberus off the
land whilst he was in a Spanish vessel that had been wrecked
on the Colorados, where he remained two nights and a day
without any prospect of succour.

On the 18th April, 1806, Lieutenant Clement was pro-
moted to the command of the Goelan brig ; but, owing to his
Admiralty commission having been accidentally detained at
Barbadoes, he did not join that vessel till the 21st October
following. Shortly after he had done so, it was found ne-
cessary to heave her down, and while under repair she lost
many men through sickness and desertion. In consequence

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 395

of this he was sent to the east end of Jamaica, witli direc-
tions to complete his complement by impressment.

The execution of these orders gave great offence to the
masters of merchant vessels at Port Morant, and they re-
solved to insult Captain Clement the first opportunity that
offered : accordingly, on the Goelan's anchoring there a se-
cond time, in order to complete her water, they took ad-
vantage of his absence up the country to set a large New-
foundland dog upon his gig's crew, consisting of four young
lads, one of whom was bitten in a most deplorable manner.
On returning to the boat, and learning what had occurred.
Captain Clement remonstrated ^vith the parties, who replied
that they would serve him in the same manner, and followed
up their threat by instantly collaring him, and some of his
officers then on the spot. Having a horse- whip in his hand,
and feeling it necessary to act in self-defence, he immediately
began to exercise the same upon the ruffian who had assaulted
him, and very properly gave him a sound trimming. As the
case originated in impressment, however, their merchants
made it a pretext for an action at law, and managed to have
it tried during his absence at sea, so that not one of his own
witnesses could be personally examined. A verdict of 500/.
damages was given against him, and the costs amounted to
nearly 200/. more. The jury, it should he observed, were also
merchants, and equally as inimical to impressment as those
who had promoted the prosecution for an assault.

About this period, the Goelan's boats captured, after an
arduous pursuit, the Spanish schooner Berrena, of 4 guns
and 30 men, on the south side of Cuba.

In the course of 1807, Captain Clement experienced a
dreadful hurricane off Porto Rico, aud it was with great dif-
ficulty that he got back to Port Royal, with the loss of all
his guns.

At Jamaica, Captain Clement exchanged into the Favorite,
a ship-sloop, which vessel was principally employed in pro-
tecting the trade from the depredations of the enemy's pri-
vateers. Whilst employed on that service, the Favorite hap-

396 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

pened to be at Falmouth, on the north side of the island,
when a fire broke out which raged with great fury, and threat-
ened destruction to all around. The moment Captain Cle-
ment perceived the flames, he landed with his crew to give
assistance, and by uncommon exertions succeeded in aaving
property to a very large amount, as well as the hospital and
a great number of houses. For this service he received the
following vote of thanks of the justices and vestry of Fal-
mouth, inclosed in a letter from James Stewart, Esq. the
Gustos of that parish :

•' Jamaica — Trelawney, In Festry, 30/A Mag, 1808.
*' ResoijVed, that the thanks of the justices and vestry be given to
Captain Clement of II. M. S, Favorite, his officers, and ship's company,
for their great exertions at the unfortunate fire on Tuesday night, the 24th
instant, and that his honor the Custos be requested to communicate the
same in the most acceptable manner.

(Signed) " Jamks Blair, Clk. Vestry."

On the above alarming occasion, whilst encouraging his
crew in their endeavours to arrest the progress of the flames.
Captain Clement fell through the burning roof of a house,
and thereby suffered material injury. After the fire was sub-
dued he had the mortification to see his men dying hourly of
a fever, occasioned by their late fatigue ; and he at length
buried the greater part of his crew, whilst he himself reco-
vered from a severe attack, contrary to all expectation. Sub-
sequent to this severe visitation, he took charge of 60 mer-
chant vessels, and convoyed them in safety to the place of
their destination. At this time the Favorite had only 45 per-
sons on board capable of doing duty ; and five stout priva-
teers were constantly hovering about the convoy. In this
reduced state, he found it necessary to make use of an im-
press warrant, for doing which two actions were brought
against him ; and although the instrument was regularly
signed by the Governor and Council of Jamaica, and backed
by a magistrate of Montego bay, in which district it was
used, his prosecutors obtaining a verdict in their favor, lie
was compelled to pay damages and costs, amounting in the
whole to 535/., for which heavy loss, incurred in the execu-

POST-CAPTAINS O* 1811. 397

tio?i of his jmsitive duty^ he has never received the least
reimineration.

The sickness still continuing on board his sloop, Captain
Clement was obliged to return to Port Royal, where, on his
anchoring, he could not muster hands enough to furl the
sails. The Favorite was there re-manned by part of the
crew of H. M. late ship Astrnea*, and in Jan. 1809 sent to
the Curayoa station, from whence Captain Clement went on
a mission to the city of Caraccas. Returning from thence,
he was ordered to take command of the naval department at
Cura9oa where he continued until ordered to Port Royal,
where he took charge of the trade bound to England. On
the passage home, Aug. 2/, 1809, he encountered another
dreadful hurricane, during which several of the convoy
foundered, and most of the others were dismasted. The Fa-
vorite also lost her top-masts and sustained considerable in-
jury. After the storm. Captain Clement had to perform the
arduous task of erecting jury-masts in the disabled ships
under his protection ; with which, and part of four other con-
voys met with at sea, he arrived in the Downs on the 18th
September.

During his continuance in the West Indies, Captain Cle-
ment had three attacks of the yellow fever, and was once
nearly drowned in consequence of his boat striking, after
dark, on some sunken rocks near the island of Aruba, from
which dangerous situation he was rescued by the crew of an
American schooner, who heard the shouts of his people, and
hastened to their assistance.

Previous to his return home, Captain Clement captured the
Esperance Spanish letter of marque, mounting 10 guns, with
a ccmiplement of 40 men ; which vessel he burnt by orders
of Captain Micaiah Malbon, commanding the Adamant 50.
Peace having been established between Great Britain and
Spain, though no official intelligence of such an event had
reached Jam^ca at this period, an action was afterwards en-
tered against Captain Clement in the Vice -Admiralty Court

• The Astraea 32, Captain Edmund Hey wood, ^vas wrecked near Ane-
gada. May 24, 1808.

398 POST-CAPTAINS OK 1811.

of that island ; and notwithstanding a verdict was, on thid
occasion, given in his favor, his law expenses ammnited to
300/.

Captain Clement was latterly employed on the Plymouth
station, where he captured, in company with the Orestes
brig, la Dorade French schooner privateer, of 10 guns and
43 men, May 9, 1810. He also re-captured several British
merchantmen, destroyed some of the enemy's coasting ves-
sels, and on one occasion drove a convoy on shore in a bay
near the Isle of Bas, under the fire of two batteries, and in
the face of a national brig and schooner. As a reward for
his active and unremitted services, he was advanced to post
rank Aug. 1, 1811.

Captain Clement married Oct. 5, 181 1, Ann Marj', youngest
daughter of the late William Prowting, Es(j. many years a
magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for Hampshire, by whom
he has two sons and one daughter.

j4geiit. — John Chippendale, Esq.

Hon. henry DAWSON.

Second son of John, first Earl of Port-Arlington, by Ca-
roline Stuart, fifth daughter of John, third Earl of Bute, K.G.
and heir presumptive to his brother the present peer.

This officer was bom July 19, 1786; made a lieutenant
Feb. 16, 1805; and promoted to the rank of commander
Sept. 25, 1806.

In 1808 Captain Dawson was appointed, by Sir Edward
Pellew, to act as governor of the naval hospital at Madras ;
and we subsequently find him commanding the Parthian brig,
on the North Sea station. He is handsomely spoken of in
the public despatches announcing the evacuation of Walche-
ren, in Dec. 1809, on which occasion, one division of the
gun-boats ordered to cover the retreat of the rear-guard was
entnisted to his charge by Commodore, now Sir Edward
W. C. R. O^ven. The Parthian was afterwards employed in
blockading the German rivers.

Captain Dawson's post commission bears date Aug. 1, 1811.

r08T-CAPTAlNS OF 1811. 399

He married May 20, 1813, Eliza Luttrell, daughter of Ed-
mund Joshua Moriarty, Esq. by Lady Lucy, daughter of
Simon, first Earl of Carhampton. His next brother, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel George Lionel Dawson, acted as Quarter-
Master-General to the Duke of Wellington, and was wounded
at the battle of Waterloo.

Agents, — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

DONALD CAMP15ELL, Esq.

Eldest son of the late Colin Campbell, of Auchendoun,
in Argyllshire, Esq. and cousin-german to the present Ge-
neral Duncan Campbell, of Loch-Nell, in Argyllshire.

This officer was bom in 17/8 ; and he first embarked, in
1791, as a midshipman on board the Assistance 50, com-
manded by the late Lord Cranstoun, under whom he served
until the close of the Russian armament, when we find him
joining the Otter brig, Captain James Hardy.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
Mr. Campbell proceeded to the West Indies, in the Scorpion
sloop. Captain Thomas Western. Between Aug. 2, 1794,
and Aug. 7j 1/95, that vessel captured la Guillotine French
privateer, of 10 guns ; la Victoire 18, and four others of in-
ferior force. She was also very successful in recapturing
British merchantmen.

Early in 1796 Mr. Campbell was removed to the Swift-
sure 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral William Parker,
commander-in-chief at Jamaica, in which ship he was pre-
sent at the unsuccessful attack upon Leogane, St. Domingo,
March 22, 1796».

• A division of British and Colonial troops from the garrison at Port-
au-Prince landed near Leo^ne on the 21st Mar., under the cover of se-
veral frigates and sloops. During the greatest part of the 22d a very
heavy fire was maintained from the two-deckers of the squadron ; but no
impression whatever having been made by them, and the place appearing
much stronger than it had been represented, the forces were judged in-
adequate to the enterprise, and the troops, stores, guns, &c. were there-
fore re-embarked. On this occasion the army lost a few men, and the
squadron had several killed and wounded. Shortly after this failure, Rear-
Admiral Parker was attacked with the yellow fever, which obliged him
immediately to sail for England.

400 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1811.

In Jan. 1797? Mr. Campbell again joined Captain Hardy,
then commanding the Ranger sloop of war ; from which vessel
our young officer was soon afterwards removed into Admiral
Duncan's flag-ship, the Venerable 74. We next find himi
acting as lieutenant on board the Russell, another third rate,
commanded by Captain (now Sir Henry) TroUope, under
whom he bore a part in the glorious battle oflF Camperdown,
Oct. 11, 1797* The following anecdote of that distinguished
veteran has been communicated to us since we published the
memoir of his services :

** The squadron of observation sent by Admiral Duncan to watch the
Texel, arrived off that anchorage just as the enemy's fleet had put to sea.
Having reconnoitred and made out their force, a cutter was despatched
to Yarmouth roads witli the information, and Captain Trolh>pe immedi-
fttely began his arduous task of keeping close company with the Dutch-
men, by placing, and ordering the Russell to be kept 2* miles on De
Winter's weather-beam. In the evening of Oct. 9th, Captain TroUope
came on the quarter-deck, and asked the officer of the watch (Mr. Camp-
bell) where the Dutch admiral was ? He answered, " I saw his light a
few minutes ago, but it is now too tliick to see it." '* Wear ship. Sir !"
was the instant reply. This order being immediately obeyed, and the
manoeuvre frequently repeated, the van of the enemy was soon tliscovcrcd
on the Russell's weather-bow ! Upon which, Captain Trollope having been
very violent, Mr. Campbell said, " I hope you now see that the ship was
in her station, Sir?" He acknowledged that he did; and desired Mr.
Campbell to make sail and get to windward again. That being accom-
plished, all the lieutenants were summoned into the captain's cabin, and
addressed by him as follows — " I can easily believe that you will some
night call me out of my bed, by saying, we are in the middle of the
Dutch fleet ; but the oflicer that loses sight of the enemy I will certainly
bring to a court-martial." The following morning, at day-light, Mr.
Campbell reported that the Adamant was so far to leeward, that if the
enemy tacked, she must be cut off. Captain Trollope coolly answered,
" prepare for action, I will go down to her assistance if they make such
an attempt !"

On the return of the victorious fleet to port, Mr. Camp-
bell passed his examination, and was immediately confirmed
to the Russell, in which ship he served with the Channel fleet
until his appointment to the Galatea frigate, on the Irish
station j in 1799.

During the winter of 1800, Lieutenant Campbell was par-
ticularly recommended to the commander-in-chief by Captain

POSX-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 401

^yng> now Viscount Torrlngton, for his spirited exertions
in talcing possession of El Pens^e, Spanish letter of marque,
the performance of which service is thus noticed by his
lordship :

" £1 Pensde waa taken possession of in a very dark and tempestuous
night, the Galatea being, then under a close-reefed main-top-sail, and
Lieutenant Campbell, whom we hoisted out in a boat from off the booms,
^v f" an hour before he got alongside the Spaniard. No sooner

li 1 the prize, than his boat was stove. The weather continued

so bad that we had no communication with him for ten days, during
which time he had only six men with him to navigate the ship, and to
keep upwards of 20 prisoners in subjection. Wliile between us and the
prize, the boat was upwards of half an hour out of our sight, and had
the enemy made sail I should have been much at a loss what to do, every
one believing that the boat was sirunped. It was certmnly the most
anxious hour of my life."

In another letter, written on the same subject, we find
Lord Torrington expressing himself as follows :

" I never had a better officer than Campbell — both as a junior, and as
my first lieutenant ; he was always active, and ever ready for service.
He boarded the Spanish letter of marque when the weather was so bad
that, however I might have benefited by her capture, I do not tliink that
T should have attempted to secure her that night if he had not volun-
teered. To have kept sight of her, it would have been impossible."

Mr. Campbell continued in the Galatea until the peace of
Amiens. The following is a copy of a letter which was writ-
ten in his favor to Earl St. Vincent, July 24, 1802 :

" My Lord, — I was lately solicited by the friends of Lieutenant Donald
Campbell, R. N. to apply to your Lordship in his behalf ; but this I
declined doing till some such certificate of his services as might be satis-
factory to your Lordship and myself should be procured.

'* I this morning received the certificate and letter which I now have the
honor to enclose, and earnestly request your Lordship's good offices in the
young man's favor. The chief object of his present application seems to
be that of being appointed by your Lordship to the command of one of the
Admiralty cutters, intended, as is generally reported, to be stationed along
the coast of Scotland, for the suppression of smuggling.

*• He is a connection of my family, and, as my every information leads
me to believe, a very deserving officer. Should your Lordship's other en-
gagements interfere with the completion of his wishes, as to the particular
object I have stated, it would be adding another favor to those you have al-
ready conferred on me, if your Lordship would mclude him in your list for

SUPPL. PART II. 2 D

402 POST CAPTAINS OF 1811.

employment or promotion, when an opportunity offers. I have the honor
to be, &c.

(Signed) "Argyll*."

To this application the First Lord of the Admiralty replied,
that the documents of Lieutenant Campbell's serdces were
very satisfactory ; that he was much inclined at all times to
meet his Grace's wishes, and that as the door was then shut
to promotion, he would with pleasure appoint the young man
senior Lieutenant of a frigate. Mr. Campbell was accord-
ingly appointed firfit of the Carj'^sfort 28, and he appears to
have commanded the boats of that ship at the capture of a
French letter of marque, mounting 6 guns, with a comple-
ment of 20 men, on the Norwegian coast, in 1803.

Towards the latter end of Mar. 1804, the Cary^fort sailed
from Cork, in company with H. M. S. Apollo and sixty-nine
sail of merchantmen, bound to the West Indies. A narrative
of the disasters which befel that convoy will be found in our
memoir of Captain Edward Harvey f.

On his arrival at Barbadoes, Lieutenant Campbell received
a letter from the Admiralty, acquainting him that he was pro-
moted, and appointed to a command in the Irish Sea Fencible
service.

In consequence of this notification, he was superseded ; but
another letter shortly afterwards arrived from the late Vis-
count Melville, directing the commander-in-chief to put him
into the first vacancy that should occur at the Leeward Is-
lands.

Lieutenant Campbell was subsequently honored Math the
approbation of Commodore Hood, for his gallant conduct
when commanding the Tobago schooner, in a successful attack
made by that vessel and the Curieux sloop upon two mer-
chantmen lying under the protection of the batteries at Bar-
celona, on the coast of Caraccas.

In July, 1805, this zealous oflBcer was appointed to the
command of the Lily sloop, and about the same period we
find him entrusted with the charge of a small armament sent

• John 5th Duke of Argyll, who died May 24, 1806.
t See p. 362, et seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 403

to assist the late General Miranda in his first endeavours to
promote the independence of South America, which, after a
sanguinary contest, has at length been crowned with appa-
rently complete success *.

Unfortunately for the subject of this memoir, his appoint-
ment to the Lily was not known in England until after the
impeachment of Viscount Melville ; and Lord Barbara's se-
cretary having neglected to lay it before the latter nobleman
for confirmation, another officer was inadvertently selected
to fill the vacancy, as will be seen by the following extract
of a letter from Sir Alexander Cochrane, K. B. to his lord-
ship's successor, dated May 6, 1806 :

" I am sorry to find that an appointment has arrived for Lieutenant (now
(Japtain) Shirreff, to supersede acting Captain Campbell, of the Lily.
When I relieved Sir Samuel Hood, Lieutenant Campbell, then command-

• So early as 1 790, Mr Pitt had conceived the project of emancipating
the colonies of South America, if the dispute with Spain, respecting
Nootka Sound, should cause a war between that power and Great Britain.
The plan was submitted to General Miranda and some able Jesuit mission-
aries, who, when expelled from those settlements, had taken refuge in
Italy ; and although suspended for a time it was not altogether abandoned.
A similar scheme was imagined by Mr. Addington, in 1801, but the peace
of Amiens once more prevented it from being put into execution.

Participating in the general domestic gloom of 1804, and feeling the im-
perative duty of taking a bold step to open other markets to our manufac-
tures, Mr. Pitt had again recourse to the same expedient. Miranda was
called on, and a respectable naval force was destined to accompany him,
under the command of Sir Hope Popham. Many thousand stand of arms
were to have been embarked for the use of those who were expected to
revolt, pilots were nominated, the rendezvous was to have been at the island
of Trinidad, and the debarkation was to have been effected upon the banks
of the Oronoco. Such was the outline of the plan meditated in Dec. 1804,
when the Diadem, a64-gun ship, was commissioned for Sir Home Popham;
but it was deranged by many disastrous military events in Europe, and
the great anxiety of our cabinet to endeavour, by friendly negociation, to
detach Spain from her connection with France, a power which, by the
overwhelming progress of her arms over the continent, held every state not
yet conquered, in the same submission from their terror, as if Napoleon's
legions had already entered their capitals. The armament subsequently sent
from the Leeward Islands, under acting Captain Campbell, consisted of the
Lily sloop, two gun-brigs, two smaller vessels, commanded by sub-Lieu-
tenants, and Miranda's own ship, bearing the present Columbian colours.

2d2

404 POST-CAPTAJNS OF 18U.

lag the Tobago schooner, stood fint in the Admiralty list to he made a
commander : I therefore appointed him to the Lily, upon the removal
of Captain Morrison to the Northumberland. He has been nearly twelve
months commandinof on the Trinidad station, where he has been particu-
larly active ; and as Captain Shirreff must have sailed in the convoy for Eng-
land, not knowing of his being appointed to the Lily, the peculiar hard-
ships of acting Captain Campbell's case will I hope meet with due consi-
deration."

In answer to this remonstrance, Viscount Howick express-
ed his sorrow that such injustice had been done Mr. Camp-
bell, and directed Sir Alexander Cochrane to give him the
next admiralty vacancy, it not being in his lordship's power
to supersede Captain Shirreff's appointment. The Lily's pro-
ceedings in July and Aug. 1806, are thus described by her
acting commander :

" La Filla de Coro bay {Spanish Main) Sth Aug- ISO^.

" Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that the vessels, composing the
expedition attached to General Miranda, you did me honor to place under
my orders, sailed from Trinidad on the 24th July, having on board 220
officers and uien of General Miranda's corps, which with 75 seamen and ma-
rines of H. M. vessels at present under my command, whom I ordered to
be ready to land with him, under the immediate directions of Lieutenant
Beddingfelt, of this ship, coniposed his whole force.

*' We anchored at Coche on the 27th, where we found the minds of the
inhabitants of th^it island so deeply impressed with the idea that General
Miranda was to put to death every man who did not or could not take up
arms in his favor, that they had with a few exceptions gone to Margarita :
the greatest number of the few who remained joined him, which added nine
to our number.

" General Miranda then, conceiving his military force unequal to re-
taining possession of Cumana or Barcelona, determined to make his first
debarkation in this bay, and to attack Coro, where we anchored at 9 in the
night of the Ist Aug. ; but from its blowing a strong gale all the following
day, and the pilots, from ignorance or mteniion, having anchored the vessels
on a Icc-shorc, within a few cables' length of the breakers, 7 miles to lee-
warl of the battery intended to be attacked, and there being a strong lee
current, the whole of the 2d was occupied in placing the Express, Atten-
tive, and Prevost, with the gun-boats, in a proper position to effect and
cover the debarkation, which was accomplished at 5 o'clock in the morning
of the 3d, when the first division, composed of about 60 men of the Trini-
dad volunteers, under the command of Count de Rouvcray, Colonel Downie
with about 60 men, and 30 seamen and marines from the Lily, under the
command of Lieutenant Beddingfelt, most gallantly cleared the beach of

POST'CAPTAINS OF 1811. 406

the Spanish force which opposed them. They then stormed and carried
a sea-battery of 4 guns, 12 and 9-pounders : I Lave to regret that on this
t)ccasion the serjeant and 2 privates of the Lily's marines, and one sea-
man, were severely wounded. Vou may believe that, from the time the
enemy had to assemble, their numbers were very great ; but I have not been
able to ascertain them.

" With the aHsistance «f the Bacchante's boats, she arriving here, the
second division, composed of the American volunteers imder the command
of Colonel Kirkland« and the remainder of the detachment of ueamen and
marines to join Lieutenant Beddingfelt, were Iandc*d 10 or 12 minutes after
the first, when the enemy, great as their numbers were, retreated to the
bush, and left in our possession, in two forts, 14 pieces of cannon, 12 and
9-poundeni ; 7 guns dismounted, and a quantity of ammunition.

" It is not possible for me to mention in too high terms the brave and
officer-like conduct of Lieutenant Spearing, commanding the Express,
whose very gallant behaviour I have before had an opportunity of men-
tioning to you, when he commanded the Lily's boats as first lieutenant of
this ship ; and I must beg leave to express in equal terms the gallant ex-
ertions of Lieutenant Beddingfclt in storming the fort, and his oflficer-
like conduct and active exertions throughout this fatiguing service, which
General Miranda has had a better opportunity of observing, and has
made very honorable mention of*.

" The conduct and exertions of the whole of the officers and crews of
the small squadron you did me the honor to place under my command, on
this occasion, convini-ed me that on any more serious service they will
strenuously support their professional character.

" General Miranda, with his whole force, marched to Coro, and got
quiet possession of that populous city. He has relumed hither to give the
inhabitants an opportunity of resuming their respective occupations, and
to convince them that he is not actuated by the motives which the Spanish
government has succeeded but too well in impressing upon the minds oF
the people.

" The three days that Captain Dacres lay here, in the Bacchante, he gave
me every assistance in his power. He is now cruisiag off Porlo Cabello,
\vhich affords us, while here, great protection. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " D. Campbell."

" HoH. Sir A. Cochrane, K. B. 8fc. <5r. dfC."

On the same day that the above letter was written, the
commandant of Coro appeared on the sand-hills near Puerto

• Lieutenant George Augustus Spearing, eldest son of Lieutenant
George Spearing, of the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, was afterwards killed,
whilst nobly supporting the honor of the British flag, in a gallant attempt
to carry three forts in the island of Martinique. See Nav. Chron. vol. 20,
p. 167.

406 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

della Coro, and within 3 miles of General Miranda's quarters,
with a force of nearly 2000 men, including Indians, collected
from all quarters ; took possession of the only watering place
for the vessels under Captain Campbell's orders, and surprised
the master of a transport and 14 seamen who landed in the
night without his knowledge. At day-break on the 9th, a
party of 20 sailors landed from the Lily, under the command
of her second Lieutenant (Barclay), to endeavour to rescue
the prisoners ; but unfortunately only one man reaped benefit
from their exertions : 10 or 12 of the enemy were, however,
killed in the skirmish which took place.

The firing of the combatants being observed by General
Miranda, Colonel Downie was immediately sent with 50 men
to attack the enemy, if he conceived it practicable to obtain
any advantage ; but from their very superior force and favor-
able position, he considered it prudent to retire.

The Spanish commandant was soon afterwards joined by
400 men from Maracaibo ; and a council of war being assem-
bled by Miranda, it was unanimously agreed, that nothing
further could be effected with so small a force as that patriotic
chief then had at his disposal. The motley little army was
consequently re-embarked, and conducted by Captain Camp-
bell, in safety, to Aruba.

We have been thus minute in our relation of the circum-
stances attending General Miranda's expedition to Venezuela,
in consequence of a very incorrect statement which appeared
in the first number of the Naval and Military Magazine, the
Annual Biography and Obituary for 1827, and various other
periodicals, wherein the whole credit of the enterprise is given
to Captain Dacrcs and his second lieutenant ; whereas the
Bacchante's officers and crew, although their zeal and bravery
cannot be questioned, were certainly nothing more than se-
condary actors on the occasion. A sense of duty induces us
to add, that Miranda entertained much more sanguine ideas
of success, than his slender force warranted him in doing ; and
that nothing short of 1000 soldiers, inheriting the spirit of
Britons, would have enabled him to obtain possession of Ca-
raccas, a city where he possessed numerous friends, but who

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 407

only wanted confidence in his strength to join him. In order
to convey an idea of his popularity at Coro, we shall further
add, that he always walked about the city unattended j that
he frequently passed hours together in a room crowded with
Spaniards of all descriptions ; and that the ofl&cer command-
ing on the sand-hills had much trouble in preventing many
of the Indians from joining him.

Previous to their departure from the island of Aruba, a
letter was addressed to Captain Campbell by his military col-
league, of which the folIo\A ing is a copy :

" Head Quarters, Aruba, 25th Sept. 1806.

" JNJy dear Sir, — I have to return you my best thanks for the sentiments
conveyed tu me in your note of the 22d instant.

" Permit me at the same time to express my gratitude for the attention
and kindness shewn tu U£ on board the Lily, during the late expedition. I
have no doubt that the success we did obtain on our landing at la Villa de
Coro, was iji a great measure owing to your wise directions, and to the
courage and intrepidity of the o(hccrs and men of the navy, wlio accom-
panied us ia the land operations.

" I hope that, if Great Britain continues her support to this extensive
enterprise, your name, Sir, will be added (if my recommendation is attend-
ed to) to those that will co-operate, under the auspices of Providence, to
the execution of so humane and interestmg an undertaking, for the glory
uf Great Britain and the happiness of mankind. I have the honor to be,
with perfect esteem and high consideration, &c.

(Signed) " Fkan. de Miranda."

The following is an extract of Sir Alexander Cochrane's
letter to Captain Campbell, acknowledging the receipt of his
despatches from la Villa de Coro and Aruba :

" I am perfectly satisfied with your conduct during the expedition; and,
although it has failed, I have confidence of success whenever a sufficient
force is employed. You had better come up here, to be in the way for a
windfall."

The high estimation in which Captain Campbeirs general
conduct was held by the governor, council, and merchants
of Trinidad, cannot be better described than in their own

terms :

" Government House, Trinidad, Jan. 21, 1807.
" Sir,— It was with infinite concern I learnt that your appointment to
the command of the LUy had not been confirmed at home ; which is only
to be attributed to your claims as an active, zealous and meritorious officer

406 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

not haring been brought timely forward before the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, on the late change of administration, but who I have understood
since expressed himself to that effect to Sir Alexander Cochrane, in a letter
which his lordship addressed to the Hon. Rear-Admiral.

" I will not doubt, however, that the justice which is due to you will,
on the earliest occasion, be evinced by an order from home, to confirm
you in the first vacancy which occurs — in the mean time, I cannot deny
myself the gratification of offering you my sincerest assurances of the very
high opinion with which your zeal, attention, and exemplary conduct in-
variably impressed me in your favour, since your first appointment to this
station, until I had to regret the circumstance which was to deprive the
colony under my government (for the present) of your further services. I
have the honor to be, with great regard, &c.

(Signed) " T. Hislop, Governor."

Extract of the Minutes of H. M. Council, held at the Go-
vernment House, Jan. 21, 180/.
" Trinidad. — His Excellency the Governor having laid before the Board
a letter which he proposed transmitting to Captain Campbell, late com-
mander of H. M. S. Lily, expressive of his opinion of the services of that
officer, which, should it accord with that of the members of the Boanl, he
would submit to them the propriety of passing such a resolution as they
may think appropriate to the occasion.

" It was then resolved that this Board do most fully accord in the senti-
ments expressed in his Excellency's letter addressed to that officer, and
are desirous that this resolution be transmitted at the same time to Captain
Campbell by the Secretary.

(Signed) " By command, John Gloster,

Dep. Clk. Council."

From the Merchants to Captain Campbell.

•' Trinidad, 24th Jan. 1807.

" Sir, — We learn with regret that this island is for the present to be de-
prived of your services.

" This station affords few opportunities of signalizing courage, or of
gaining pecuniary emolument, but calls for the exertion of vigilance, acti-
vity, and judgment ; qualifications of prime utility to the service, and
which, from every thing we have seen of your conduct, we conceive you
eminently possess.

** When on a neighbouring station, you paid particular attention to the
interests of this colony, and during the short time you remained on this,
though called to other duties, we have seen enough to occasion our regret
at being deprived of that zeal which you have always manifested for the
mercantile interest.

" That promotion may soon be your reward, and that such promotion

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 409

may occasion your return ainon^t us, is the sincere wish of. Sir, your most
obedient humble servants, &c. &c."

(Signed by the prindpaU o/4S commercial hatuet.)

In Jan. 1807> Captain Campbell was appointed to the Pert
brig ; in which vessel he made many captures on the Tortola
station. His commission as a commander bears date May
4, 1807.

On the 16th Oct. following, the Pert was caught in a
hurricane, whilst lying oflF the island of Margarita, in com-
pany with a Spanish packet which she had just before cap-
tured. Unfortunately the brig had only two anchors and
cables on board ; in consequence of which, she was driven
ashore and totally wrecked. By this disaster, the master
of the Pert and 12 men lost their lives ; the remainder of her
officers and crew escaped with great difficulty. During the
same tremendous storm, the Maria schooner. Lieutenant J.
Henderson, then under Captain Campbell's orders, foundered,
and every person on board of her perished.

From Margarita, Captain Campbell proceeded in his prize
schooner to Tortola, where he was tried by a court-martial,
and most honourably acquitted. The loss of the Pert, how-
ever, proved doubly mortifying to him, as he was thereby
prevented from joining the Cygnet, a remarkably fine sloop,
to which he had recently been appointed.

Captain Campbell returned to England with the minutes of
his court-martial made into a despatch, to be delivered in
person at the Admiralty, and a letter of recommendation
from Sir Alexander Cochrane to Lord Mulgrave, who then
presided at the Board ; but he did not succeed in obtaining
any further employ until his appointment to TEspiegle brig,
in Sept. 1809.

With the exception of his convoying two ships to the West
Indies, and exchanging into the Port d'Espagne brig, we find
no further mention of Captain Campbell until Sept. 1810,
when he received a commission appointing him to the Rosa-
mond sloop ; in which vessel he was again employed afford-
ing protection to the trade of Trinidad, " the delicate state
of matters, between the Spanish provinces on the Main and

410 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

the parent state, rendering it necessary that an officer pos-
sessing temper and discretion should be sent to command
upon that station *."

Whilst thus employed, his attention having been called to
a system of smuggling carried on in the Gulph of Paria,
Captain Campbell detected two American schooners and a
Trinidad sloop in the act of putting sugar on board ao Amer-
ican brig at anchor near the Spanish main : the whole of
these vessels he seized, and carried buck to the island for ad-
judication ; but understanding that the Judge of the Vice-
Admiralty Court had declared to the Colonial Secretary, and
other persons, that he was determined to liberate them, they
were again got under weigh, conducted to Grenada, and there
condemned, both hulls and cargo : — this transaction led to a
great deal of legal discussion, which our limits will not allow
us to enter into.

Captain Campbell obtained post rank Aug. 1, 1811 ; but
he continued in the Rosamond until May 30, 1814, during
which period he was successively employed conveying a mail
and some specie from Jamaica to England, escorting various
fleets of merchantmen, and protecting the fisheries on the coast
of Labrador and the north shores of Newfoundland. In 1812,
he captured the Friemlship, an American merchantman of near
400 tons, with a valuable cargo of naval stores, from Archangel
bound to Salem. This ship he chased for 14 hours, during the
whole of which time he flattered himself that he was in pur-
suit of an enemy's cruiser, as she was a regular built corvette,
pierced for 20 guns.

Whilst in the command of the Rosamond, Captain Camp-
bell received three commendatory letters from his superior
officers, of which the following are copies : —

" Royal miliam, SpUhcad, Dec. 31, 1812.
** Sir,— Captain Brisbane having reported to me the effectual assistance
he received from the exertions of yourself, the officers, and sliip's com-
pany wider your command, when the Pembroke was on shore under Dun-
nose, I have to express my satisfaction at the promptitude with which you

• The above is an extract of a letter from Sir Francis Laforey, com-
mander-in-chief at the Leeward Islands.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 411

proceeded ou this service, as well as your conduct in the execution
thereof. I am, Sir, &c.

(Signed) " R. Bickerton."

" Rosamond, St. John's, 7th Oct. 1813.
" Sir, — I have received a copy of your log, your report and observations
on the fisheries on the Labrador coast, and in the straights of Belleisle, and
also a sketch of the bay of I'Ance a Loup, by Mr. Taylor, master of the
Rosamond, together with a description of such rocks on the coast of New-
foundland, not laid down in the Admiralty charts, as you or he coiild dis-
cover, or gain intelligence of; and also a copy of the proceedings of the
Surrogate Court held by you; and I approve of your conduct in the services
on which you have been employed during the summer. I am, &c.

(Signed; " R. G. Keats."

" Prince, Spithead, Mar. 20, 1814.
" Sir, — V^ice-Adrairal Domett having represented to the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty, that the Rosamond had not lost either a man
or boy by desertion during the period of two months that she had been in
'■ 'fit at Plymouth ; I have it in command from their

1 . '> to you that they have received with great satisfaction

and approbation this testimony of the good state of discipline of the ship
under your command. I am, &c.

(Signed) " R. BTCKEnTON."

Whilst refitting at Plymouth, he also received the follow-
ing from his old commander-in-chief:

" London, 2d Jan. 1814.

" Dear Campbell, — I have just time to say, that I will try to get you
ou tlie North American station. — 1 hope they will send you out.

(Signed) "Alex. Cochrane."

In May 1814, the declining health of his wife induced
Captain Campbell to give up the command of the Rosamond j
but after her demise, he gladly accepted an offer made him
by Sir Richard G. Keats, who expressed a wish to have him
again under his command, and spontaneously undertook to
procure him a ship if he would consent to return to New-
foundland. The late Sir George Hope was spoken to on this
subject by Sir Richard, but the appointment never took place.
We have inserted the foregoing letters, and mentioned this
circumstance, in order to shew that Captain Campbell was
fortunate enough always to enjoy the good opinion of his su-
perior ofl&cers.

In 1822, Captain Campbell was appointed Inspecting

412 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

Commander of the Coast Guard at Stranraer, N. B. from
whence he removed to the Aberdeen district in 1826.

The subject of this memoir married, 1st, in 1808, Ann,
daughter of the late Rear- Admiral Sir Charles Douglas, Bart.,
which lady died April 11, 1815, leaving one son and two
daughters : 2dly, Aug. 19, 1819, Isabella, daughter of John
Campbell, of Craignure, Argyllshire, Esq., by whom he has
seven children. His eldest son, Colin, is now serving as a
midshipman on board the Ocean 74.

One of Captain Campbell's brothers, the senior captain of
the 59th regiment, died in consequence of wounds he re-
ceived, when landing with the grenadiers of that corps, at
Java, in 1811. Another brother was severely wounded at the
storming of St. Sebastian, and appears to have been the only
officer of the grenadier company, 2d battalion 59th regiment,
who survived that attack ; he afterwards suffered much from
the Walcheren fever, which ultimately caused his death. The
following are extracts of a letter from his commanding officer
to the Colofiel of the 59th, written after the battles near
Bayonne, Dec. 9, 10, and 11, 1813:—

" You will find some difficulty in giving credit to my assertion, that the
59th regiment have outdone their former exploits of Viitoria and St. Se-
bastian, yet nothing can be more true ; not merely in my opinion, Imt in
that of Lord Wellington, as well as Sir John Hope, who were spectators
of the conduct of the brigade, during three days hard fighting. • • •
• • •. You will see by the return herewith enclosed, how severe the
loss of the 59th has been in officers ; I wish I could do justice to their
merits, but their praise is in better hands. Lord Wellington and Sir John
Hope are lavish in encomiums upon their obstinate valor — it certainly never
was surpassed. •••••♦, Lieutenant Campbell, of the gre-
nadiers, for whom I have long been most warmly interested, is also among
the wounded, and but lately recovered from a wound he received on the
breach of St. Sebastiau's, where he remained, cheering on his men, until
the town was fairly in our possession. He has acted as a(\jutant for some
time, and has exhibited qualities, in that situation, equal to his spirit in the
field, which is in the true style of a British grenadier. I think this young
man so deserving of promotion, that I wish to exert all the interest I am
master of, to that end. He has a strong desire to get into the 104th regi-
ment, or the Glengarry Fcnciblea ; and as he has u thorough knowledge of
all the northern parts of America, he might be truly useful in that country
just now ; for to local information, he adds every military requisite. Do

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 41S

not therefore think rae preaoming too far, when I solicit your influence in
hia favor."

The excellent young officer, thus highly eulogised, died a
subaltern! Captain Campbell's youngest brother, Duncan,
was made a Lieutenant July 10, 1820, and he at present com-
mands the Monkey schooner, o^ the West India station.

y^gent. — Sir F. M. Ommanney.

HENRY HART, Esq.

This officer is descended from Sir Harry Hart, who was a
knight of the bath about 1650. That branch of the family
to which he belongs formerly resided in Kent, but his father,
the late Richard Hart, Esq. was settled at Uckfield, co.
Sussex, and married Miss Blackman, whose sister, we be-
lieve, was the lady of the late Sir Thomas Miller, of Froyle,
near Alton, in Hampshire, Bart.

Mr. Henry Hart entered the navy in 1/96, as a midship-
man on board the Indefatigable frigate. Captain Sir Edward
Pellew, with whom he continued until the peace of Amiens*,
when he joined the Foudroyant 80, bearing the flag of I^ord
Keith, on the Mediterranean station. From that ship he was
promoted into the Medusa frigate, June 1802.

It is unnecessary, in this place, to recapitulate the services
in which Mr. Hart participated, while serving under the com-
mand of Sir Edward Pellew: the manner in which the Me-
dusa was employed will be seen by reference to an enlarged
memoir of Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore, at the end of Supp.
Part II.

On the arrival of the Medusa at Madras, Lieutenant
Hart met there the sincere and valuable friend under whose
auspices he had first become a sailor, and who was then
commander-in-chief on the East India station. By that
officer he was immediately received on board the Culloden 74,
as flag-lieutenant ; and afterwards successively appointed
acting-captain of the Duncan, Caroline, and Fox frigates.

• See Viscount Exraouth.

414 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

The Caroline formed part of the squadron under Sir Ed-
ward Pellew, at the total extermination of the Dutch naval
force in India, Dec. 11, 1807*. The boats of the Fox captured
and brought out from under the batteries at Sapara, la Car-
ravanne, a French vessel mounting eight 4-pounders, from
Batavia, bound to Sourabaya, Mar. 23, 1809.

After serving nearly four years as an acting-captain, ill
health obliged this officer to leave the East Indies, and on
his return home he had the mortification to find that Lord
Mulgrave had only confirmed him as a commander, by com-
mission dated Oct. 12, 1807. That nobleman's successor,
however (the Right Hon. Charles Yorke), received him in
the most handsome manner ; immediately appointed him to
the Thracian brig, of 18 guns ; and followed up his disinte-
rested kindness, by advancing him to post rank, on the 1st
Aug. 1811.

Captain Hart's next appointment was, Dec. 10, 1813, to
the Revenge 74, bearing the flag of his friend Sir John Gore,
on the Mediterranean station. In Mar. 1818, the same offi-
cer nominated him to be his flag-captain at Chatham, but a
recent regulation at the admiralty prevented this arrange-
ment from being carried into effect. He subsequently com-
manded the Sapphire 26, on the Jamaica station, from whence
he returned home invalided, as a passenger on board the
Tartar frigate, Aug. 28, 1820.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

CORBET JAMES D'AUVERGNE, Esq.

Ranger of the Island of Jersey and its Dependencies.

Son of the late Charles d'Auvergnc, Esq. (a descendant
of the celebrated Godfrey, first Duke of Bouillon, in France) f
by his second wife Bandinel, daughter of the Seigneur de
Melesches, the head of one of the most ancient families in
Jersey.

We first find this officer commanding the Aristocrat hired

• See Suppl. Part I, p. 404, et seq. t See p. 192.

POBT'CAPTAINS OF 1811. 416

armed brig, and capturing a French gun-vessel, off Cape
Frehel, Feb. 19, 1800, at which period he was employed
under the orders of his half-brother, Philip d'Auvergne,
whom the reigning prince of Bouillon had some years before
formally adopted as his son and successor, conformably to
precedents established in that duchy so far back as the time
of the crusades.

Lieutenant d'Auvergne 's next appointment appears to have
been to the Severn 44, bearing the broad pendant of the same
officer on the Jersey station ; and if we mistake not he was
the senior officer on board that ship when she was driven
ashore and wrecked, in Grouville Bay, Dec. 21, 1804. He
subsequently served as first-lieutenant of the Majestic 74,
flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Thomas Macnamara Russell, who
makes the following handsome mention of him in his official
letter reporting the capture of Heligoland, Sept. 5, 1807 '• —

*' I have appointed Lieutenant d'Auvergne as acting governor until
their lordships' pleasure is known ; and I beg leave to add, that from his
perfect knowledge of both services, his zeal and loyalty, and a high sense
of honor, I know no seaman more competent to the trust."

The subject of this sketch was made a commander Oct.
13, 1807, and continued at Heligoland for some time after
his promotion. On leaving that island he received a very
flattering address from the magistrates, aldermen, and other
principal inhabitants. He subsequently commanded the Au-
tumn sloop of war.

Captain d'Auvergne obtained post rank, Aug. 1, 1811;
and died at Havre, Feb. 2, 1825. A memoir of his brother's
services will be found in the Nav. Chron. vol. 13, pp. 169-191,
and vol. 36, p. 264.

GEORGE HENDERSON, Esq.

Son of John Henderson, Esq. many years secretary to Ad-
miral Liord Bridport.

This officer entered the navy, about 1797, as a midshipman
on board the Royal George, of 100 guns, bearing the flag of
that highly distinguished veteran, whose steady friendship he

416 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

ever after was honored with. From Nov. 1800, until the *
peace of Amiens, we find hiiii serving in the Belleisle 74, com-
manded, except for two short periods, by Captain William
Domett *. He subsequently proceeded to the Leeward Is-
lands, as master's-mate, in the Ulysses 44, fitted for the broad
pendant of Commodore Samuel Hood, in which ship he was
present at the capture of Tobago, July 1, 1803 +.

After that event Mr. Henderson returned home, for the pur-
pose of passing his examination at the Navy Office ; and he
had no sooner done so, than he proceeded to rejoin Commo-
dore Hood, by whom he was made Lieutenant into the Alli-
gator 28, armed enjiute^ by commission dated Jan. 28, 1804.
In that ship, commanded by Captain Charles Richardson, he
assisted at the reduction of Surinam, May 5, 1804 J.

Lieutenant Henderson was next appointed to the Centaur
74, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Samuel Hood, who had
just before been created a K. B. for his numerous gallant
and valuable services, but whose naval rank did not admit of
his being much longer continued as commander-in-chief at
the Leeward Islands.

After Sir Samuel's departure for England, the Centaur
accompanied Rear-Admiral Cochrane to Jamaica, in pursuit
of the celebrated Rochcfort squadron § ; a circumstance not
noticed in our memoir of her captain, the present Sir Murray
Maxwell.

Early in 1806, Lieutenant Henderson had the happiness to
find himself again under the command of Sir Samuel Hood,
who was at that period appointed captain of the Centaur,
then at Plymouth, and placed under the orders of Earl St. Vin-
cent, who sent him with a squadron of seven sail of the line,
and some small vessels, to watch the motions of the enemy
at Rochefort. The capture of four heavy French frigates
(full of troops, stores, arms, ammunition, and provisions) by
the Centaur, Monarch, and Mars, Sept. 25, in the same year,
have been described at p. 570 et seq. of Vol. I. Part II. Oa

• See Vol. I. p. 247, et seg. f See Id. p. 481.

X See Vol. II. Part II. pp. 797— 80K

S SeeVol. l.p. 261.

K>flT-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 417

tliat occasion, Sir Samuel Hood received a severe wound in
his right arm, which was afterwards taken out of the socket
by his able surgeon, Mr. Richard Daly, to whom he presented
a valuable pocket chronometer as a token of the high sense
he entertained of his very great skill and attention *.

Sir Samuel Hood's despatches respecting this important
capture were conveyed to the fleet off Brest by the subject of
this memoir, who although only fifth Lieutenant of the Centaur,
was shortly afterwards directed to perform the duty of first.

In the early part of 1807, Sir Samuel Hood again com-
manded a squadron employed in cruising between Madeira
and the Canary islands. We next find his broad pendant
flying in the armament sent against Copenhagen ; and on his
return from the Baltic, after the surrender of the Danish navy,
and his promotion to a flag, he was sent to take possession of
Aladeira, in conjunction with Major-Gcncral (now Lord) Ber-
esford, a measure rendered necessary in consequence of the
' occupation of Portugal by the French ; — this latter service
was performed, without opposition, Dec. 26, 1807. The fol-
lowing is an extract of Sir Samuel's oflficial letter to the Ad-
miralty, dated on the 29th of that month : —

" I have to express my entire satisfaction of the captains, officers, and
men of his Majersty's ships un thi:i service ; and I Dend my first Lieutenant,
Georg'e Henderson, with tins despatch. He is a very excellent officer, and
I must refer their Lordships to him for any further information ; I beg leave
to recommend him to their Lordsliips' notice."

Lieutenant Henderson arrived at the Admiralty Jan. 22,
1808 ; on which day a commission was signed promoting him
to the rank of Commander.

From this period we lose sight of Captain Henderson till
the summer of 1809, when he was placed under the orders of
Captmu Nicholas Tomlinson, who had been selected to com-
mand the fire-vessels attached to the Walcheren expedition.
The wind-up of his services in the Scheldt is thus officially
described by the late Vice-Admiral Otway : —

• Richard Daly, M. D. is now a practitioner in the Old Kent Road, and
the author takes this opportunity of publicly acknowledging how much
he likewise is indebted to his abilities and care, particularly during a long
and serious illness with which he was afflicted in the year 1326.

SUPPL. PART II. 2 E

418 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

" The tranaports necessary for the embarkation of the army having ar-
rived the 25th Nov. on the followhig day the measures that I had pre-
Tiously concerted with Lieutenant-General Don, for the destruction of the
basin, arsenal, and sea defences of Flushing, agreeably to instructions from
the Earl of Liverpool, dated the 13th, and received on the l/th, were
begun.

" On this service, 600 seamen and artificers from the fleet were employ-
ed, under the orders of Captain Moore of H. M. S. Marlborough, assisted
by Captains Tomlinson and Henderson, of the fire-ship service. The navy
having completed the portion of work allotted to them, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Pilkington, commanding the royal engineers, having reporlcd to
Lieutenant-General Don, that his mines for the destruction of the gates
and piers at the entmnce of the basin were ready, the whole of the army,
with the exception of the rear-guards, was embarked on tlie afternoon of
the ^th instant.

" The mines were exploded yesterday ♦, and appear to have fully an-
swered their object : the whole of the cast side of the basin had been pre-
viously completely destroyed ; but as the port of Flushing, west of the
han'm, lies considerably below the high water mark, any material injury of
the west bank would have caused the immediate inundation of the whole
town ; therefore our work on that side has been confined to the demolition
of the careening wharf and pits.

" It was at first intended to defer the bnming of the store-house and other
buildings in the arsenal until our final departure ; but, from the probability
that with a strong east wind the flames might communicate to the town,
the whole was set fire to yesterday, and is totally destroye<l.

" Thus Flutthing is rendered useless to the enemy as a naval arsenal ;
and the basin which afforded a very secure retreat for several ships of the
line during the winter, is for the present effectually destroyed, and can
only be restored by great labour, and at an iinment-e expense.

** 1 cannot conclude without expressing my great obligations to Cap-
tain Moore, for the able assistance he has rendered me in the performance
of a very complicated service ; and he speaks in terms highly satisfactory
of the conduct of Captains Tomlinson and Henderson, and the other offi-
cers who served under his orders on shore.

(Signed) " W. A. Otwav f."

Captain Hendei^on's next appointment was, in 1810, to
the Eclipse brig, of 18 guns. After assisting at the capture
of the Isle of France, he returned home acting in the Nereide

• Dec. 10, 1809.
t Vice-Admiral William Albany Otway died at Ryde, ia the I«le of
Wight, July 30, 1815. He had suflfered several attacks of the Walcheren
£ev«r since he returned from that expedition ; indeed it is believed by hia
friends, that he never perfectly recovered from it.

POST -CAPTAINS OP 1811. 419

frigate, formerly la Venu8 *, which ship he put out of com-
mission in May, 1811. His promotion to post-rank took place
Aug. 1st following.

On the 23(1 June, 1813, Captain Henderson was appointed
to the Acorn of 'JO guns ; from which ship he removed, April
20, 1H14, to the Minden 74, bearing the flag of his valuable
friend Sir Samuel Hood, then commander-in-chief on the East
India stationf. Shortly after the demise of that great officer
and most excellent man, he exchanged with Captain Donald
Hugh Mackay, into the Malacca 42, which frigate he paid oflf
in June, 1815.

Captain Henderson married, Nov. 26, 1817, Frances, eldest
' ' I of Edmund Walcott, of Winkton, near Christchurch,
! ' I sq. and sister to Captain John Edward Walcott, R. N.

by whom he has three sons and one daughter. One of his
sisters is married to Captain William Henderson, R. N.

THOMAS TUDOR TUCKER, Esq.

Third son of Henry Tucker, Esq. many years president
of the council, treasurer, and secretary at the Bermudas,
where he also held the reins of government at various pe-
riods, by Frances, eldest daughter^ of his Excellency George
Bruere, the governor of those islands.

Mr. T. Tudor Tucker was bom at the official residence of
his maternal grandfather, but at what period it is not in our
power to state. He entered the navy towards the close of
1793, previous to which he had made one voyage to China,
and another to Bombay, as a midshipman in the service of
the Hon. East India Company. The first king's ship ia
which he embarked was the Argo44, Captain William Clarke,
then about to sail from the Nore for the purpose of affording
protection to the homeward-bound Baltic trade. He after-

• See Vol. I. Part II. p. 630.
t Vlce-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood died at Madras, Dec. 24, 1814. In
him it may truly be said, that the British nation lost one of its most ex-
perienced and gallant defenders, a long-tried friend and companion of the
immortal Nelson.

2 s2

430 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

wards successively joined the Jason frigate, Sampson 64,
Victorious 74, and Monarch, of similar force, the latter
third rate bearing the flag of Sir George Keith Elphinstone,
commander-in-chief at the Cape of Good Hope. During
the operations which led to the capture of that colony, he
served on shore with the seamen and marines landed to co-
operate with the small military force under Major-General
Craig*.

Early in 1796 Mr. Tucker passed his examination for a
lieutenant ; Sir George K. Elphinstone having directed that
the time he had served in the Hon. Company's service should
be admitted by the passing captains. In addition to this
extraordinary mark of favor, he was immediately afterwards
promoted into the Suffolk 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral
Rainier.

Mr. Tucker's next appointment was to the Swift sloop.
Captain Thomas Hayward, and he appears to have quitted
that vessel at Madras only a few days previous to her sailing
from thence on a cruise in the China seas, since which she
has never been heard of : the name of her unfortunate com-
mander is frequently mentioned in our memoir of Captain
Peter Heywoodf.

Mr. Tucker's removal from the Swift was occasioned by a
complaint of the liver, which induced Captain William Clarke
to request that he might be appointed to the Victorious, as
she would be a more comfortable ship for him in such a cli-
mate : this application was readily granted by Kear-Admiral
Rainier, and he accordingly rejoined his first patron, with
whom he continued to serve until a second attack of the
liver, in 17^9, rendered it advisable for him to exchange into
the Sceptre 64, then under orders for England. At tliis pe-
riod the commander-in-chief was about to receive him into
his flag-ship on promotion.

On the 19th Sept. 1799, Mr. Tucker commanded the boatff
of the Sceptre at the capture and destruction of 1' Eclair,
French brig privateer, mounting 10 guns, with a comple-

• See Vol. I. Part I, pp. 47—49.
f See Vol. II. Part II. p. 762, et seq.

PbSt-CAPTAlXS OF 18il. 4S^

ment of 83 men, moored close to the shore, \vithin a reef of
rocks, at the island of Rodriguez : the manner in which this
service was executed will be seen by reference to p. 116, et
seq. where we have also noticed the loss of the Sceptre il*
Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Nov. 5, 1799.

On the day previous to that melancholy disaster, Mr.
Tucker, then acting as second lieutenant, requested Captain
Edwards to grant him permission to attend a ball that was
to be e:iven on shore, saying he woidd not leave the ship
until the business of the day was finished, and promising to
return on board at day-light the next morning, in order to
attend to his duty as the executive officer, the first lieutenant
h- ' " ' ' " -• Captain Edwards told him in reply,

^ • fifth lieutenants were also on shore, and

his standing orders were, that the ship was never to be left
without :it least two lieutenants and the master, he did not
like to deviate from them. Mr. Tucker had previously sent
to the third lieutenant to come on board in the evening and
relieve him, but, as a ball was pending, he had no expecta-
ti ' ■ his request would be complied with : however, while
t . ^ s company were at their supper, he was agreeably
surprised to see his messmate come alongside, and he soon
ifterwards went on shore, leaving orders for a boat to be sent
to bring him off at day-light. During the night it came on
to blow very hard ; and next morning, on repairing to the
place where he expected a boat would be, Mr. Tucker found
such a sea running that it was utterly impossible for one to
appro.ich the shore, and he could perceive the people on
board the Sceptre busily employed in striking lower-yards
and top-masts : the wind continued to increase during the
day, until it blew a hurricane, and the sea to roll in from the
ocean, in almost resistless billows : before 8 P. M.the Sceptre
and most of the vessels in the bay were ashore ; she soon
went to pieces, and her captain, the third and fourth lieute-
nants, the master, the captain's son and three other mid-
shipmen, two warrant officers, and about 280 of her crew
perished. A list of those who escaped this terrible catas-
trophe will be found at p. 222 of Suppl. Part I.

423 I'OST-CAPTAlffS OF 1811.

Mr. Tucker returned home with despatches from Sir George
Yonge, governor of the Cape, who entrusted them to his
charge in hopes that the expenses of his voyage would be
paid by government ; an expectation that was not realized.

On his arrival in London, May 1800, Mr. Tucker was ob-
liged to pass another examination at Somerset Place, the
Lords of the Admiralty having refused to make any allow-
ance for the time he had served at sea previous to his
entering the navy. Having done so, he was immediately
appointed a lieutenant of the Prince George 98, forming
part of the Channel fleet, under the command of Earl St.
Vincent. At the close of the French revolutionary war we
find him serving as fourth of the Prince, a very dull sailing
ship of similar force, in which he received a rupture, through
great exertion and anxiety to keep her in her station.

Lieutenant Tucker's next appointment was to the North-
umberland 74, bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral the Hon.
Alexander Cochrane. In May, 1805, he assisted at the cap-
ture of a French privateer, near St. Domingo, by the boats
of the Unicorn frigate j the manner in which that service
was performed will be seen by the following extract of an
official letter written by Captain Lucius Hardyman :

" On tlie morning of tlie 6th instant, a strange sail was seen on the
larboard bo\r, distant 7 or 8 loiles ; havin^i^ then li|fhuairs, inclinable to
cahu, and perceiving the stranger was using every effort with his sweeps
to escape, I directed Mr. Henry Smith WiLion, first lieutenant, assisted by
Messrs. James Tait and Henry Bourchier, second and third lieutenants,
and backed by the volunteer services of Lieutenant Thomas Tudor Tucker,
a passen/^er belonging to H. M. S. Northumberland, Lieutenant Walter
Powell, R. M. and Mr. Charles Bundle, purser of H. M. S. under my
command, to protn^ed with four boats, and endeavour to come up with the
chase. The cool and determined manner in which this service was per-
formed, after a pull of many hours, and the strong opposition they met
with, induce me thus publicly to express my approbation of every offi-
cer, seaman, and marine engaged in it ; and I am happy to add that no
lives were lost upon the occasion.*'

The privateer proved to be le Tapc-a-bord, mounting four
6-poundcrs, with a complement of 46 well-armed men.
Lieutenant Tucker, who commanded one of the above boats.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 423

waa then proceeding with despatches from his Admiral to Sir
John B, Warren.

After tlie action off St. Domingo, Feb. 6, 1806 *, the sub-
ject of thia memoir was appointed to the command of the
^<'' ed enjitite, in which ship Rear- Admiral Coch-

raik ..v..^.v.x his flag while the Northvmiberland went to
Antigua, for the purpose of repairing her damages. He was
•ubsequently appointed in succession, by that officer, to the
Dal^'Cwkux, Epervier, and Cherub sloops of war ; but his
4MaMilMllfb as a Commacder was not confirmed until Feb.
15, 1808.

Captain Tucker assisted at the capture of Martinique, in
l8Q9t, and was subsequently placed under the orders of Cap-
tuifi Philip Beaver, senior officer of tije squadron employed in
the blocimdc of Basse Terre, Guadaloupe.

* had not been long with the above squadron

L^. ... . ..,,.,.... Tucker, and Captain William Dowers, of the

Julia brig, volunteered to go in with their vessels, and board
and bring out two French frigates, then lying at Basse Terre
• ' ' ' fa very strong fort on the high land

< , ^ rage. Their spirited offer was readily

accepted by Captain Beaver, who sent 60 of Jtis own ship's
company to the Julia, and offered tlie Cherub as mai.y as her
commander wished ; but none were accepted by him, as his
officers and crew expressed a desire to have all the glory of
the enterprise to themselves. After waiting many days for a
favorable opportunity to make the attempt. Captain Tucker
at length had the pleasure to observe that the wind blew
home into the roadstead, and he immediately made the ap-
pointed signal to his consort. Both sloops stood towards the
frigates with as much wind, as enabled them to carry top-
gallant-sails over single- reefed top-sails close hauled, received
the fire of two batteries in passing them, and was confidently
expecting to be soon alongside the enemy, when their sails
suddenly flapped to the masts, and they were left without so

• See Vol. I. Part I. pp. 261—263 ; aud Vol. II. Part I. note t at p. 280.
t See Vol. I. Part I. p. 264.

flj^ POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

much as a breath of wind. In this unlooked-for and most
mortifying predicament, Captain Tucker, with great presence
of mind, immediately ordered the helm to be put hard a-star-
board, by which decisiv^e measure the vessels got out of gun-
shot of a third heavy battery, then just opening upon them,
before they lost their way. Captain Beaver was an eye-wit-
ness to the movements of the Cherub and Julia ; and he
afterwards told Captain Tucker that the promptitude with
which he had extricated them from their perilous situation
was deocrving of the highest praise; that as much credit was
due to him as if he had brought out the frigates, and that he
would duly report his conduct. All who are acquainted with
the anchorage at Basse Terre, must be aware of the difficulty
of an enemy getting into that roadstead, as the high land
commanding it occasions constant baffling winds and calms.
Highly as Sir Alexander Cochrane admired Captain
Tucker's heroic attempt, he gave strict orders that it should
not be repeated. Captain Beaver, however, determined, if
possible, to destroy the French frigates, and for that purpose
he directed the Unique brig to be prepared as a fire-vessel ;
her unavoidable destruction, before she could reach the ene-
my, has been related at p. 322.

On the 14th June, 1809, the guard-boats of the blockading
squadron gave notice that both the frigates were getting under
weigh. As the night was extremely dark, and the enemy
had the choice of several passages, it was a matter of opinion
with the different British captains which they would prefer.
The Cherub immediately made all sail to the northward, and
continued steering the same course until sun -set next day,
M'hen her commander discovered the fugitives under St. Mar-
tin's, with their heads to the southward. Considering this
only a feint to deceive him, he stood on, ran through the
Sambrero passage, and at dawn of day, on the lOth, perceived
, them right a-head, but not a single British ship or vessel in
sight. The enemy were now so near to the Cherub that
Captain Tucker thought his crew would scarcely have time
to breakfast ; but still he was determined that they should
have their meal before they went into action, and he was

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

equally resolved to engage the enemy, in hopes of crippling
them so as to render their ultimate capture certain. Unfor-
tunately, the wind began to moderate, and as it slackened
the frigates increased their distance : whenever it freshened
again for a short time, the Cherub had evidently the advan-
tage of sailing. At 2 P. M., the Latona frigate was seen
from the mast head, coming up on the lee-quarter. At sun-
set, the enemy's manoeuvres led Captain Tucker to believe
that they intended altering their course after dark ; and as
he thought it probable that they would separate, he considered
it most expedient to keep a little to vrindward. When dark
enough not to be observed by the Frenchmen, he hauled up
as close as he could without taking in his royal, top-gallant,
and fore-top-mast-studding sails ; on the morning of the 17th,
he had the mortification to find that they had both escaped
him. It subsequently appeared that one of the frigates bore
up after dark, and at midnight found herself alongside of the
Latona, Captain Hugh Pigot, who very soon captured her :
the other braced sharp up, and was intercepted by the Bonne
Citoyeime sloop of war, between Bermuda and Halifax *.

The subject of this memoir assisted at the reduction of
Guadaloupe, in 1810 ; and remained on the Leeward Islands'
ittiriftn^ under the orders of Sir Alexander Cochrane and his
•ucceesor. Sir Francis Laforey, in consequence of whose re-
port to the Admiralty, of the excellent state in which the
Cherub was kept, and the discipline of her crew, their Lord-
ships were pleased to direct that she should be rated as a
post-ship, and signed a commission promoting Captain Tucker
to that rank, and continuing him in the same command, Aug.
1, 1811.

At the end of Sept. 1812, the Cherub returned to England with
ninety- six sail of merchantmen under her protection. Captain
Tucker was immediately ordered to refit her for foreign ser-
vice ; and in a little more than tsvo months he sailed for the
South American station. During the time that his ship was in
dock, at Portsmouth, her crew were allowed a month's leave of

• See Captain William Mounsey, C. B,

496 POST'CAPTAINS OF IBli.

absence to see their friends ; and although they were aware that
she was again going abroad, not a man was absent from his
duty at the time of her departure. On his taking leave of Sir
Richard Bickerton, who then commanded at that port, Cap-
tain Tucker mentioned this circumstance, and reminded him
that although his people had so recently returned from the
West Indies, where many of them had served at least seven
years, in the Epervier and Cherub, he was about to quit
England without having asked for, or wished to obtain a
single man from the flag-ship ! Tlie port-admiral replied
that it was so rare an instance, he would make a point of re-
porting it ofhcially. We should here observe, that when
Captain Tucker removed into the Cherub, about Dec. 180S,
most of the Epervier's officers and the whole of her crew vo-
lunteered to follow him, notwithstanding tliat thht brig was
then under orders to return home, and his new sloop had but
just arrived on the station !

We next find Captain Tucker employed in the Pacific
Ocean. On his arrival at Lima he was informed tliat salted
provisions were not to be procured there, and he therefore
determined to reserve all that remained on board for the pas-
sage back round Cape Horn. He also attempted to add to
that stock, which waa only sufficient for six weeks* consump-
tion at full allowance ; but although various modes were
tried, every attempt failed, owing to the excessive heat of the
weather ; and he was consequently obliged to adopt the plan
of the Spaniards, who supply their vessels with beef cut in
slices, and dried in the sun until it becomes as hard as wood.
This substitute for salt- meat is then packed in matting, but
from its nature must not be stowed in the hold, or between
decks.

Shortly after his departure from Valparaiso, and a few days
before the last of the oxen Uiken on board there was slaught-
ered, the rain which fell for many hours had such an effect up-
on that contained in the mat packages, all of which were
stowed on the main-deck, about the booms, &c. as to make
it emit such a horrible smell, that many officers would doubt-
less have ordered the whole to be tlirown overboard : Captain

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. ^

Tucker, however, took advantage of the first fine day to ex-
pose it to the sun, when it very soon lost the offensive smell,
r««iraed its former solidity, and was again re-packed. Not-
wifthiftaiiding thi», he was afraid that the ship's company
might have a dislike to eat it, and he therefore directed all
the officers to make a point of doing so ; his steward was
likewise told to have nothing else cooked for the use of the
cabin on the day when it was to be first made use of. When
that time arrived, not a man appeared in the galley to claim
the meat for his mess, nor was a single piece of it taken away
even after it had been surveyed and reported " wholesome
food, fit for men to eat." The first Lieutenant was then de-
sired by Captain Tucker to allow it to remain in the cook's
charge until the usual hour for mustering at quarters, and then
to throw whatever remained unclaimed overboard. On the
2d, 3d, and 4th days, the meat was cooked as before, but still
no demand was made for it by any of the messes, the ship's
company preferring to dine on biscuit and grog alone. On
each of those days the quantity cooked was again properly
surveyed, and ordered to be '' d of as before. In the

afternoon of the latter day, i; , a marine said to one of

his companions that he was very hungry, and as the Captain
and officers trat the beef every day he would ^o and do the
same ; his messmate replied, " if you do, you will be severely
punished by the ship's company ;" which threat he immedi-
ately reported to the officer of the watch, who lost no time
in making the circumstance known to Captain Tucker. The
marines were instantaneously ordered to be got under arms,
and preparation was made for punishment. On the offender
being brought to the gangway. Captain Tucker told him
that he was not going to flog him for declining to eat the
meat, but for presuming to assume an authority which was
alone vested in his captain ; and which power, added he, " I
will not resign to any one, as long as I have a head on my
shoulders." He then ordered the boatswain of the Cherub to
give the first dozen lashes ; the boatswain's -mates followed in
succession, and the prisoner received as severe a punishment
as he thought himself authorized in inflicting. Captain

4SS POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

Tucker next addressed himself to the ship's company in terms
nearly as foUo^V' :

" My lads, — You have now been under my command between five and
six years ; and during that t'nne you must have observed that I have ever
made it a study, as it was my duty, always to get for you the best provi-
sions that could possibly be procured ; I need not add, that it has always
aflForded me the most heartfelt satisfaction so to do, and to see you com-
fortable and happy : the meat that you have refused to eat for the last four
days, and which your captain and oflicers have eaten, was the only substi-
tute for salt provisions that could be obtained in the Pacific; I believe that
I have been brought up from my birth to eat as delicate food as any of
vou, yet I have made four dinners on that which you do not think good
enough for you, and I most fervently pray to God to grant that I may
never fare worse than I have this day done on that very beef. It is far
from my intention to compel you to eat it, if you prefer dining on biscuit
and grog; but if you expect that I will allow the salt provisions now in
the hold to he used until we arrive in those high latitudes where this
beef cannot be preserved, you are very much mistaken : — return to your
various duties."

This firmness on the part of Captain Tucker was produc-
tive of the desired effect : next day the beef was demanded
by every mess, immediately after piping to dinner, and the
men continued to eat it unt.l their arrival at the Sandwich
Islands, where a stock of excellent pork was procured for ge-
neral use. It must be allowed by all who have any know-
ledge in these matters, that prompt, determined, and decisive
conduct is absolutely necessary in such cases ; but justice
demands that we should not attribute the conduct of the
Cherub's crew, on the above occasion, to a mutinous spirit,
but merely to the disgust occasioned by the beef's intolerable
smell when moistened by the rain. Their attachment to
Captain Tucker may be fairly inferred from what we have
stated in the first paragraph at p. 426.

Captain Tucker was severely wounded in both legs at the
commencement of the action with the United States' frigate
£s^x, oflF Valparaiso, Mar. 28, 1814, the official account of
which will be found at p, 861 et seq. of Vol II. Part II. On
that occasion he returned upon deck the moment his wounds
were dressed, and continued thei^e, "using every exertion
against the baffling winds and occasional calms, to close near

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 4S^

the enemy," until he had the satisfaction to see the American
colours lowered.

The Cherub returned home from Brazil in charge of a lara:e
fleet of merchantmen, and Captain Tucker was afterwards
successively appointed to the Andromeda and Comus, each
rated at 22 guns. He has not been employed since the end
of May, 1816.

This officer married, Jan. 23, 1811, Anne Byam, eldest
daughter of the late D. Hill, Esq. a merchant and land pro-
prietor in the island of Antigua, by whom he has issue two
sons and three daughters. His eldest brother, Henry St.
George Tucker, is a Director of the Hon. East India Com-
pany ; his second brother, George, a Lieutenant-Colonel in
the army, and Assistant-Adjutant-General to the forces under
Sir Arthur Wellesley, perished in the Primrose sloop of war,
when returning to the peninsula, after a short leave of ab-
sence*. His next brother, Lieutenant-Colonel John G. P.
Tucker, has served in India and at the Cape of Good Hope,
at Monte Video, in Canada, and in France ; the next, Captain
Nathaniel B. Tucker, Brigade-Major to Sir M. Nightingale,
shared the melancholy fate of his brother George ; the next
in point of age, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Hon. E. I. C,
service, and Deputy-Quarter-Master-General at the presiden-
cy of Bombay, died at sea, when returning home on leave of
absence, in 1826 j the next. Captain Charlton B. Tucker, of
the dragoons, served as aide-de-camp to Sir M. Nightingale
when that officer was commander-in-chief of the army at
Bombay ; and the youngest brother, Richard A. Tucker, is
now Chief Justice at Newfoundland.

JOHN BOWKER, Esq.

This officer, the second son of the late Robert Bo wker,
Esq. of Queen's County, Ireland, was born Dec. 1,1770;
and he entered the naval service, in Aug. \7^j as a mid-
shipman on board the Trusty of 50 guns, commanded by Cap-
tain William Wolseley, and then fitting for the broad pendant

• The Primrose, of 18 guns. Captain James Mein, was wrecked on the
Manacle rocks, near Falmouth, Jan. 22, 1809 .—all on board perished.

430 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

of his mother's near relative, the late Admiral Phillips Cosby,
who was at that time appointed commodore and commander-
in-chief on the Mediterranean station, and with whom Mr.
Bowker continued until his return to England, at the close of
1/88*.

From this period we find him serving in the Ferret sloop
of war, successively commanded by the Hon. Robert Stop-
ford and Captain Davidge Gould ; Gibraltar 80, Captain (af-
terwards Admiral) Goodall ; and London 98, bearing the flag
of the latter officer, until the Russian armament in 1791,
when he joined his above-mentioned relative in the Impreg-
nable of 90 gunsf.

Mr. Bowker was subsequently sent to the West Indies in
the Proserpine frigate, under the command of Captain James
Alms; but on hearing of Rear-Admiral Cosby's appointment
to the chief command at Plymouth, he obtained leave to re-
turn home, and once more joined that distiHguished officer,
whose flag was then flying on board the St. George 98, but
M'hich was removed at the commencement of tlie French
revolutionary war into the Windsor Castle, a ship of similar
force.

On the 15th April, 1/93, Rear- Admiral Cosby sailed from
Spithead, and proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he
acted as third in command, under Lord Hood, until after the
capture of Corsica, when he returned to England, with his
flag in the Alcide 74.

• Captain Bowker's father and mother ^vere related before their marriage,
and both descended from a rery respectable Norman family, several mem-
bers of which distinaftiished themselves as warriors durinj^ the crusadM.

Admiral Cosby came into possession of Slradbally Hall, Queen's County
(the estate of his ancestors), on the demise of Lord Sydney, Daron Strad-
bally (a title now extinct), formerly Alexander Sydney Cosby, Esq. his
Majesty's representative at the court of Denmark ; and it is now in the
possession of Captain Bowker's cousin, the only Rurvivin;^ son of his mo-
ther's eldest brother. Admiral Cosby's services are recorded in the Naval
Chronicle, vol. 14, pp. 353-364.

t Admiral Goodall died at Teipimouth, Devon, in IbOl : — his remaias,
agreeably to his will, were carried *o the grave by six old seamen, accom-
panied by six young maids, to each of whom he had ordered one guinea to
be given. Some account of his professional career will be found in the
Nav. Chron. v. 6, p. 369, et teq.

IXMT- CAPTAINS Of 1811. ^1

Mr. Bowker, who had comtiKinded a party of seamen on
shore during the occupation of Toulon, was promoted into
the St. Fiorenzo frigate, Captain Sir Charles Hamiit on, Bart.
July 10, 1794; and paid off from her in the month of Nov.
following. On the 8th Dec. in the same year, be received a
eommisftion appointing him to tlie Mars 74, Captain Sir
CSlBrles Cotton, Bart, to whose notice he had been recom-
mended by Rear-Admiral Cosby, and under whom he served
as fourth lieutenant during the memorable retreat of Com-
wallis, on which occasion the Mars, it will be remembered,
bore the brunt of the enemy's attack, she being the stern-
most ship of the British line*.

On Sir Charles Cotton's advancement to the rank of Rear-
Admiral, he was superseded by Captain Alexander Hood,
under whose command the Mars pursued and engaged I'Her-
cule, a new French 74, which ship was ultimately subdued
and taken possession of by the subject of this memoir, then
second lieutenant, who on boarding her after the republican
crew bad cried for quarter, was met in an hostile manner by
the first and second French captains with about 60 men,
whom they had treacherously rallied around them.

This latter circumstance has never yet been noticed by
any naval historian, nor was it even mentioned by the first-
Heatenant of the Mars, in his official letter to Lord Bridport ;
it therefore becomes our task to relate the fact as it oc'
curred.

Towards the close of the battle Captain Hood received a
mortal wound, and was consequently carried below. The
yards of the hostile ships had been for some time locked
together, and Lieutenant Bowker, who commanded on the
lower-deck was obliged, at all risks, to fire the guns under
his superintendence at nearly the whole length of their
breechings, as they could not be run out without bringing
them in contact with those of I'Hercule. Finding that the-
enemy's fire had at length ceased, and imagining that she
had surrendered, he proceeded to the quarter-deck for the
purpose of receiving further orCew ; but seeing no ofl&cer
• See Vol I, note t at p. 354.

432 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

there senior iu rank to the acting-master, and the prize not
yet taken possession of, he immediately jumped into her
main-chains, followed by a party of boarders, and, although
unexpectedly opposed, soon subdued the Frenchmen who-
had thus unwarrantably resumed their arms, driving the
greater part of them into the main-chains of the Mars. In
this hand-to-hand conflict he had the misfortune to miss his
aim when making a thrust with his pike at the second cap-
tain, and his foot slipping, he was precipitated firom the
quarter-deck down to the orlop, by which fall he lost three
teeth and received a severe contusion in the right knee, but
luckily he was not incapacitated from retaining the charge
of I'Hercule*.

After finally subduing the enemy's ship, and getting her
clear of the Mars, Lieutenant Bowker and his followers, only
one of whom was wounded, had to contend with an alarming
fire in four different places ; and from the great quantity of
powder which they found, at day-light, had been spilled on
various parts of I'Hercule's decks, it may fairly be inferred
that she was only saved from being blown up by the bodies
of the killed and dying Frenchmen lying so thick in all di-
rections as to prevent the formation of a continued train to
the magazine.

After conducting I'Hercule to Lord Bridport's fleet, the
subject of this memoir returned to the Mars, and remained
in her as first-lieutenant, until the spring of 1799. From
that period till the peace of Amiens we find him serving in
the Prince, and another second rate, both bearing the flag
of his friend Sir Charles Cotton. On the renewal of hosti-
lities, in May 1803, the same amiable officer being appointed
second in command of the Channel fleet, was pleased to se-
lect Mr. Bowker to be his first lieutenant, in the San Josef
of 120 guns ; and in the autumn of 180(> he gave him an
order to act as commander of the Atalante brig, forming part
of a squadron stationed off Rochefort, under the orders of
Sir Samuel Hood.

• Errata — Vol. II. Part II. iwtc t at p. 616 — after teounded, insert q^-
cially reported ; and after second lieutenant, insert toko had a fair claim to
be included in the report.

P08t-CAPTA!NS OF 1811. 433

Shortly after this appointment, and during a dark night.
Captain V M\ in with a French coasting convoy, con-
sisting of sail, eight of which he had the good fortune

to capture and destroy.

In Feb. 1807, the blockading squadron, then under the
comm ' ^ Commodore Keats, being blown off the land,
»"d {. iiite being the first of the inshore division to

regain her station. Captain Bowker observed two French
•hips under weigh in Basque roads, and all the other men of
warat that Jlnchorage with their top-sail-yarda at the mast-
heads braced up ready for casting. Not one of his fellow-
cruisers being then in sight, and fearing the enemy would
effect their escape, if not intimidated from coming out, he
intfiiAflidopted the expedient of hoisting flags and firing
giras, as if making signals to the British squadron: this
•tratn / !y succeeded — ^the Frenchmen, already under

saily^kb 5»> I. nil anchors, and the whole were soon in the
mMI Mier as though a start had never been contemplated.

AftVthe performance of this service. Captain Bowker
proMlMS to place his brig in a proper position for watching
the Aidttiy's motions (hirins:^ the night, but in doing so the
Atalante unfortunatdy irot aground, through the ignorance
of the coasting pilots ; and at day-light next morning, the
enemy, instead of sending boats to reflteue her oflBcers and
crew from their deplorable situation, inhumanly opened a
heavy fire of great guns and musketry upon them, which
was kept up till two British frigates arrived to their assist-
ance, and succeeded in taking them firom the wreck.

On the 23d of the following month, the minutes of the
court-martial, assembled to enquire into the circumstances
attending the loss of the Atalante, being received at the Ad-
miralty, and Sir Charles Cotton having interested himself in
behalf erf his old follower, their lordships were pleased to
confirm Captain Bowker's commission as a commander, at
the same time appointing him to the Epervier brig, then
employed at the Leeward Islands, from whence he \vas ob-
liged to return home, for the recovery of his health, in Feb,
1808.

SUPPL. PART II. 2 F

434 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

Captain Bowker's next appointment was, in Aug, 1809, to
the JEinsL bomb, forming part of the naval force in the Scheldt,
under the orders of Sir Richard J. Strachan, whose thanks
he had the honor of receiving in public orders (conjointly
with other officers serving under the immediate directions of
Captain George Cockburn) for silencing the batteries of
Doel, and covering the retreat of the advanced squadron of
frigates.

The iEtna was subsequently employed in the defence of
Cadiz, on which service Captain Bowkcr remained till about
Oct. 1810, when he was removed, by Sir Charles Cotton,
into the Wizard, a 16 gun brig, on the Mediterranean sta-
tion. In the spring of 1811, we find him acting as captain
(rf the San Josef, once more bearing the flag of his staunch
patron, with whom he soon afterwards returned to England,
as a passenger in the same ship. His post commission bears
date Aug. 16, 1811*.

From this period Captain Bowker did not obtain another
appointment till Feb. 12, 1817> when he was nominated by
Vice-Admlral Pickmore, governor and commander-in-chief at
Newfoundland, to command his flag-ship, the Sir Francis
Drake, of 46 guns. On the demise of that officer, Feb. 24,
tl818, he hoisted a broad pendant as commodore on that sta-
tion ; and early in the following month he was, by virtue of
the king's letter- patent, sworn in as governor, pro tempore,
of the colony, the duties of which high oflice he discharged
with great credit until the arrival of Sir Charles Hamilton,
Bart, at the latter end of July following.

Having then resigned his trust into the hands of Vice- Ad-
miral Pickmore's successor, Captain Bowker resumed the
command of the flag- ship, and continued at St. John's till
Nov. 1819, when he embarked in the Egeria 24, for a pa8M|pe
to England, the Admiralty having thought proper to redbooe
the Sir Francis Drake's establishment, and to place her under
the command of a lieutenant. The other officers, and sur-
plus part of the crew, returned home with their Captain, and
were paid off at Portsmouth, Jan. 1, 1820.

• See Vol. 11. Part I. note t at p. 447.

POST-CAPTAI.VS OF 1811. 435

In 1825 Captain Bowker was appointed to command H.M.
Ordinary at Plymouth, where he continued during the cus-
tomary period of three years. He married, in 1801, Mary
Beckford, eldest daughter of Thomas L. Yates, Esq. who was
purser of the Mars when she captured I'Hercule, and is now
the senior officer of that rank in H. M. navy. Captain
}3owker has one son and one daughter.

HENRY BOURCHIER, Esq.

Eldest son of Captain John Bourchier, who died Lieute-
Dant-Governor of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, Dec. 30,
1809*.

This officer was made a lieutenant May I, 1804: we first
find him serving in the Unicom frigate, and commanding one
of her boats at the capture of le Tape-i-bord French priva-
teer, of four 6-pounders and 46 well-armed men, after a long
pursuit and an obstinate resistance, off St. Domingo, May 6,
1806t. His promotion to the rank of commander took place
April 20, 1808, on which occasion he was appointed to the
Denierara sloop, employed at the Leeward Islands.

From that vessel Captsdn Bourchier removed to the Hawke
brig, of 16 guns, about Feb. 1809 ; and in the latter he cap-
tured le Furet privateer, of 14 guns and 86 men, on the
Channel station, Feb. 7> 1811. He also witnessed the de-
struction of a 40-gun frigate, near Cape Barfleur, March 25
following!. The very gallant manner in which he obtained
a post commission will be seen by the following copy of an
official letter addressed by him to Admiral Sir Roger Curtis,
Aug. 19, in the same year : —

«* Sir, — I beg leave to state to you, that, in obedience to your direc-
tions, I proceeded, in H. M . brig under my command, to the eastward of
St. Warcou, in order to intercept any of the enemy's trade bound to the
westward ; at 2 P. M. St. Marcou bearing W. by N. six leagues, we ob-
served from the mast-head a convoy of French vessels steering for Bar-
fleur • all sail was immediately made in chase, and, on our near approach,

• See Xav. Chron. vol. 21, p. 87.
t See p. 422.
X See Vol. I. Part II. p. 691.
2f2

436 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

we perceived them to be protected by three-armed natioaal brigs, and two
large luggers, the former carrying from 12 to 16 guns each, the latter from
8 to 10 each, apparently well-manned. Convinced, from their hauling out
from their convoy in close order, it was their intention to attack us, I im-
mediately hove-to to receive them, and at 3-30 P. M. Point Piercu bearing
N. W. i W. 4 miles, the action commenced within half-pistol-shot, and
continued with great spirit on both sides, until we succeeded in driving on
shore two of the brigs, and the two luggers, with fifteen sail of their con-
voy ; but, in the act of wearing, to prevent the third brig raking us, we
unfortunately grounded, which enabled her and a few of the convoy to
escape, although having previously struck to us. My whole attention at
this time was to getting H. M . brig oflF, by lightening her of her booms,
spars, anchors, and a few of her guns, &c. which was effected in an hour
and a half, under incessant discharges of artillery and musketry, which
completely lined the shore. I thought it then most prudent to anchor, in
order to replace the running rigging ; during which time I despatched the
boats, under the command of Lieutenant David Price, my second lieute-
nant (my first being in a prize), to bring out or destroy as many of the
enemy's vessels as practicable ; he succeeded in bringing ont the Heron
uational brig, pierced for 16 guns, mounting only 10, and three large
transports, laden with timber for ship-building; the rest 'were on their
broadsides, and completely bilged, and he was only prevented from burn-
ing them, by the strength of the tide being against him ; which service
was conducted in a most masterly and gallant manner, under a galling
fire of musketry from the beach, lined with troops. Lieuteniint Price
speaks in very high terms of the gallantry displayed by Mr. Smith, mas-
ter, and Mr. Wheeler, gunner, who handsomely volunteered their services
on the occasion.

" The grateful task is now left to me. Sir, to express my sense of ad-
miration of the very steady, uniform, brave, and determined conduct of
the whole of my officers and ship's company, which will ever entitle them
to n»y sincerest and warmest thanks ; and I feel I am only barely doing
justice to the merits of Lieutenant Price*, in recommending him most
strongly to their lordships' notice, for his spirited conduct in the action,
as also in the boats, and in shojrt on all occasions ; he is a most deserving
and meritorious young officer, to whom I feel myself much indebted :
nor can I pass unnoticed the zeal and attention of Mr. Henry Campling,
purser, who volunteered to command the marines and small-arm men,
and to whose continued and well-conducted fire I attribute the loss of so
few men, which has been trifling, when the superiority of force opposed
to us is considered, being only one man killed and four wounded.

" It is with much saiisfactiwn J add, that H. M. brig has suffered in
nothing but the running rigging and sails, except what damage she may

• APost-Captainof 1816.

POST-C ATTAINS OF 1811. 437

kurt received from pounding ; at preeenl she makes nearly two feet water
an hour ; aod as the prizes are not in a condition to proceed by them-
•elret, I have judjjed it right to make the best of my way to Spithcad
with them, which I trust will meet with your approbation. I have the
honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " H. Bocrchier."

Captain Bourchier was advanced to post rank on the very-
day that his letter reached the Admiralty, Aug. 22, 1811.
His next appointment was to the San Josef, a first rate, fit-
ting for the flag of Rear- Admiral Foote, who was then pre-
paring to assume a command on the Mediterranean station.
The narrow escape of that noble ship firom destruction, in
Mar. 1813, is thus described by a gentleman then resident
at Plymouth . —

*' His Majesty's dock-}'ard here has been again placed in considerable
hazani, by a fire which broke out in the Captain 74, lately converted into
a hulk, and moored off (he jetty-head. When this alarming circumstance
was first discovered, the San Josef lay alongside, for the purpose of re-
moving her stores, in order to be docked, and in a few minutes she would
p: ' '' have been involved in a similar calamity j but every heart and
c . al being on the alert, the lashings which fastened her to the hulk

were cut, and she was fortunately separated : hawsers were got out, and
she was speedily removed, with other ships of war, to a safe distance. By
midnight, the conflagration, aided by the fanning of a light wind, had taken
possession of roost of the upper parts of the ship, and by 2 A. M. the
internal parts were so completely ignited, that they presented the appear-
ance of iron in a state of red heat, mthout losing their original shape and
connexion. At this period, the spectacle was one of the most magnifi-
cent, but awful sights that can be conceived. The paly lustre of the
moon contrasted itself at first with the fiery glare, but the latter soon
assumed the predominance, and flung its influence over every object in the
vicinity, imparting a singular hue to the countenances of the numerous
spectators on shore, and of those on duty in the surrounding boats. Fear-
ing the ship would drift when the fire came to the bitts that held the
mooring-chain, the shipwrights of the dock-yard drove large clamps in the
bow, and ring-bolts through the stern, to which were attached chains,
and sundry boats to convey her to the western shore. All attempts to
scuttle her by the common means being found impracticable from the
intense heat, some carronades and field-pieces were conveyed as near as
possible in dock-yard lighters, and they discharged at intervals more than
200 shots, which penetrated between wind and water, but without effect ;
for as the hulk became more buoyant by the operation of the flames, she
rose considerably, and the shot-holes appeared above water. This aovel

^8 P08T-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

species of bombardment was rendered peculiarly grand by the attendant
echoes, and continued until 4 A. M. when, being nearly consumed to the
water's edge, her bow gradually drooped, the water rushed in through her
ports, and she majestically glided to the bottom, contending, as she went,
with the waves, which were unable, for some time, to quench the mighty
mass of fire, and gloriotis, like the hero who once commanded her, in
her exit • ! The fire was first discovered in the galley ; but how it ori-
ginated cannot be ascertained. A part of the San Josef's stores, with
Captain Bourchier's property, had been removed to the hulk ; the re-
mainder of the stores, and the luggage of the officers and crew, were to
have been transferred the following day."

Shortly after this disastrous occurrence. Captain Bourchier
was superseded, in consequence of Rear-Admiral Foote
having accepted the appointment of second in command at
Portsmouth, and the San Josef being ordered to prepare for
the reception of Sir Richard King, who had selected another
officer to serve as his flag-captain. We subsequently find
him commanding the Medina of 20 guns, and Athol 28 : he
was appointed superintendant of the quarantine establish-
ment at Milford, in Jan. 1827.

Agent. — J. Copland, Esq.

JOHN STRU^rr PEYTON, Esq.

Third son of the late William Peyton, Esq. many years in
the Navy Office, Somerset Place, by Phillis, daughter of Cap-
tain Lobb, who died in command of the Kingfisher sloop, on
the American station, and sister to the late Commissioner
William Granville Lobb. His paternal grandfather, Admiral
Joseph Peyton (son of Commodore Edward Peyton) married
a daughter of Commodore Strutt, and had issue four sons,
viz. — William, abovementioned, whose eldest son perished
in the York 64, of which ship he was the third Lieutenant ;
Joseph, died a superannuated Rear-Admiral j John com-
manded the Defence 74, at the battle of the Nile, and after-
wards obtained a Hag f ; and Thomas, died in conunand of

• We scarcely need remind our readers that Nchon \vm\ his broad pen-
dant flying in the Captain when he boarded and captured the San Jotef.
t See Vol. II. Part II. note f «t p. 654.

POCT-CAPTAINS Of 1811. 4|9

the Monarch J-L His maternal grandmother was many years
matron of the royal hospital at Greenwich *.

The subject of this memoir was bom at Kentish Town,
near London, Jan. 14, 17B6; and he entered the navy, under
V ' ofthe illustrious Nelson, Oct. 4, 1797. The first

^ ^ ' h he embarked was the Hector 74, for a passage

to join the Emerald frigate. Captain Thomas Moutray Waller,
under whom he served for a period of three years. We sub-
sequently find him in the San Josef 120, and St. George 98,
the latter bearing the flag of his noble patron in the expedi-
tion sent to act against the Northern Confederacy. After
) ' 1 rn from the Baltic he successively joined the Revolu-

i .-...: 0, PhcjL'be, and £ndymion frigates.

In 1804, Mr. Peyton was again received on board Nelson's
flag- ship, the Victory of 100 guns, in which he served as roas-
ter's-mate, till his promotion to the mnk of Lieutenant, about
Sept. 1805. On that occasion, he was appointed to the
CanopuB 80 ; but his lordship very soon removed him to the
Ambuscade frigate, commanded by Captain William D'Ur-
ban, and most actively employed in checking the progress of
the French arms on the shores of the Adriatic,

In the course of that service Captain D'Urban fitted out a
small vessel as a tender, armed her with the launch's carron-
ade, and placed her under the command of Lieutenant Pey-
ton, who soon captured several of the enemy's coasters. On
one occasion, a French privateer of 6 long guns and 30 men,
came out from Ancona, for the purpose of rescuing a prize he
had just taken, but after an hour's manoeuvring, and firing
on l)oth sides, she sheered off and returned into port, without
having injured any of the tender's crew, then consisting of

only 8 men.

The Ambuscade subsequently co-operated with some Ca-
labrese troops under the present Colonel Lord Greenock, in
an attempt to reduce the Tremiti islands, on the coast of
Apulia ; but the force employed not being sufficient to accom-

• Mrs. Lobb's eldest son unfortunately perished at sea. A sketch of
the services of Admiral Joseph Peyton is given at p. 256 of Nav. Chrm.
vol. 12. He died at his seat, Wakehurst Park, Sussex, Sept. 22, 1804.

440 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

plish that object, was obliged to retire. Previous to thd
abaiidonment of the attempt^ however. Lieutenant Peyton,
who commanded a party of sailors on shore, swam across
from the spot where his battery stood, to the enemy's princi-
pal position, and with a few men succeeded in bringing off a
small vessel that had for some time been lying moored close
under their batteries and guard-house : this spirited service
was performed under a smart but harmless fire from the
French night-guard, who were not many yards distant from
the vessel when she was taken possession of.

In July, 1807, Lieutenant Peyton was wounded in the
right arm by a musket-ball, whilst destroying an enemy's
vessel which had run ashore near Ortona : being obliged to
submit to amputation above the elbow, he shortly afterwards
invalided and returned to England. His promotion to the
rank of commander took place Dec. 1, 180/, on which oc-
casion he was appointed to the Ephira brig.

In that vessel. Captain Peyton accompanied the expedition
to Walcheren, and was subsequently employed in the river
Elbe, at Lisbon, and at Cadiz, during the siege of I'lsle de
Leon. His next appointment was, about Feb. 1811, to the
Weazle of 18 guns, stationed in the Archipelago, where he
captured the French privateer le Roi de Rome, a fine vessel,
only forty-five days off the stocks, mounting 10 guns, with a
complement of 46 men, and commanded by a person styling
himself a Chevalier de I'Ordre Royal des Deux Siciles.

Previous to this capture, the Weazle had conveyed the
Archduke Francis from Smyrna to Sardinia. H. R. H. was
much pleased with the voyage, and particularly with the atten-
tions of Captain Peyton, to whom he presented a gold snuff-
box, having his initials on it, set with brilliants, as a token
of his esteem. On their arrival at Cagliari, Captain Peyton
was invited to dine with the King and Queen of Sardinia ;
and in return, he gave a ball on his own monarch's birth-day
to their majesties and the Austrian prince, on board the Wea-
zle, The singularity of the place and scene delighted the
royal personages : it was the first English man-of-war on
board of which the Queen had ever been, and she was in high

P08T-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 441

ipiritB on the occasion. Her majesty danced with Captain
Peyton, to whom, and to his officers, in return for this un-
expected entertainment, 2l ftte champetre was given, followed
by a masked ball at the theatre ; while the crew of the Wea-
zle were regaled with the best productions of the island in
abundance.

Captain Peyton was posted into the Minstrel of 20 guns,
Sept. 26, 1811 ; from which period he appears to have been
employed on the coasts of Valencia and Catalonia until nearly
the end of the war.

On the 10th Aug. 1812, Captain Peyton observed three
i^rench privateers lying under the protection of the strong
£ii4iUM of Benidorme, between Alicant and Cape St. Martin.
-Rndiiig that their place of rendezvous was discovered, two of
them hauled ashore, landed six of their guns, and erected a
battery on the beach, which was manned by their joint crews,
amounting to 80 men, chiefly Genoese : under these circum-
stances, he could do no more than prevent their escape.

On the night of Aug. 12, a cutter was sent to row guard
near the ibore, under the command of Mr. Michael Dwyer,
a goatleman who had been made a lieutenant nearly five
months before, but was still ignorant of his promotion. This
young officer considered, that if he could take the privateers'
battery, he might be able to capture and bring out the vessel,
which still continued afloat. With this view he had ques-
tioned some Spaniards who came from the town, and they
all agreed in stating that the enemy had retreated, leaving
only 30 men in the battery and 20 in the castle. Greatly as
the force in the battery, even according to this information,
exceeded his own, he relied upon the courage and steadiness
of his boat's-crew, only 7 in number, determined upon the
attempt, and accordingly landed, at 9-30 P. M. about 3 miles
to the westward of the town.

The moment his gallant little band began to advance, they
were challenged by a French sentinel : Mr. Dwyer answered
in Spanish, that they were peasants, and they continued their
march till they reached the battery, which was instantly at-

442 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1811.

tacked, and, after a smart struggle, carried, although the
whole of the privateers' men were there to defend it.

A few minutes only elapsed before the British boat's crew
found themselves surrounded by 200 French soldiers, against
whom they defended themselves till one of the heroes was
killed, another severely wounded, and Mr. Dwyer himself
shot through the shoulder : even then, how little intention
they had of surrendering may be collected from the following
anecdote : — ** The man who had been wounded, who had lost
his right eye, on recovering from his stupefaction, delibe-
rately took a handkerchief from his neck, and binding it
over the wound, said, * though I have lost one eye, I have
still another left, and ni fight till I lose that too, I hope,
Mr. Dwyer, you will never surrender' " But their ammu-
nition was now exhausted, and the enemy, emboldened by
the cessation of their fire, rushed down upon them with their
bayonets. Mr. Dwjer was too weak, from the loss of blood,
to sustain a fight hand-to-hand ; he and his men were borne
down' by such overwhelming numbers, and the enemy were
soon in unresisted possession of the battery. In this assault,
Mr. Dwyer received no less than seventeen bayonet wounds,
and all his men, except one, were likewise most severely
wounded. The admiration of the enemy at their invincible
courage was without measure ; the treatment they experi-
enced from them was rather like that of grateful men to
benefactors who have suffered for their sakes, than that of
enemies to those who have fallen into their power : when
they were conveyed to the head-quarters of the French Ge-
neral, Mons. Goudin, the same benevolence and solicitude,
in acknowledgment of their bravery, were shewn to them by
that officer and his suite. It was forgotten, in this instance,
that men taken in war are prisoners ; permission was given
them to return to their ship, and the general sent an invita-
tion to Captain Peyton to visit him on shore, that he might
in person restore them, and congratulate him on having such
brave men under his command : the invitation was given
with candour, and accepted with confidence : Captain Peyton

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 4^

dined with General Goudin, and remained on shore several
hours.

A gallant service subsequently performed by the Minstrel's
boats is thus described by Captain Peyton in an official letter
to Sir Edward Pellew, dated Sept. 30, 1812 :—

** In obedience to your orders to cruise between Denia and Valencia,
for the purpose of intercepting supplies going to the enemy, I beg leave
to inform you, that on the evening of the 29th I received information of
the enemy having laden six vessels with shells at Valencia for Peniscola ;
the weather being favorable, I conceived it practicable to bring them out,
or destroy them. 1 despatched the boats under the direction of Lieutenant
George Thomas, assisted by Messrs. Linns, Oliver, and Smith, midship-
men, for that purpose, keeping the ship close in shore for their protection.
They stioceeded in bringing out four of them ; a fifth was in their pos-
session, when unfortunately the wind shifted suddenly round to the S. E.
in a heavy squall, when she grounded, and I am sorry to add, was retaken,
with 3 of our men on board. The bravery evinced by the oflScers and
men employed was very conspicuous. The vessels were moored head and
stem to the shore, between two batteries of two 24-pounders and two
mortars, with a strung garrison in the Grao* ; their sails unbent and rud-
ders tmshipped. Our loss, with the exception of the prisoners, is ouly
one man wounded, I hope not dangerously."

We next find Captain Peyton commanding the Thames
frigate, and assisting at the reduction of Col de Balaguer,
mention of which has been made at p. 227, of Vol. 11.
Part I. After the raising of the siege of Tarragona, he re-
ceived a letter from Rear-Admiral HaUowell, of which the
following is a copy : —

" H. M. S. Malta, off Balaguer, 19/A June, 1813.

" Sir, — ^The order with which the captains, officers, and men of all de-
scriptions, of the squadron under my command, engaged in these co-
operations with the army upon the coast of Catalonia, and the indefatiga-
ble zeal and cheerfulness with which they performed the laborious duties
that fell to their province, have been so conspicuous as to entitle them to
the highest praise on my part.

*' That greater advantages to the public cause did not result is to be
lamented, but ought not, and will not, I trust, discourage in the smallest
degree future exertions. It is yet early in the campaign, and further
operations are projected, wherein the same unwearied perseverance, the

• The strand or beach of Valencia, from which that city is distant 2i
miles.

444 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

same alacrity, and cordial co-operatioD with the army, will have happier
effects, I hope, and be crowned with complete success.

" I therefore request you will express to the officers and ship's com-
pany of H. M. ship under your command my grateful sense of their recent
exertions, and my confidence in the continuation of them wherever the
opportunity shall be friven.

" Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart, the commander-in-chief, havins;
moreover consigned to me the pleasing task of communicating his public
thanks for the promptness and fidelity with which my orders have been
uniformly executed by all ranks in the squadron, I have great satisfaction
in signifying his sincere acknowledgments of the meritorious conduct of
jourself, your pflicers, and ship's company, on this present service, of
which he has received abundant testimony, and I have to request that you
will make this known to them accordingly. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " Ben. Hallowell."

" To Captain Peyton, H. M. S. Thames."

Captain Peyton subsequently conveyed Lieutenant-General
Sir John Murray to Alicant, and then proceeded with des-
patches to England. The Thames was put out of commis-
Bion at Sheerness, in Sept. 1813, since which he has not been
employed. He married, Oct. 1814, the daughter of the late
Lieutenant Woodyear, R.N. of the island of St. Christopher*s,
by whom he has two sons and three daughters. Mrs. Peyton's
brother was killed when serving as brigade-major of the Royal
Artillery, at the battle of Vittoria.

GARDINER HENRY GUION, Esq.

We first find this officer serving under Sir Joseph S.
Yorke, ns senior lieutenant of the Christian VII. and com-
manding her boats at the capture and destruction of twelve
French merchantmen, laden with wines, brandies, Sec. near
Rochelle, in Jan. 1810. His spirited conduct in a subsequent
affair with the enemy is thus officially described :—

"//. M. S. Christian f7/. in Basque Roads, Feb. 13, 1810.

" Three vessels, being part of a convoy of ten sail, laden with brandy,
&c. that sailed last night in thick blowing weather, wiml W. S. W. from
the Charcnte, bound to the northward, having got on the reef that pro-
jects from the point of Chatclaillon, between Aix and Rochelle, I directed
the boats of this squadron to destroy them. This was forthwith attempted
to be executed* when the enemy made a movement to prevent it. Our

rOST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 44$

boata were eight in number, and the enemy'a nine ; oar's armed in the
usual way, their's more formidable, all of them being gun-boats, each carry-
mg a 12.pounder carronade and 6 swivels, and rowing from 20 to 30 oars.
*' Lieutenant Guion, who directed the operations, made a feint of re-
treating, to decoy the enemy from their shore defences, when suddenly
turnmg on them, they fled. The barge of this ship, in wtiich he was, being
then .,t, adranced most gallantly along the rear of the enemy's

line I .ird boat ; but finding from circumstances that the rear boat

was the only one likely to be successfully attacked, he boarded and carried
her swortl in hand. Two others were closely pursued to the beach by
Lieutenant Roberts, of the Armide, and must, from his steady tire within
' ve lost men. The gun-boat taken by Lieutenant Guion had

'^■ountied ; amongst the latter was her commander, severely.
The ressels alluded to above were then burnt.

(Signetl) " Joseph S. Yorke.'*

Lieutenant Guion was made a commander, and appointed
to the Philomel brig of 18 guns, on the Mediterranean station.
May 17, 1810. On the Slst Aug. following, that vessel was
chased by a French squadron, off Toulon, and rescued in the
most noble manner by the Repulse 74, Captain John Halli-
d»y, now Rear-Admiral ToUemache. This affair not having
been noticed as it deserved in our first volume, more from
the modesty of that excellent officer than from any indiffer-
ence on our part, we have much pleasure in now giving a
full account of it.

In the early part of August, three French store-ships, bound
to Toulon, were chased into the anchorage of PorqueroUe,
one of the Hieres islands, and were there watched by Cap-
tain Guion. On the 26th, at day-light, they pushed out,
and one of them succeeded in getting to Toulon, covered by
a division of the French fleet from the outer road : the
others, however, were obliged to put back to their former
place of shelter. On the 30th, they removed to the entrance
of the Little Pass, preparatory to a third attempt to reach
their destined port. On the next morning, at day-light, the
Toulon fleet was seen in motion ; and at 8-30 A, M. the two
store-ships were again under weigh. At 9-30, the Philomel,
stiil at her post, tacked, the wind blowing a light breeze
from the E. S. E., and at 10-30 she exchanged a few distant
shot with them, as they were rounding Point Escampebarion.

446 POST-CAPTAIN S OF 1811.

In ten minutes afterwards, Captain Halliday, who was lying-
to on the larboard tack, at some distance outside the brig,
exchanged shot with the enemy's advanced frigates : mean-
while the store- ships, favored by the wind and protected by
their friends, got into Toulon.

Having accomplished this object, the French squadron
under Rear-Admiral Baudin, in the Majestueux of 120 guns,
continued working out, in the hope, apparentlj'^, of capturing
the Philomel, whose commander now made all possible sail
to get clear of the enemy. At noon their two headmost fri-
gates opened a fire upon the brig, which she returned with her
stern-chasers. About half an hour afterwards, the Repulse
also commenced firing her stern guns ; but finding that the
fihot of the frigates were passing over the Philomel, Captain
Halliday instantly bore up to keep astern of her, and treated
them with so heavy and well-directed a fire, that, in the
course of a quarter of an hour, they wore, and joined the
line-of-battle ships, several of which were also, by this time,
far advanced in the chase. By 5 P. M. the whole of Mons.
Baudin's division were again at anchor in the outer road.
At the time this daring act was performed by Captain Halli-
day, the British fleet was out of sight to leeward, except one
74 and a frigate, both of which were about 9 miles distant in
the same direction. In a spirit of honorable gratitude, Cap-
tain Guion thus appropriately telegraphed the Repulse, " You
repulsed the enemy, and nobly saved us ; grant me permis-
sion to return thanks."

Captain Guion was posted into the Rainbow of 26 guns,
Sept. 26, 1811 ; and we subsequently find him actively em-
ployed in co-operation with the patriots of Catalonia. His
last appointment was, Nov. 29, 1822, to the Tribune frigate.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

ROBERT WORGAN GEORGE TESTING, Esq.

Son of Commander H. Testing, R, N. who died at Ando-
ver, in 1807 > and nephew to the late Vice- Admiral Sir
Richard Grindall, K. C. B. •

• See note • at p. 198.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 447

This officer was made a Lieutenant Aug. 14, 1806; and
advanced to the rank of Commander in 1808. We subse-
quently find him commanding the Dasher sloop, on the East
India station, where he was appointed acting captain of the
Illustrious 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore
Broughton, previous to the sailing of the expedition against
Java, in 1811*.

After the surrender of Batavia, Captain Festing, then serv-
ing on shore with the army, was appointed to the Psyche
frigate. His post commission bears date Oct. 9, 1811.
bince the peace he has commanded the Falmouth of 20 guns.

Agetus, — Messrs. StUlwell.

PETER JOHN DOUGLAS, Esq.

Son of Admiral Billy Douglas^ who died at Hambledon,
CO. Hants, in 1817*

This officer obtained the rank of Lieutenant June II,
1804 ; and was presented with a sword by the Patriotic So-
ciety at Lloyd's, for his gallant conduct when commanding a
boat belonging to la Franchise at the capture of El Raposa
Sp : ' ' 'irig of war, in the bay of Campeachy, Jan. 7j 1806 f.
Hi- i' lotion to the rank of Commander took place Feb. 17,
^807- We afterwards find him very actively and successfully
employed in the Reindeer brig, on the Jamaica station ; from
whence he brought home the Polyphemus 64, towards the
close of 1812. His post commission bears date Nov. 26,
1811.

GAWEN WILLIAM HAMILTON, Esq.

A Companion of the Most Honorable Militarp Order of the Bath ; and
Knight of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Anne.

Eldest son of Archibald Hamilton Rowan, of Killyleah Cas-
tle, county Down, Ireland, Esq.

• See Vol. II. Part I. p. 355.
+ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 457-

448 POST-CAPTAlNS OP 1811.

This officer was born and educated in France. He appears
to have held a command in the Donegal yeomanry, previous
to his becoming a sailor.

Mr. Hamilton entered the navy in 1801, and had the ad-
vantage of serving the whole of his time as midshipman and
lieutenant under that excellent officer Captain (now Sir Ben-
jamin) Hallowell. He was consequently present at the cap-
ture of St. Lucia and Tobago, in 1803*.

During the operations in Egypt, after the surrender of
Alexandriaf, Mr. Hamilton received a severe wound in the
heel, which is still open, and likely to continue so during the
remainder of his life. He was made a lieutenant in Nov.
I8O7, and promoted to the rank of commander early in 1810.

Captain Hamilton's first appointment was to the Onyx
brig, in which vessel we find him very actively employed,
under the orders of Sir Richard G. Keats, during the siege
of Cadiz, from whence he returned home with despatches at
the commencement of 1811. He subsequently returned
thither, and superintended the flotilla, of which mention has
been made at p. 323, until his advancement to post rank,
Dec. 4, 1811. From that period he commanded the Terma-
gant of 20 guns, and Rainbow 26, on the Mediterranean
station, until the conclusion of the European war, in 1814.

The Termagant was first employed in opening a commu-
nication with the patriots of Grenada : her proceedings are
described in an official letter from Captahi Thomas Ussher
to Commodore Penrose, a copy of which will be found at
pp. 348-350, of Suppl. Part I. Between July 22 and Aug.
29, 1812, she captured three French privateers, and destroyed
several batteries and martello towers on the coast of Valencia.
The Rainbow drove an armed brigantine on shore under Cape
Cavallo, in June, 1813; and her boats captured two vessels,
one full of French pioneers, the other laden with wheat, in
the Bay of Ajaccio, Sept. 11 following.

On the 13th Dec. in the same year. Captain Hamilton to-
lunteered to land and co-operate with the Italian levy, under

• See Vol. I. Part II. note at p. 481.
t See irf. p. 482. '■ •

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 449

liortw^nt-Colonel Catanelli, in an attack upon Leghorn,
the unsuccessful result of which is noticed in our memoir of
Sir Josias Rowley*. His gallant conduct on that occasion,
and the activity and zeal displayed by hira during the more
fortunate operations against Genoa and its dependencies, are
duly acknowledged in the official letters respecting those
services, copies of which are given at pp. 424-430, of Vol. II.
Part I.

Captain Hamilton's next appointment was to the Havan-
nah 42, in which frigate he proceeded from the Mediterranean
to North America. After the failure of the Baltimore expe-
dition, he was left in the Chesapeake, under the orders of
Captain Robert Barrie, with whom he went up the Rappa-
hannock, in Nov. 1814t. The Havannah formed part of
Napoleon Buonaparte's escort to St. Helena, in 1815.

Ot: '• *.V'th July, 1820, Captain Hamilton was appointed
to th .lian 48, in which ship he conveyed Lord Strang-

ford and bis family to the capital of the Turkish empire.

At the commencement of the revolution in Greece, Cap-
tain Hamilton was immediately selected by Vice- Admiral
Sir Graham Moore to command the squadron which it was
found necessary to station in the Archipelago, where, by his
zealous interference and energetic measures, he rendered un-
speakable service to the cause of suffering humanity, and
justly entitled himself to the respect and gratitude of both
the contending parties.

In Jan. 1824, Captain Hamilton was sent to Tunis to de-
mand the ratification of certain treaties essential to the honor
and interests of Great Britain. This mission was conducted
with his usual promptitude and judgment, and finally crowned
with success.

The Cambrian was subsequently ordered home, and put
out of commission. The manner in which she was paid off
reflects the highest credit on all belonging to her. Not a
man left the ship till the payment was completed, when they
all started in a body, enthusiastically cheering the captain and

• See Vol. I. Part II. p. 633.
t S«e Vol. II, Part II, p. 733.
SUPPL« PART II. 2 G

450 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

officers, and receiving their hearty cheers in return, the band
playing " God save the King, Rule Britannia^ and St. Pa-
trick's Day." In the evening, the officers entertained Cap-
tain and Mrs. Hamilton with a parting dinner at the George
Hotel, Portsmouth.

Owing to the able manner in which Captain Hamilton had
acquitted himself during his late responsible and difficult
command, he was again appointed to the Cambrian, Jidy 9,
1824. The following is taken from the London Gazette : —

**[Mnvralty Office, /Ipril2\, 1825.

" Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Neale has transmitted to this office a letter
from Captain Hamilton, of the Cambrian, stating that two piratical ves-
sels, carrying one gun and about thirty men each, were captured on the 3l3t
of January last, in the Channel of Negropont, by the boats of his Ma-
jesty's ships Cambrian and Seringapatam, under the orders of Lieutenant
Marsham, first of the Cambrian.

" When these pirates were first discorered, they were in chase of an
Ionian vessel ; and there being reason to suspect (as was afterwards found
to be the fact), tliat they had shortly i)efore plundered anotlter vessel under
the same flag. Captain Hamilton sent Lieutenant Marshaiu in one of the
Cambrian's boats, with a Greek interpreter, to desire that they would
come down to his Ms^esty's ships for examination ; but th« pirates having
refused to comply with this desire. Lieutenant Marsh.un was joined by the
other boats of the Cambrian, and by those of the Seringapatam, sent by
Captain Hamilton's orders to his support.

" On the approach of the boats, the pirates commenced firing upon
them from their guns, and with musketry, and persevered in so doing,
notwithstanding the endeavour of Lieutenant Marsham to prevail upon
them to desist ; who, after exhausting, even under their fire, every means
of persuasion, was obliged at last to attack them, and the pirate vessels
were then, in the most gallant manner, boarded and carried, after a despe-
rate resistance on the part of their crews, of whom few only could be
taken prisoners, the greater number being killed or wounded.

" The otficers and men of his Majesty's ships, employed in the boats,
acquitted themselves on this occasion with the utmost gallantry, and the
whole of their conduct is noticed by Captain Hamilton in terms of high
commendation."

The loss sustained by the British consisted of 6 killed and
13 wounded: among the latter were Lieutenant William
Worsfold and Mr. Horatio Nelson Atkinson, mate of the
Seringapatam.

The Cambrian shortly afterwards struck upon a sunken

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811. 451

and unknown rock, off the island of Skaitho, carried away
the greater part of her false keel, and the whole of the gripe
and forefoot, in consequence of which accident she was
obliged to be hove down at Malta.

On the 27th July, 1^6, Captain Hamilton's boats, under
the orders of Lieutenant Thomas Gregory, captured a pira-
tical bombard, and burnt a raistico, at the island of Tino,
on which occasion five of the Greeks were killed and several
wounded. In Sept. following, another vessel was destroyed
and a bombard taken, at the island of Andros, by a party of
marines, under the command of Lieutenant Parker. About
the same period the Cambrian and Rose sloop captured two
other pirates ; one laden with gunpowder, the other having
on board 80,000 piastres, 30 bales of raw silk, 30 packages
of saffron, a bag of pearls, and various other valuable articles
of merchandize.

The Canibrian formed part of the squadron under Sir Ed-
ward Codrington at the battle of Navarin ; but in consequence
of her having previously been detached, she was prevented
from taking any very great share in that extraordinary con-
flict : her loss consisted of only one man killed and another
wounded*. The Emperor of Russia has since conferred upon
Captain Hamilton the order of St. Anne, of the second class,
with the medal set with diamonds ; he is also decorated with
the cross of the French Order of St. Louis.

On the 31st Jan. 1828, the Cambrian anchored vtdthin
pistol-shot of the fort of Carabusa, in company with the
Isis 50, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Thomas Staines,
K. C. B. th€ Rattlesnake 28, Zebra 18, Cameleon 10, and
two French corvettes. At this period there were 14 Greek
vessels lying in that port, also an Austrian ship, and an
Ionian merchantman, both of which the pirates had carried
there. No satisfactory answer having been received to the
commodore's demand, that tlie marauding vessels and their
crews should be given up to him, they were immediately fired
upon and several of them totally destroyed, without the
smallest opposition. When returing from this scene of de-

* Seep. 332.
2 G 2

452 l*dST- CAPTAINS OF 181 1.

vastation, the Cambrian was struck on the quarter by the
Tsis, which threw her up in the wind, and caused her to pay
oflF on the opposite tack to that on which it Was necessary
she should have done. This accident, in a narrow channel,
proved fatal ; for, from having no way through the water,
she could not again be tacked, and in a few minutes she fell
broadside to on a reef of rocks, at a moment when a consi-
derable swell was setting into the harbour. A court-martial
held at Malta to enquire into the occasion of her loss, deter-
mined that Captain Hamilton, his oflBcers, and crew, were
fully exonerated of all blame : in conveying the sentence of
acquittal, the court expressed their commendation, in the
highest terms, of the exertions and good conduct of every
one on board at the time of the unfortunate accident, and
the commander-in-chief subsequently assured the whole of the
ship's company, that the recommendations he had sent home
to the Lord High Admiral were such that the circumstance
of their having been in the Cambrian^ would ever operate to
their advantage. Captain Hamilton, on having his sword
returned to him, was addressed by the president, in the
following terms : —

" Captain Hamilton, it is with much and sincere pleasure, that I have to
return you your sword, one that has always been used with true credit,
and to the good service of your country. I cannot at the same time re-
frain from expressing to you tlie regret which this court experiences at
the melancholy wind-up of your long and arduous exertions in the Archi-
pelago, performed so ably and with such advantage to the country ; and
I am sure that there is not an officer or man in the squadron who does
not join in this feeling."

After the court-martial Captain Hamilton was charged with
despatches for the Lord High Admiral ; but his health not
allowing him to travel with the requisite celerity, he sent them
forward from Genoa, under the care of his first lieutenant.
He is at present on half-pay.

Captain Hamilton was nominated a C. B. June 4, 1815.
He married, in 1817, Katharine, daughter of Lieutenant-
General Cockburn, of Shunagaugh, Ireland. His brother,
Mr. Frederick Hamilton Rowan, midshipman, R. N. waa
killed at Pulatnot^, in 18 JO.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811. 4^

EDWARD STOPFORD, Esq.

Nephew of Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford,
K. C. B.

This officer was made a Lieutenant May 1, 1804; and he
had the misfortune to be captured by la Bellone, French fri-
gate, when commanding the Victor sloop of war, on the
East India station, Nov. 2, 1809. After his release from
captivity he was appointed to the Otter.

On the 16th Dec. 181 1, Captain Stopford arrived at the Ad-
miralty with a despatch from his uncle, dated Aug. 28, of
which the following are extracts : —

" I shall confine myself, in this letter, to the relation of the circum-
stances attending the nuval co-operation with the army, in the attack upon
the island of Java ; and I have to request you wirl acquaint my Lords
Commissioners with the unconditional surrender of the capital city of Ba-
lavia, ou the 8th instant, and the destfuctiou or capture of the greatest
I 'iiy's European troops, by a successful assault made upon a

'"i . ;. hed and fortified work, called Muster Cornelis, on the

morning' of the 26th, by the troops under the command of Lieutenant-
General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, who had also with him the royal marines
of the squadron.

" Previous to this important and decisive advantage, the General had
caused batteries to be erected, consisting of twenty 18-pounders, which
were entirely manned by 600 seamen under the direction of Captain
Sayer, of H. M. S. Leda, assisted by Captains Testing, of the Illustrious ;
Maunsell, of the Procris j Reynolds, of the Hesper ; and Captain Stop-
ford, who volunteered his services from the Scipion, where he was wait-
ing for his ship, the Otter.

*• The enemy was enabled to bring thirty-four heavy guns, 18, 24, and
:'_^ ' rs, to bear upon our batteries ; but from the superior and well-

(1 re, kept up by the British seamen, the enemy's guns were occa-

sionally silenced, and on the evening of the 25th completely so ; their
front line-of-defence also appeared much disabled, and many of their guns
were dismounted. So favorable an opportunity was, therefore, seized by
the General, and the fortunate result of the assault, on the morning of the
2Gth, followed, as before mentioned.

" The fatigue of the seamen was great, and much increased by being
exposed to the hot sun of this climate, for three successive days, during
which time the fire was kept up with little interruption ; but it was borne
with their characteristic fortitude. Captain Sayer, and the officers above-
mentioned, setting them noble examples.

464 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1811.

" I herewith enclose a list of Ibe killed and wounded ; and it is with
much regret I add the name of Captain Stopford, who had his right arm
carried off by a cannon-shot, whilst actively employed in the batteries;
he is, however, doing well, and I hope soon to get him removed to a bet-
ter climate."

When Captain Stopford lost his arm, the seamen seeing him
knocked backwards, and lying senseless, conjectured that he
had been killed outright ; but as they were bearing him off
the field, he recovered his senses, and feeling the hot beams
of a vertical sun striking directly on his head, his hat having
rolled off when he fell, he immediately exclaimed to one of
his men, ^^ Damme, Sir ! fetch me my hat.'^

Captain Stopford was promoted to post rank on the second
day after his arrival in London, from which period we lose
sight of him until his appointment to the Rosamond 20, in
the spring of 1814.

That ship was then under orders to convoy three merchant-
men to the coast of Labrador. On her arrival there, Captain
Stopford's amputated arm arrested the attention of the Es-
quimaux, They satisfied tliemselves, by feeling the stump,
that the limb was actually deficient, and then appeared to
wonder how it could have been lost : but when one of his offi-
cers made signs to them that it had been severed with a saw,
commiseration was depicted in every countenance.

The Rosamond returned to the Nore, Nov. 17, 1814; when
she was surveyed, and found to be totally unfit for sea, in
consequence of the damage she had sustained amongst the
ice of Hudson's Straits. She was accordingly put oat of
commission, and immediately advertised to be sold.

Captain Stopford enjoys a pension of 300/. per annum for
the loss of his arm.

Agent, — Sir F. M. Ommauney.

ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.

{Continued from Vol.1. Part II. p. 883.)

SIR CHARLES VINICOMBE PENROSE,

y^tce Admiral of the fTkite ; Knight Commander of the Most Honorable
Military Order of the Bath ; Knight Grand Crott of the Most Dittin-
gui*hed lonitm Order of St. Michmel and St. George; and Knight
Grand Crott tf the R*yal Neapolitan Order of St. Ferdinand and of
Merit.

The family of Penrose is of great antiquity, and has been
long settled in Cornwall, where its branches are very nume-
rous. In the 1 2th of Hen. IV., John Penrose was elected
M. P. for Liskard ; and in the 18th Hen. VIII. Richard Pen-
rose, of Penrose, served the office of Sheriff of the county.
These circumstances arc sufficient to prove the antiquity and
respectability of the family •.

The subject of this memoir is the second son of the Rev.
John Penrose, a most eloquent and truly Christian divine, 35
years vicar of St. Gluvias, co. Cornwall.

Mr. Charles Vinicombe Penrose was born June 20, 1759 ;
and being intended for the naval profession, he was placed,
in 177*^, at the Royal Academy, Portsmouth; from whence
he was discharged, early in 17/5, into the Levant frigate,
Captain the Hon. George Murray, under whom he completed
his time as a midshipman, on the Mediterranean, Channel,
and North Sea stations ; where he assisted at the capture of
several American and French privateers, together with many
merchantmen.

• Gilbert's History of Connvali contains many particulars of Sir Charles
and his family. The principal note respecting himself is to be found under
the head of Ethy^ St. ffinnoe, near Lostwithiel.

456 ADDENDA^ &C.

,^ 111 Aug. 1779* Mr. Penrose was promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant ; and shortly afterwards appointed to the Cleo-
patra 32, commanded by the same excellent officer ; in which
frigate he witnessed the battle between Sir Hyde Parker and
Admiral Zoutman, Aug. b, 1781 *.

About I7S2, Lieutenant Penrose first saw the plan of nu-
merary signals on board a Swedish frigate : these had been
introduced by French officers into the Swedish marine, and
he was much struck with their comprehensive simplicity.
Being then senior Lieutenant of tlie Cleopatra, and Captain
Murray having a small squadron under his orders, Mr. Pen-
rose, with that officer's approbation, made out a code suffi-
cient for its guidance, adopting the numcrary system, in-
stead of the tabular plan of superior and inferior flags, which
was at that time in general use. Two officers then command-
ing brigs, now old and distinguished admirals, were the first
to whom Captain Murray and Mr. Penrose explained them,
and both these commanders declared it as their opinion, that
the difficulty of comprehending the nuraerary combinations
was BO great, that they did not think they could ever be
brought into general use. Noti^, how many seamen, marines,
and boys are masters of all our signal and telegraphic prac-
tice !

During the Spanish armament, Lieutenant Penrose again
served under Captain Murray, in the Defence 74 ', and at the
commencement of the French revolutionary war, he accom-
panied him to the West Indies, in the Duke 98 ; which ship
formed part of the squadron under Rear-Admiral Gardner, at
the attack of Martinique, in June, 1793 f. After his return
to England he successively followed his friend and patron
into the Glory 98, and Resolution 74.

On the 12th April, 1794, Captain Murray was advanced to
the rank of Rear-Admiral ; and at the same time his proteg(
was promoted to the command of the Lynx, a new sloop, re-
cently launched at Woolwich. Captain Penrose's post com-

• See Vol. I. Part. I. uote § at p. 175 et leq.
t See Vol. I. Part. I. p. 40 •.

ADDENDA, &C. 45/

missioTi bears date Oct. 7, 1794, at which period he was
appointed to the Cleopatra frigate.

When ready for sea, Captain Penrose was sent to Bermuda,
to examine the harbour and channel that had been discovered
by Lieutenant Thomas Hurd ♦ ; and which is likely hereafter
to become of great national importance. For his able report
upon the nature of the anchorage, and the safety of the passage
leading into it, Captain Penrose received the thanks of the
Admiralty ; and we have reason to believe that the improve-
ments since made there have been in complete accordance
with the recommendations given in that report. The Cleo-
patra being the first ship of war that had ever sailed through
the channel, her captain named it after its discoverer ; while
to the magnificent harbour he gave the name of Murray.

Shortly after the performance of this scientific service, Cap-
tain Penrose appears to have had a very narrow escape.

The Cleopatra was crossing the Gulph Stream, under a
reefed fore-sail and mizen-stay-sail, in a night rendered dark
by a deep and jet black thunder cloud, which had totally ob-
scured the moon. After very vivid lightning and a loud ex-
plosion, the wind shifted in a heavy squall, so as to bring the
ship up several points, with her head to a very high and
much agitated sea ; giving her at the same time fresher way
through the water. Her first plunge put the whole of the
forecastle deep under, and the officer of the watch hardly ex-
pected to see her rise again. Captain Penrose, who was in his
cot, got a severe blow by being dashed violently against the
beams. The ship, however, rose, throwing a vast body of
water aft, which burst open the cabin bulk-head, breaking
loose every thing upon deck but the guns. In this send-aft,
the taffrdil and after part of the quarter-deck were far under
water. Luckily, only part of the after hatchway was open,
and no great body of water went below. The fore-sail was
hauled up, and the damage found to be only the loss of the
jib-boom, spritsail-yard, and bumpkins ; the bowsprit and

• The late Hydrographer to the Admiralty. See Vol. II. Part II.
p. 557.

458 ADDENDA, &Ci

fore-yard sprung ; the spanker-boom broke in two j and the
small cutter carried away from the davits*.

We next find Captain Penrose commanding Vice-Admiral
Murray's flag-ship, the Resolution, during the absence of
Captain Francis Pender, then acting as commissioner at Ber-
muda. Towards the latter end of 179G he again returned to
the Cleopatra ; and had the melancholy satisfaction of con-
veying his much respected patron to England, that valuable
officer having been seized with a paralytic aflFection, from
which he never recovered f.

On his passage home Captain Penrose captured I'Hiron-
delle French privateer, of 12 guns and 70 men j many of
whom were young persons of family and fortune, whose
dread of being forced into the army, as conscripts, had in-
duced them to hazard their safety on the ocean.

The subject of this memoir is the author of a pamphlet,
entitled " Observations on Corporal Pimishmentj Impress-
nientf and otlier Matters relative to the present State of his
Mqjesti/'s Royal NavyX'' I" that small, but ably written
book, he gives the following instances of the effect of well-
timed indulgence to a ship's company, " and seasonable ad-

• \V'hen compiling our first volume, we were led to believe tliat the
Cleopatra was commaoded by Captain Israel Pellcw at the tituc the above
occurrence took place.

f Vice-Admiral the Hon. George Murray, brother to John, third Duke
ofAthol, died Dec. 28, 1796. Throu;(hout his lon^ professional career
he evinced a sound judi^nient, an unbending integrity, and o

In the execution of his duty, that stamped him a truly v,> r.

It may be metitioned as an extraordinary, if not an unparalleled, circum-
stance, that Mr. Penrose never served at sea under the command of any
other officer until he was himself made a commander; that he was posted
by him, and that he contiimcd to serve under his flag until the Vice-Ad-
miral became incapable of further service. During the long period of
22 yean, not a tingle circumstaooe ever occurred tu interrupt, even for
« moment, the most cordial esteem and friendship which existed between
them : one commanded with kindness and judgment ; the other obeyed
with attention and respect ; sentiments of the most sincere mutual regard
blending the difference of rank in friendly intercourse.

X Published by Whitaker, London, July, 1824, at which period Sir
Charles Penrose had attained the rank of Vice-Admiral.

ADDBNDA, &C. ^0

vice and explanation, where at the same time there is no re-
laxation of discipline :'* —

" I have known an opinion entertaineH by some very respectable officers,
but »?hich I have always deemed erroneous, that no reasonin-r communil
cations ahould ever be made to seamen. My practice as a captain was
different. When coming into port, under circumstances which would not
admit of leave of absence, I always made it a rule to inform the ship's
company, before anchorinjf, that such must unavoidably be the case, as
the necessities of the service would not allow me to grant it. On the con-
trary, whenever I saw that leave could be granted (and 1 always granted
it if possible), I never waited for that leave to be asked. I called the
•hip's company toother, and told them I should direct the first lieutenant
to give leave to a third or fourth watch, or a certain number at a time,
while they continued to merit the indulgence.

" For instance, I returned to England in the Cleopatra from the American
station, with about three years' pay due. The day before the ship went
from Spithead into the harbour, I informed the ship's company that the
Moetsary rrpairs would keep us long in port, and that they would have
leave to go on shore in divisions, as long as they continued to conduct
' s well, or till the ship came out of dock. We were thirteen

^' 1 harbour; I had not one complaint: after about three weeks

there was seldom a man ^vlshed to go on shore. I left the port at last
with only two men absent without leave ; and I should add, that during
the time the ship was in dock many were employed in the disagreeable
•enrice of fitting out other ships. From a ^4 and a frigate near me, under
the same circumstances of long detention in harbour, no leave was grant-
ed ; boats mwed guard every night to prevent desertion, and yet the loss
by desertion was very great.

" More than one circumstance occurred in a short time, to shew that
my indulgence had not been thrown away. My ship was the first at Ports-
iBoutb, and I believe any where, when the payment took place in the one
•ad two pound bank-notes then first issued, and I learned that the greatest
possible pains were taking, by some who sought political mischief, and
others who sought emolument, to persuade the people that this paper-
money was of little worth, and offered, by way of favor, to give the men
a low value for their notes. I explained the case, and directed that if
any one offered or accepted less than a full value, the offender should in-
stantly be brought to me, that he might be treated as an enemy to his
king and country. The pay was cordially received, which was at the mo-
ment of no small consequence, as there were many then ready to follow
any batl example that might be set. To afford my ship's company ano-
ther opportunity of shewing good conduct, the payment was scarcely over,
and the ship was still crowded with women, children, and slopsellers, when
a telegraphic signal announced an enemy's frigate off Portland ; and never

460 ADDENDA, SCC.

were supernumeraries more quickly disposed of, or a ship more quickly
unmoored and under sail. We were baulked of our expected prize, and
returned to Spithead just before the mutiny. Here, by a little good ma-
nagement and minute attention, I kept my men from cheering with the
others ; and although I had daily communieaiion in my barge with the
Royal George, three days after the yard-ropes had been reeved, I punished
two men, who had left their duty in the dock-yard. When I received
orders for sea, not a moment's lapse of good order occurred ; but having
information tha^ letters had been received, threatening a visit from the
delegates, and punishment if my people did not join in cheering, &:c. 1
called the ship's company together, informed them that I was ordered to
proceed to sea ; but that under the circumstances I was aware of, I should
not do so till the night tide, when I expected they would shew their sense
of the confidence I had in their good conduct by weighing with the ut-
most silence and despatch. The reply was by three hearty cheers (which
I would then have gladly dispensed with) and careful obedience to my
orders during the night ; and I have reason to believe, that the good con-
duct of my ship's company aided the able management of • the com-
mander of the part of the western squa'iron I immediately joined, in the
preservation of good order at that critical period. I had the honor of
letters of approbation from the Admiralty, l)oth on account of our long
stay in harbour without desertion, and preventing my ship's company
from taking part in the mutiny ; and after the ship's company had also
received their lordships' thanks, they sent me a letter full of expressions
of gratitude for my having, as they termed it, * steered them clear of the
troubles so many of their brethren had been involved in.' '*

Captain Penrose's next appointment was, Qarly in 1/99,
to the Sans Pareil 80, then bearing the flag of Lord Hugh
JSeymour, but subsequently employed as a private ship under
Rcar-Admiral Pole, whom she joined off Rochefort the day
previous to the bombardment of a Spanish squadron, in Aix
road, of which mention has been made at p. 90, of Vol. I.
Part I.

After this affair Captain Penrose was ordered to escort a
fleet of merchantmen to the West Indies, where the Sang
Pareil again received the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, which
she continued to bear till the lamented demise of that noble-
man, Sept. 11, 1801 f.

• Sir Edward Pellew.
t Lord Hu^h Seymour went out in the Tamar frigate. A sketch of
bis lordahip'8 services will be found at pp. 157-16y, of Suppl. Part I.

ADDENDA, &C. 461

Respecting corporal punishment and the crew of the Sans
Pareil, the subject of this memoir says :

•' I hope and believe that it is in all respects true, that by vigilant good

inauaifcnuat some captains have governed well, without the necessity of

ral punbhment : but it must be recollected, that they were not

le power of inflicting such punishment; and if they had been

divested of that power, they would not have had well-regulated ships. I

will here exemplify the benefit of this power by an instance of its use.

" I took the command of one of our lai^est ships, in good order and
' ' ne. The crew had been long together, and the

" . ir general merit was, an inveterate habit of pro-

fane oaths and the most offensive language!. The flag of a beloved friend
and most gallant officer was flying on board her ; but public service called
him abroad, and the ship remained with my pendant only for upwards of
six months.

" ()a the first occasion on which the whole crew were assembled before
me, I spoke strongly on the subject of the debasing language my ears
\' iy disgusted by. I explained the possibility that the fre-

i of the most brutal crime might render that crime itself

fiamiliar to them, and that they might repeat the dreadful execrations
a^nst their corarmles, till they really wished their fulfilment. I ended
ray lecture by an assurance, that although I would not threaten that I
would inflict punishment for every oath or vile expression I might hear ;
yet that whenever any man was brought before me for another fault, how-
ever inclined I might be to pardon it, I most certainly would not do so,
if accompanied by the use of oaths or bad language, or if the culprit was
notoriously addicted to such practice. When my worthy admiral rejoined
me, after a few days, he gratirted me much by saying, ' How have you
effected such a change of manners ? I had no fault to find with my fine
fellows but theif bad language ; and still I did not think it right to flog
tbem for it.'

" I mentioned the mode I had adopted, and that the possession of the
power had been alone productive of the effect, which was truly the case.
My admiral assured me that he now walked the deck with tenfold satis-
fiiction."

Among: the armed vessels taken by Captain Penrose, while
commanding the Sans Pareil, was a valuable Spanish letter
of marque, whose name is a little connected with the causes
of the -revolution in South America. She was called the
Guachapin, and her figure-head was a well-dressed lad, hold-
ing out in his right hand a letter, and in his left a large
«mpty purse. Her commander told Captain Penrose, that
the name and figure meant and represented a needy Spaniard

462 ADDENDA, &C.

going out with a recommendation to a Viceroy, to put him
in a way of filling his purse with money. The Guachapin
was afterwards a British sloop of war.

Captain Penrose returned home in the Carnatic JA, many
of the crew of which ship *' had never set foot on land for
6 or 7 years, except in the dock-yard at Jamaica." When
paid off, at Plymouth, the ship's company, exclusive of com-
missioned and warrant officers, received upwards of 22,000/.
wages ; but we question whether they left that town with as
many shillings in their possession, for, " in a few hours some,
and in a day or tsvo many of these valuable men, were pen-
nyless."

At the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, Captain Penrose ac-
cepted the command of the Padstow district of sea-fencibles ;
the effects of a coup-de-soleU, which he received previous to
his departure from the West Indies, rendering it necessary
that he should continue for some time longer on shore.

In the summer of 1810, an extensive flotilla establishment
was ordered to be formed at Gibraltar, principally for the de-
fence of Cadiz ; and Captain Penrose was appointed to the
chief command, with the rank of Commodore. He accord-
ingly repaired to the rock, and hoisted his broad pendant on
board the San Juan sheer-hulk, lying in the New Mole.

Finding himself short of hands to man the gun-boats, and
understanding that there were many men in the regimenti
forming the garrison who would gladly voUnitcer to sepve
afloat, the Commodore made an immediate application to
Lieutenant-Governor Campbell for his permission to receive
them, and had no sooner obtained it than nearly 300 prime
seamen came forward, anxious once more to appear in " true
blue." Commodore Penrose found that these men had left
the naval service " principally on account of long confinement
afloat J but that they had by no means acquired a taste for
their present employ."

The Gibraltar flotilla proved of great utility, not only at
the defence of Cadiz, but during the whole of the time that
the French army under Marshal Soult continued in tJie south
of Spain. The arduous nature of the services in which it was

ADDENDA, &C. 463

employed will be seen by reference to our memoirs of Cap-
tains Sir Thomas Fellowes, Frederick Jennings Thomas, Wil-
Henry Smyth, &c. &c.

Commodore Penrose obtained a colonelcy of royal marines,
Aug. 12, 1812; and on his return from Gibraltar,' in 1813, he
was appointed a joint commissioner with Rear- Admiral T. B.
Martin and Captain John W'ainwright, to make a revision of
the establishments for the equipment of ships of war ; in
which he continued to be employed till his advancement to
the rank of Rear-Admiral, Dec. 4, 1813. Previous to his
quitting the rock, the British merchants there presented him
with a handsome service of plate, as a testimony of their
hi: ' -^ Toct, and as an ackowledgment of his constant at-
tt-i I their interests, while commanding on that station.

In Jan. J 81 4, Rear-Admiral Penrose was selected to com-
mand the naval force employed at the bottom of the bay of
Biscay, in co-operation with the allied armies under Welling-
ton ; a proof of the high estimation in which his abilities
were then held. The exploits of his S({uadrou, in the neigh-
bourhoods of Bayonne and Bourdeaux, have been very fully
detailed under the lu'ad of Captain John Coode, C. B.

We have likcNvise stated at p. 293, that Rear-Admiral
Penrose returned from Passages to Plymouth, in the Porcu-
pine of 22 guns, and struck his flag Sept. 12, 1814. Before
the conclusion of that month, we find him appointed com-
mander-in-chief on the Mediterranean station, to which he
immediately proceeded in the Queen 74.

During the war with Murat, in 18US the Sicilian navy was
placed under the orders of Rear-Admiral Penrose, who aftei>
wards had the honor of conveying Ferdinand IV. from Paler-
mo to Melazzo, Messina, and Naples. On his arrival off the
latter place, the King refused to go ashore in the royal barge,
saying he would rather be landed and reinstated by his friend,
the British admiral, upon whom he then conferred the Grand
Cross of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, presenting him at the
same time with an enamelled snuff-box, having his Majesty's
portrait, set in large diamonds, upon the lid.

On the 3d Jan. 1816, Rear-Admiral Penrose was nomi-

464 ADDENDA, Sec.

nated a K. C. B. ; and in Mar. following, with hi» flag in the
Bombay 74, he accompanied Lord Exmouth from Minorca,
upon an expedition to Tunis and Algiers, the object and re-
sult of which have been stated at p. 2o3 of Vol. II. Part I.
Had it been found necessary to adopt hostile measures at the
latter place, for which the squadron was fully prepared, the
same honorable station was assigned to Sir Charles Penrose
which Lord Exmouth took up, and so nobly maintained, on
the glorious 27th Aug. 1816.

Sir Charles was at Malta when his lordship re-entered the
Mediterranean, for the purpose of chastising the barbarians
should they refuse to make reparation for their renewed ag-
gressions. Hearing of his lordship's arrival, and the object
of the expedition, he immediately sailed from Valette in the
Ister frigate. Captain Thomas Forrest ; but " arrived too
late to take his share in the attack upon Algiers ;" which Lord
Exmouth particularly lamented, as *' his services would have
been desirable in every respect."

Although Sir Charles Penrose had the mortification to find
that the principal object of the expedition had been accom-
plished without his participation, still his service lx)rd
Exmouth's representative, during the last three ^go-
ciations with the Dey, were found particularly useful ; and
** the prudence, firmness, and ability with which he conducted
himself" on that delicate occasion were highly praised by
his lordship *.

In Sept. 1816, Sir Charles Penrose once more assumed the
chief command on the Mediterranean station ; and shortly
afterwards he was presented by Pope Pius VIL with two su-
perb marble vases, in consideration of the expeditious and
humane manner in which the emancipated subjects of his
Holiness were forwarded to the Roman States : an appro-
priate despatch accompanied tliis present.

Sir Charles Penrose afterwards accompanied his friend Sir
Thomas Maitland, Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian
islands, to Prevesa, in Albania, where they were for several

• London Gazelle.

ADDENDA, &C. 465

days entertained by the celebrated Ali Pacha, during which
time business of much importance was transacted. In Aug.
1817, being then off liCghom, with his flag on board the Al-
bion 74, Sir Charles was honored with a visit by a party of
distinguished individuals, amongst whom were Leopoldina
Carolina, the present Empress of Brazil, who had recently
been married by proxy ; Maria Louisa, widow of Napoleon
Buonaparte ; several others of the Austrian Arch-Duchesses ;
Leopold II. Grand Duke of Tuscany ; Leopold Count of Sy-
racuse ; Prince Metternich, the great diplomatist ; General
Count de Neipperg ; and the Portuguese Admiral Souza.

On the 27th April, 1818. the Order of St. Michael and St.
George was instituted for the Ionian Islands, and for the an-
cient sovereignty of Malta and its dependencies. By the
rules of that Order, the naval commander-in-chief in the Me-
diterranean is to be first and principal Knight Grand Cross
thereof, but only for the time that he holds his professional
appointment. Sir Charles Penrose, however, is specially au-
thorised to bear the title and wear the insignia for life, in con-
sequence of * * ' ■ OS on that station, and his having
been there a i of the Order. We believe that
the late Lord Guildford and himself were the only persons to
whom that privilege was allowed.

The merchants at Malta subsequently presented Sir Charles
Penrose with a service of plate, as a token of their respect
and esteem : the captains and commanders under his orders
likewise requested his acceptance of a splendid silver salver,
with a flattering inscription, expressive of their high respect
for his public and private character. He returned home iir
the spring of 1819 ; and was advanced to the rank of Vice-
Admiral, July 19, 1821.

Sir Charles V. Penrose married, in 1787, Elizabeth, daughter
of the Rev. J. Trevener, and by that lady he had three
daughters, the eldest of whom married Captain John Coode,
C. B. ; and the secmid, Captain William Mainwaring, of the
10th regiment of foot, brother to Sir Henry M. Mainwaring,
Bart.

SUPPL. PART II. 2 H

466 ADDENDA, &C.

Residence — Ethy, St. Winnoc, near Lostwithiel, Com-

Errata. — Vol. I. Part II. p. 579, last line of the text, for three brigs,

read one corvette, two brigs : id. ib.
note at the bottoai, f</r Captain D.
O'Reilly, &c. read Suppl. Part II.
pp. 276—286 : and id.
p. 725, note •, for p. 579 of this volume,
&c. &c. r^arf Suppl. Part II. pp. 287
—293.

SIR JOHN GORE.

Fice- Admiral of the Blue, and Knight Commander of the Most Honorahle
Military Order of the Bath.

"This officer is the second son ofthelateColonclJohn Gore,
'Wlio served many years in the 33d regiment, and retired from
the command of that corps, in 1776, upon being appointed
Lieutenant-Governor of the Tower of I^ndon, where he died
in 1794, leaving three sons and two daughters. His eldest
Bon, Ralph, was then a captain in the 33d, and his youngest,
Arthur, a lieutenant in the 73d regiment : the latter gentle-
man attained the rank of Major-General, and was slain on the
walls of Bergen-op-Zoom, Mar. 9, 1814. The Gores are
distantly related to the noble Irish family of Arran.

The subject of this memoir entered the navy as a midship-
man on board the Monarca of JO guns. Captain John Gell ;
but he first went to sea in the Canada 74, commanded by the
Hon. William Cornwallis, with whom he sailed for North
America, in Aug. 1781.

'ITie Canada formed part of the fleet under Rear Admiral
Graves, when that officer proceeded from Sandy Hook to the
Chesapeake, for the purpose of extricating Earl Cornwallis
from his perilous situation at York Town *. She subse-
quently accompanied Sir Samuel Hood to the West IndieH*,
mnd bore a very conspicuous share in his brilliant actions at

• Sm Vol. II. Part I. note • at p. 63.

ADDENDA, &C. 467

St. Christopher's * ; as well as in the battles between Rodney
and de Grassc, April 9 and 12, 17^-2; on which latter day-
she sustained a loss of 12 men killed and 23 wounded.

As there are many officers still alive who were eye witnes-
ses of that glorious combat, they will recollect, in the latter
part of the day, when the smoke cleared up a little, and there
waa a short interval of repose, what was the appearance of
the Canada ; — she had been almost entirely unrigged in the
action, her fore and main top-sail-ties were shot away, and the
yards lying on the caps ; — with scarcely any canvas to set, but
a fore-top- gallant-sail, sheeted home as well as the situation
of the top-sail-yard would admit, she was going large ; and,
as if impelled by the spirit of her commander, she kept way
w!*' *' French ships, hanging on the quarter of la Ville de
F.i 1 Count de Grasse was intercepted by the rear di-

vision of the British fleet. Having then set as much sail as
cirrumsUinccs would permit, she went in pursuit of the fly-
ing enemy, and was among the ships whose Are gilded the
hori7X)ii after the close of that ever memorable day.

On her arrival at Jamaica, the Canada was surveyed, and
found to bi ■ uh a very rotten state, that Sir George B.
Rodney ilt (1 upon sending her home in company with

the prizes, and a large convoy under Rear-Admiral Graves.
Previous to her departure from Port Royal, she was caulked
between wind and water, and coppered higher up, to which
Captain Coruwallis attributed her escape from the same me-
lancholy fate that befel the Centaur, Ville de Paris, &c. &c.t

The Canada was paid off soon after her return to England,
on which occasion Mr. Gore followed his gallant captain into
the Dragon 74. In Mar. 1783, he joined the Iphigenia fri-
gate, Captain James Cornwallis, under whom he served in
the West Indies till Oct 1786.

His health being now much impaired by that climate, Mr.
Gore was discharged int« the Royal Charlotte yacht, the com-
mand of which vessel had been conferred upon the Hon.
William Cornwallis, at the close of the American war. We

• See Vol II. Part I. note f at P- 63 etseq.

t See Id. note f ai p. 69.

2 H 2

460 ADDENDA, &C.

next find him in the Rohust 74, with the same officer, during
the Dutch armament ; and subsequently in the Hebe frigate.
Captain Edward Thornbrough, with whom he continued until
Oct. 1788.

At this latter period Mr. Gore rejoined his distinguished
patron, who had hoisted a broad pendant in the Crown 64^
and was then about to sail from England for the purpose of
assuming the chief command on the East India station. Com-
modore Comwallis there promoted his eleve into the Perse-
verance frigate, Nov. 29, 1789.

From thence Lieutenant Gore returned home in the Crown
(I79I) ; and his health havhig suffered extremely, he did not
go afloat again till the commencement of the French revo-
lutionary war, when he was appointed to the Lowestoffe 32,
Captain William Wolseley, then fitting at Plymouth. In that
frigate he accompanied the fleet under Lord Hood, to the
Mediterranean, where he was removed to the Britannia, a
first rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Hotham, previous
to the occupation of Toulon. While belonging to that ship,
Lieutenant Gore frequently landed with a detachment of sea-
men under his command, and was often engaged with the ene-
my, both on shore and when employed in floating batteries.

After distinguishing himself by his gallantry on various
occasions. Lieutenant Gore was removed to Lord Hood's
flag- ship, the Victory of 100 guns, and ordered to land at
the head of a body of sailors, selected to serve as artillery-
men in fort Midgrave, an important post, against which the
enemy were then bringing forward heavy guns and mortars,
their repeated attempts to take it by storm having proved
unsuccessful. During the bombardment that ensued, he re-
ceived a severe wound in the head, which obliged him to re-
turn on board for surgical assistance.

On the morning previous to the evacuation of Toulon^
Lieutenant Gore was ordered by Lord Hood to visit the arse-
nal, and ascertain if any thing effective could be done by
means of fire- vessels. In consequence of his report, he was
directed to tow the Vulcan thither, to place her in a proper
position, and then to put himself and his boats under the or-
ders of Sir W. Sidney Smith.

ADDENDA^ &C. 469

After taking the Vulcan to her station, and when in the act
of receiving some combustible materials from her, for the pur-
pose of setting fire to the French ships in the southern basin.
Lieutenant Gore was blown out of his boat by a premature
exploeion, of which the following notice is taken in Sir W.
Sidney Smith's official letter to Lord Hood, dated Dec. 18,
1798 >-

** I was sorry to find myself deprived of the further services of Captain
Hare : be had perfuruied that of placmg his fire-ship to adiuiratiun, but
was hlowu into the water, and much scorched, by the explosion of her
priming, when in the act of putting the match to it. Lieutenant Gore
wta also much burnt, and I was consequently deprived of him also ; which
I reirrettecl the more, from the recollection of his bravery and activity in
tb» of Fort Mnlgrave."

\ - : - - id Lieutenant Gore commanding a detachment
of seamen, landed to co-operate with the small British army
in Corsica, under Lieutenant- General David Dundas. The
followinj^ arc extracts of that officer's official despatches, de-
tailing the operations against St. Fiorenzo : —

'* As the enemy, I>e8ides the town, possessed several heights and points,
coir: - ''r the anchorage on the west side of the gulphi it was necessary
to iheni before the squadron could anchor iu security : the^e

points iu s\jtce<sion, on entering the gulph, were the tower of Mortella,
the redoubt and batteries of the Convention, and the tower of FornelH,
with two considerable sea-batteries dependent upon it.

" *" ■' '■•'le opposition from Mortella tower, and trusting from
int. ■■• e could approach near enough to that of Fornelli to at-

tack it with light artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Moore was detached on the
8th (Feb. 179-1), with the royal and 51st regiments, a small howitzer, and
a S-pounder, to effect this purpose ; but after a march of 7 or S miles,
through a rocky, desert, and mountainous country, destitute of roads, and
where the artillery was carried by a detachment of sailors, under Captain
Cooke, he arrived on the heights immediately above Fornelli, and then
found that the distance was too great to hope for any effect from his small
gims. The same day we began from a commanding height, within 150
yards, to batter the tower of Mortella ; but it was not till the 10th, after
the attack made by the Fortitude and Juno •, and after establishing an 18-
poonder, two 9-pounders, and a carronade against it, that we were enabled
to reduce it, and take an officer and 34 men prisoners f.

• See Vol. L Part I,.p. 250.
+ See id. note t at i*.

470 ADDENDA, &C.

" During this time, having been enabled to examine the mountains that
skirted the western part of the giilph, and which overlooked the enemy's
posts, it appeared, that if heavy cannon could be established on points
where the enemy had deemed it impossible to place them, their works
miijht be ruined, and then attacked to advantage."

This operation, Captain Edward Cooke and Lieutenant
Gore cheerfully undertook to perform ; each having 300 sea-
men under his command, and all the aid that the squadron
could afford. " By the most surprising exertions of science
and labour, from the 12th to the 16th, they placed four 18-
pounders, a large howitzer, and a 10-inch mortar in battery,
on ground elevated at least 700 feet above the sea, and where
every difficulty of ascent and surface had opposed the under-
taking." The first shot fired by the enemy at Lieutenant
Gore's battery dismounted one of his guns j but another was
^'ery soon mounted in its stead.

' ** On the Ifith," continues the Lieutenant-General, " we opened with
two batteries of three pieces of artillery each. One of these, at tl)e dis-
tance of 1000 yards, enfiladed the redoubt of the Convention; and the
other^ at the distance of 800 yards, took it iu reverse. The redoubt itself
was of a long narrow form, occupying the summit of a detached height,
and al)out 250 feet above the sea.

" Our fire was heavy and unremitting during the Ifith and 17th; and,
notwithstanding the gallantry of the enemy, both in serving their guns and
in repairin;; their works, tlieir fire was nearly overi)owered. On the even-
ing of the l/th, a fifth 18-pounder was brought up by the seamen, and a
i|ixth was also placed on an advanced point near the shore, to prevent the
U^o French frigates in the bay from placing themselves in a situation to
enfilade our proposed attack.

*' On the 1 7th, measures having been concerted, the 2d battalion of the
royals, 25th, 50th, and 51st regiments, under the command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Moore, were destined for the attempt, while the 1 1th, 3()th, and
69th remained in reserve. The troops marched in three columns, and
having nearly equal distances to go over, moved at the same hour {S-'M
P. M.) in order to arrive at thu enemy's works a little after the rising of the
moon. Lieutenant-Colonel Moore on the right, with the 2d battalion of
the royals, commanded by Captain M'Kenzic, and the 51st regiment,
came down on the advanced point of the redoubt ; Lieutenant-Colonel
Wauchope, with the 60th, advanced towards its centre; and Captain
Stewart, with the 25th, keeping close to the sea-shore, was directed to
enter on the left and most commanding part of the work.

** Notwithstanding the whole of the ground over which the troops
marched was rocky, rough, and covered with thick myrtle-bushes, they

AODKNOA^ &C. 471

approached the redoubt without the eoemy being certain of their progress,
and, under a very heavy fire, they arrived nearly at the same time at their
pouits, rushed into their works, prevented more than two or three dis-
charffes of cannon being given, and with their bayonets drove the enemy
down the steej) hill which formed tlie rear of the work.*
' ** The judicious fire kept up from our batteries till the very moment of
the attack, facilitated much the approach of the troops ; and a false attack
made by the Corsicans on Lieutenant-Colonel Moore's light, served also to
engage and distract the attention of the enemy, who were not aware of the
extent of their dangert. The loss of the enemy, on the 16th and l/th,
amount to upwards of 100 men killed and wounded, and 10 ofBcers, in-
clwKog the commandant, and 60 men made prisoners, out of 550 that
oceapied the work X.

" The euemy being now reduced to their last posts on the height of
ForoelU. at about 400 yards distance, from which we were separated by a
deep ravuke, and fearmg that their retreat would be cut off, abandoned
them about midnight, crossed over to St. Fiorenzo, hauled off their
frif^tes, and left us iu possession of the tower and batteries of Fornelli,
against which we otherwise must have placed cannon, and, in a delay of
ttn) or three days, prolmbly Imve lost a number of men."

Foriiclli xvaa taken possession of by the detachment of
seamen under Lieutenant Gore.

" On the 19th, after taking measures for the march of the troops to the
other side of the town, in order to cut off the enemy's communication with
Bastia, a summons ^vas sent to St. Fiorenzo. In the afternoon, a negative
answer was received; but, during the day, strong symptoms of a speedy
evacuation were perceived." _

Lieutenant Gore had not been long in possession of for-
nelli, when he discovered that the enemy were about to set
their frigates on fire. He immediately sent off a report to

• One hundred seamen, armed mth pikes, and commanded by Lieu-
tenant Gore, entered the enemy's works simultaneously with the royals^

and at the head of the column of attack. j

, About 1200 Corsicans, under General Paoli, occupied advanced posts^

and covered the flanks of the British forces, during the siege of St. Fio-

renzo.

r-The Co»«,.lioa redoubt was origmally a„ open battery but by
•Jefatisable labour, the eneu,y bad cou.erted it mto a c ose work . u -
iuK 6 iwenly-four-pouuders, 8 eigbleens, 5 twelves. 1 bra^s ■"■«=. 2 ^'^«.
Till i,Z> ,nn!^4 12-cb mortars. at,d 4 '^"^^^^''^^^ll^^^^
7^u,. lOguu-carriages. 1 ''°t::' t IT^ J sheirr^le
Iheir beds, were rendered unserviceable by snoi auu
British batteries. -J ^^'' '«u ;v*"»

f472 ADDENDA, &C.

Lord Hood, and succeeded in drawing the spike of an 18-
pounder, with which gun he played upon the nearest ship
until she sunk : the other was ohsened in flames about 4
P. M., when a boat went off to the squadron to announce
that the enemy had fled from St. Fiorenzo : the seamen and
.marines were then ordered to enilmrk. Their conduct on
shore is thus noticed by Lie uten ant-General Dundas : —

" The perseverance, spirit, and gallantry, of the officer* arid men of
every denomination, merit the highest praise. Unprovided, as we are,
"with inaiiv m-cpssary articles of preparation, the service, at this season of
the II severe, but undergone \vith the greatest cheerfulness

and ^'<)()(i-\v,ii. « • • • Success has crowned the joint endeavours
of the British arms. From the navy we have received the tnost effectual
Rud essential assistance ; their exertions have been wonderful, and nn-
paralleled. Coraniodore Linzce afforded us every support •; and to the
Captains Dickson, Young, Wolseley, Hood, Woodley, and Cooke, and to
'' " M'l men who so zealously acted under their command, we feel

< Mt their efficacious aid.**

In the toxvn of St. Fiorenzo, there were found mounted 2
long brass 32-pounders, 7 iron 24-poundcrs, 2 eightecns, 6
twelves, 2 sixes, 3 bra^s Ti-iiich mortars, 2 field pieces, and
7 other light guns.

The capture of Bjistia has been recorded at p. 251, of Vol.
I: Part I. The following is an extract of the official letter
"Written by Lord Hood on that occasion : —

" Captain Nelson, qf H. M. S, Agamemnon, who had the command and
mVection of the seamen, in landing the guns, mortars, and stores ; and
Captain Hunt, wlio commanded at the batteries, very ably assisted by
Captains Duller and Serecold, and the Lieutenants Gore, Hotham, Stiles,
Andrews, and Brisbane, have an equal claim to my gratitu<le, as the sea-
men under their marjagement worked the guns with great judgment and
alacrity. Never was a higher spirit, or greater !;

and I am huppy to say, that no other contention . ' ">

tluMi wbo should be most forward and indefatigable for promoting bis
Majesty's service ; for, although the difEculties they had to struggle with
wer6 many and various, the perfect harmony and good humour that uni-
versally prevailed throughout the siege overcame them all."

■ Lord Hood was forced from the Gulph of St. Fiorenzo by a strong
westerly gale, on the 1 1 th pgh-, nnfl n fRhi) prevented Lis return from
under Cape Corse until the ,^1^1, ,{ fi^ i JoV

ADDENDA, &C. 473

During that siege, the subject of this memoir received t«^o
severe contusions, notwithstanding which he continued to
command a party of seamen on shore until the surrender of
Bastia, May 22, 1/94, when he was immediately promoted
iuto la Heche, a corvette found lying in the harbour. After
fitting her out, he proceeded to Malta and negociated with
Rhoan, the (irund Master, for a supply of seamen, stores,
&c. His promotion to post-rank took place Nov. 12, 1794 ;
on which occasion Liord Hood's successor appointed him to
command the Windsor Castle 98, bearing the flag of Rear-
Aduiiral Robert Linzee. In her he as«isted at the capture
of two French line-of-battle ships, by the fleet under Vice-
A V il Hotham, Mar. 14, 1795*: the Windsor Castle's
! I that day amounted to 6 killed and 31 wouuded.

Captain Gore's next appointment was to le Censeur 74,
one of the above-mentioned prizes. The recapture of that
ship by a French squadron under Rear-Admiral Richery, has
beeu noticed at p. 010, of Vol. I. Part 11., and is thus
officially described in a letter from Captain Thomas Taylor,
of H. M. S. Fortitude, to the Secretary of the Admiralty,
dated Oct. 12, 1795:—

" Sir, — Be pleased to acquaint my Lords ComniiisiooQfs of the Adixtf-
ralty, that I left Gibraltar on the 24th Sept. taking the first spirt (^ ^
easterly wind after niv letter of the 21st, when the wind was westerly.

" In coniinfj thr , ut in the night, H. M. ships Argo and Junp,

trith some of the men ii;uumen, parted company, and, I conclude, by steer-
ing more to the northward than myself with the other men-of-war and the
body of tlie convoy, it being near dusk in the evening befor* many of them
got out of the bay, though the Fortitude was under weigh with the much
greater part by 10 A. M. but, on the whole, their separation has turned out
a most fortunate circumstance ; for, with great regret, I am to inform their
lordships, that on the 7th instant. Cape St. Vincent, by account, bearing
S. 83° E. 48 leagues, the wind N. by W. standing on the larboard tack, I
discovered nine sail of the enemy's ships, six of the line, two of which I
judged to be of 80 guns, and three large frigates, who directly gave chase
to H. M. squadron under my command under a press of sail. I made
every possible disposition for the better security of the convoy by divers
signals, through which, had many of them been punctually obeyed, a much
gttkter number would have escaped. I then formed the line, with the

M'j\i u; ■ • ' ' ■

• See Vol. I. Part I. note at p. 340,

<^i ADDENDA, &C.

Bedford, Censeur, and Fortitude, determined, if practicable, to give them
battle, and save ut> many of the convoy as I possibly could. . . , ^.,,,

" Just as the ships under my comniaml had formed, the Censeur rolled
away her fore-top-naast ; by which, having only a frigate's raain-mast, she
was rendered useless. The van rine-of-battle ship of the enemy beihg then
but long gim-shot off, and the rest coming fast up, I judged it proper, with
the general opinion of my officers, coinciding with that of Captain Montgo-
mery of the Bedford, to bear up, keeping very near together for our mutual
support, and cutting down every part of the stern for the chase-guns. I
ordered the Lutine frigate directly to take the Censeur ia tow; but, from
the very heavy fire from the enenjy's van ship, it could not l)e effected.

*' Captain Gore, who commanded the Censeur, though his ship was in
so disabled a state, not half manned, and with but very little powder, made
the most gallant defence ; but being at length overpowered, by two sail
more of the enemy's line coming up, 1 had the luortification to see him
strike his colours about half-pai>t two o'clock."

On his return homcj Captain Gore was tried by a court-
martial, and most hoiwurahly acqiiitied, with a very Hattering
compliment from the president, Kear-Admiral Sir Roger
Curtis. He was afterwards successively appointed to act as
captain of the Robust 74, and Alcincne frigate.

In Sept. 1796, Captain Gore obtained the command of the
Triton 32 : and from that period we find him actively em-
ployed on Channel service until the escape of the French fleet
from Brest, April 25, 179^), when he was despatched with the
important information to Earl St. Vincent, commander-in-
chief on the Mediterranean station.

After communicating with Lord Keith, the second in com-
mand, Captain Gore proceeded, with two frigates under his
orders, to reconnoitre the coasts of France and Spain, from
Toulon to Cadiz ; in which latter port he at length discov-
ered the enemies* combined fleets, amounting to thirty-
eight sail of the line, with a suitable train of frigates, cor-
vettes, &c.

This very formidable force sailed from Cadiz, July 21,
1799, and Captain Gore closely watched them until they all
bore up round Cape St. Vinceut, and made sail to the north-
ward : he then pushed past them for England, and arrived at
Plymouth, with the intelligence of their junction and move-
ments, five days before they reached Brest.

ADDENDA, &C. 4/5

Captain Gore was subsequently sent, with a squadron of
frigates under his command, to observe the enemies' move-
ments ; and while thus employed he deterred five Spanish
line-of-battle ships and two frigates from entering the port
of their ally through the Passage du Raz. The Triton after-
wards accompanied Sir John B. Warren in pursuit of this
Spanish squadron, the commander of which had very wisely
returned to Ferrol, where his ships were lying dismantled
when the British arrived in sight of them.

After Sir John B. Warren's return to the Channel fleet,
Captiiin Gore continued cruising in the vicinity of Ferrol,
where he had the good fortune to assist at the capture of the
Santa Brigida, Spanish treasure ship, an event thus described
by the senior officer present on that occasion.

" Xaiad, off Cape Finitterre, Oct. 19, 1799.

" y ' —I have great pleasure in being able to acquaint you, that

the ^i. ^ '-(i in the margin,* which your lordship has done inc the

honour to put under my orders, captured yesterday morning the Spanish
frigate Santa Brigida, of 36 guns, and having on boani 300 men, com-
manded l)y Don Antonio Pillou. This frigate, my Lord, in company with
auother called the Thetis, left Vera Cruz on the 21st August last, and I
had the good fortune to fall in with them both, on the evening of the 16th
instant, in lat. 44* 1' N. long. 12" 35' W. the Naiad then a single ship, and
to which I immediately gave chase. Before midnight, I discovered them to
be vessels belonging to the enemy, and was joined by the Ethalion ; when
the day broke, I was also joined by the Alcmene, and the Triton was
discovered far astern : still, owing to the superior sailing of the latter ship,
after a chase which lasted 32 hours, I set myself down as indebted for a
most valuable capture. The two frigates, at 7 A. M., perceiving them-
selves not in a state to withstand our united force, took different routes,
upon which I made the Ethalion's signals to pass the sternmost ship of the
enemy, as she at that time took the lead in point of sailing, and stand for
and engage the headmost frigate ; which was obeyed with such alacrity by
Captain Young, that 1 make no doubt but she has experienced a similar
fate to her companiouf ; hut as the Santa Brigida made a determinate push
on the southern course, a separation of course took place. The latter
frigate of the enemy having rounded Cape Fmisterre on the morning of
the 18th, her commander shoved so very close to the rocks of Monte Lora,
that the Triton, then first in pursuit, Captain Gore, being regardless of every

• Naiad 38, Triton 32, and Alcmene 32.
+ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 684.

476 ADDENDA, &C.

tbing but ck)3in^ with the eDetny, struck upon them, goin^ setcn knots at
the lime : I fear her damage is considerable. However, she was soon of!
ajrain, and commenced an animated fire on the enemy, as did Captain
Dio-by, with an officer-like presence of mind, keeping in that direction to
cut off the entrance of Port de Vidre. At 8 A. M. our three frigates
closed with the enemy amidst the rocks of Commanirto, at the entrance of
Muros, when the Spanish colours were hauled down, and we found our-
selves all in foul ground together. A fortunate breeze sprung up from the
shore, and we were enabled to put the ships' heads to the sea, and had)
begun to shift prisoners, when an enemy's squadron, consisting of foiu:
large ships, one with a Inroad pendant, came out of Vigo, with an intention,
I suppose, of rescuing the prize. This being the opinion of Captains Gore
and Digby also, every exertion was made to secure the prisoners, and get
the ships under my command ready to receive them ; but on their per-
ceiving my determination they bore up and ran into Vigo. Light and
variable winds have kept me still in sight of the Spanish coast, which, to
day, is one continued blaze. Aware of another squadron being in Corunna,
I have thought it my duty to keep altogether for the protection of the
prize, which is of immense value, having on board 1,400,000 dollars,
independent of a cargo of equal estimation. My companions in chase,
Captains Gore and Digby, make the most favourable report of the zeal
and perseverance of their respective officers and crews ; and in justice to
the officers and ship's company I have the honor to command, I can only
say, that their anxiety to get alongside the enemy's frigates, whilst alone,
was equal to what it was afterwards, when my force became superior; and
on that, as on all former occasbns, I profited by the able assistance of Mr.
John Houltoun Marshall, my first lieutenant, to whom I have given charge
of the prize. I enclose a list of killed and wounded on this occasion, either
by shot or casualties. • I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " W. Pikrrepoint."

" Rig/it Hon. Tjord lindport, K. B. ^t. ^c. <yf."

Captam Gore's share of prize-money for the cargoes of the
Santa Brigida and her consort, exclusive of their hulls, stores,
&c. amounted to 40,730/. IS*. !

In Feb. 1801, a melancholy accident happened on board
the Tritort, She was firing at a French cutter which had been
dnvtn iipon the Penmark rocks, when one of the main-deck
guns burst, killed the second lieutenant and2 men, and wounded
22 other persons, one of whom was Captain Gore, who re-
ceived a violent contusion in the back.

.UUc

* TritOD, one man wounded ; Alcmene, one killed ; a petty officer and
eigbt men wounded. The Sunta Bri^pda had two ilain and eight wounded.

ADDENDA, &C. 477

On her return to port, the Triton was taken into dock, ah«J'
Captain Gore felt himself under the necessity of requesting^
leave of absence. This, the Admiralty would not grant ; but,
upon his reporting himself ready for service again, he was
nnni. • ' appointed to the Medusa, a 32-gun frigate,
moui:...., ..? -pounders on the main-deck, recently launched
at Woolwich. Whilst in the Triton, he captured the following
French armed vessels :—

• La T

'.' I >Uip

cboooer
brig
hip

' ^ -schooner

• La Rost hrijf

16 guns, 90 men, > -v

u 46 r^^- ^'7

»8 206 12,>1797.

4 50 Oct.

16 160

20 200 .........1798.

12. >

5 38 Scpt.28,'1

4 70 i_ ll7(;

1/In. ....brig ! 14 64 i^^^- j

'- " or.. brig I 18 87 Jan. 30,

" ur..ung I 10 0/ • ''"•I 1 700

U St. Jacques, national lugger, 6 30 Sept. 13, / '

UVldetta brig 14 90 Feb. 10, 1800.

Captain Gore likewise destroyed la Bayonaise, a ship of 20 gung and
2(X) men, and Ic Petit Diable cutter of 12 guns and 60 men. He also
chased a cutter privateer, of 16 gims, under the batteries at Guernsey,
where she was brought-to and captured by the garrison of that island,
Jan. 29, 1799.

During the summer of 1801, government received intelli-
gence that the invasion of Great Britain by France might be
certainly expected. Every {H-eparation was immediately
made, with that energy and deliberate resolution which have
always marked our national character ; and the general wish
of the nation, that Lord Nelson should be the guardian of that
part of its southern coast, where it was expected the enemy
would make the attempt, was gratified by his lordship being
appointed commander-in-chief of all the naval force employed
on both shores, from Orfordness to Beachy Head, inclusive.
Captain Gore had been previously ordered to assume the
command of a light squadron employed in wat<;hing Boulogne,
and the Medusa was now selected to bear the flag of Nelson.

Taken by the Triton, in company mth other British cruisers.

4^8 ADDBNDA, &C.

tTJiOn the 3d Aug. 1801, Captain Gore was directed by our
great hero to place three bomb-vessels in a situation to throw
shells amongst the enemy's flotilla ; and on the following
day three or four large gun-vessels were destroyed. On the
15th, he was ordered to arrange an attack upon thirty-six
sail lying in the mouth of the harbour. The result of this
enterprise has been stated in the note f at p. 611 et seq. of
Vol. I. Part II.

We subsequently find the flag of Lord Nelson flying on
board the Amazon frigate, and Captain Gore commanding a
Kjuadron stationed under Dungeness, to protect that part of
the coast, and occasionally to menace Boulogne. From Oct.
1801 until Feb. 12, 1802, the Medusa was employed in cruis-
ing against the smugglers, between the Start and the Isle of
Wight. At the latter period she was sent with despatches
to the Mediterranean.

On his arrival there. Captain Gore was ordered to visit all
the French and Spanish ports within the limits of that sta-
tion ; and he subsequently commanded a squadron sent to
escort King Ferdinand IV. from Palermo to his continental
capital. Early in 1803, he conveyed H. M. ambassador, the
Right Hon. William Drunimond, from Naples to Constanti-
nople.

While lying at the entrance of the Black Sea, Captain
Gore received intelligence that led him to believe it woidd
not be long before another war took place between Great
Britain and France. Aware that his Admiral would, in such
a case, require the services of the Medusa, he immodiatily
resolved to overlook his instructions, and hasten to rejoin the
flag of Sir Richard Bickerton, by whom his conduct on thi^
occasion was very highly approved.

Captain Gore wa« senior officer of the inshore squadron
when Nelson arrived off Toulon, and assumed the chief com-
mand. From thence he was sent, with three frigates and
four sloops under his orders, to cruise in the vicinity of
Gibraltar, as his lordship's " advanced guard off the Straits ;'*
and, whilst there, he had the happiness to obtain his immor-
tal chieftain's most flattering approbation.

ADDENDA, &C. 479

After cruising for three months outside of the Gut, Captain
Gore returned to Gibraltar for the purpose of completing his
stores, provisions, and water. Whilst thus employed, he ob-
served a cutter coming from the westward, in action with
two large French feluccas. Nearly the whole of his officers
and men were then on shore, at the Dock-yard, Victuallino-
Office, &c. He immediately recalled them, slipped his
cable, and stretched across to Cabritta point unobserved by
the rmniy, who were about to board the cutter. On perceiv-
ing the Medusa they both hauled off from their intended prey
and stood away on different tacks ; but Captain Gore soon ran
along side one of them*, put his first lieutenant on board her,
a ' tinued in chase of the other. This latter vesself suc-
II in regaining the Spanish shore, but in so shattered a

State, from the Medusa's shot, that she never again floated.
The cutter thus rescued ^ras the British Fair, charged with
despatches of the utmost importance : 2 of her crew were
killed, and 6 wounded. Each of the feluccas had 2 long 12-
pounders, 2 sixes, and 70 men.

The capture and destruction of these, and three other
French feluccas, by the Medusa, brought on Sir Thomas
Trigge, Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar, a long correspond-
ence with the Marquis Solano, Captain -General of Andalusia,
and General Castanos, Governor of Algeziras, which being
referred to Captain Gore, he replied as follows : —

** Sir, — I have the honor to acknowled/^e the receipt of your Excellency's
letters and their enclosures from the high Spanish authorities, and in reply
I have to request you will be pleased to inform those officers that so long
■s they countenance the French privateers lying in Tarifia and other ports,
and sallying from thence to seize upon the unprotected trade of his Ma-
jwty'3 subjects, thereby transgressing the laws of neutrality, I shall be
equally heedless of them ; and after the instance they so strongly dwell
upon, I shall feel it my duty to pursue the French privateers into Spanish
portj, and destroy them when I can, and I shall instruct the captains of his
M^'esty's ships placed under my orders to do so likewise. I have the
honor to be, &c.

(Signed) "John Gore."

Shortly afterwards, the Medusa chased a French schooner
• L' Esperawce. f Le Sorcier.

480 ADDENDA, &C.

privateer so close to Cadiz light-house that her shdt went into
the town. On the following morning, the Marquis Solano
sent off his aide-de-camp to acknowledge the honor of the
salute, and to request that the next time Captain Gore gave
him one he would not shot his guns. The Spanish officer
also handed to him a note requesting his company at dinner,
and inviting the officers of the frigate to a bull fight in the
evening : these invitations were accepted, and the Medusa
immediately entered the harbour, where she anchored not far
from I'Aigle French 74, and two ship corvettes, which Cap-
tain Gore had been for some time watching, in order to pre-
vent them from pouncing upon a fleet of merchantmen then
expected from England. We should here observe, that Cap-
tain Gore had lived on terms of intimacy with the Marquis
during his detention at Cadiz, after the capture of le Censeur.

On the 5th Oct. 1804, the Medusa assisted at the capture
of three Spanish frig.ites laden with valuable merchandize,
and having on board specie to a verj' large amount. During
the action that took place on this occasion, a fourth frigate
blew up, by which dreadful accident 240 persons perished *.

On the 8th of the following month, Captain Gore returned
to Portsmouth in company with the Matilda 36, which ship
had been intercepted and detained by order of Sir Richard J.
Strachan, when proceeding from Cadiz to Vera Cruz, with a
cargo of quicksilver worth 200,000 pounds.

The Medusa being in want of considerable repairs, Captain
Gore now obtained leave of absence ; and whilst his frigate
was in dock, the following correspondence took place between
bim and the first Marquis Cornwallis ; — his god-father, and
•teady friend through life : —

" YorA House, Bath, Dec. 15, 1S04.

** Mv Lord, — I have just read in the Courier that you are to be appoint-
ed Govemor-General of India, I do not mean to intrude any question,
but if it is fact, and you think you can be more comfortable with u)e than
a 8tranji[er, I can only state that my frigate. Medusa, is now undergoing a
thorough repair at Porlsuiouth, and I am told will be out of dock in Fe-
bruary. I shall be truly rejoiced to do every thing in ray power to render

♦ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 636.

ADDENDA, &C. 481

vniir vMviiDro i|irrAi.HMe, and Only beg that, instead of replying to this, your
your wishes to Lord Melrille, upon whon», as well
as your LorcLship, I will wail the moment I return to London. I have the
honor to be, &c. CSigned) "John Gore.'

" London, D^A'9, \S04.
" My dear Gore, — ^^^lal you read in the Courier is perfectly tnie."*^
am toki that I can be nseful by going to India, and if I can render my coun*
try any service it is a matter of inditference to me whether I die on the
banks of the Thames or the Gauges. I therefore accept your offer with
all the kindness it is made ; and have seen Lord Melville, who desires to
see you to soon as you come to town, and will there make all the necessuy
arrangeroeots. Believe me your attached friend,

(Signed) " Cornwallis."

Captain Gore received the honor of knighthood, Feb. 21,
1906 ; and sailed for Bengal, April 15 following. The Mar-
(,■--- ^' - Wis died at Gazeepour, a village on the banks of
t . about 600 miles above Calc\itta, Oct. 5 in the

same year. His lordship's remains were there interred by the
present Sir George Abercrombie Robinson, Bart, and the
other gentlemen who composed the suite of that great and
lamented statesman. .

Sir John Gore continued at Calcutta, waiting for despattfr-
, '"' \ov. 3, 1805, when he sidled for England with Mesk^s.
i^ Ml, &c. and the treaty of peace that had been concltided

with the Mahratta chief Holkar. His voyage home was pet-
formed with astonishing celerity, the Medus^ having run
from the Ganges to the Lizard in 84 days, two of which were
spent at anchor in St. Helena roads :— she was consequently
but 82 days under sail, in which time she traversed the M-
mense space of 13,831 miles. "

Soon after his arrival. Sir John Gore remove(^ to the Re-
venge 74, in which ship he was successively employed off
Brest, I'Orient, and Rochefort. On the 15th July, 1806, one
of his lieutenants was killed in a boat attack, which will be
fully detailed under the head of Captain Edward Reynolds

Sibly.

The Revenge formed part of the squadron under Commo-
dore Sir Samuel Hood, when that officer lost his arm, in an
action with some French frigates, from Rochefort bound to

SUPPL. PART II. 2 I

48i ADDENDA, &C.

the West Indies ; but being well to windward of her consorts
at the time the enemy were first discovered, she was too far astern
of them during the pursuit to render any assistance. An ac-
count of this affair is given at p. 570 et seq, of Vol. I. Part II.
Early in 1807, Sir John Gore was sent to join Lord Col-
lingwood, who gave him the command of the inshore
squadron off Cadiz, where he continued until June, 1808, at
which period the inhabitants of that city sent two officers
on board the Revenge, with offers of amity, and to solicit
assistance against the French. This being made known to
the senior officer. Sir John Gore and Colonel Sir George
Smith were immediately ordered to land and negociate with
the Spanish authorities ; after which his lordship directed Ad-
miral Apodaca, and the other commissioner appointed by the
Supreme Council of Seville, to be conveyed to England in
the Revenge, for the purpose of treating with the British
cabinet on matters important to the interests of both nations.
On her arrival at Portsmouth, the Revenge was taken into
dock, and Sir John GoreV ' ' 'i being much impaired he
solicited and obtained permi > retire for a time from the

fatigues of active service. He accordingly gave up the com-
mand of that ship, Aug. 6, 1808.

His next appointment was, Sept. 12, 1810, to the Tonnant
of 80 guns, in which ship wc find him successively employed
IB conveying troops to Lisbon, cruising under the orders of
Sir Thomas Williams, superintending the blockade of Brest
and rOrient, and serving with the squadron in Basqne roads,
where he was very severely hurt by a tackle from the main-
top falling on his head, contusing it badly, and giving a gene-
ral shock to his whole frame. The Tonnant being in a defec-
tive state was thereupon sent home, and put out of commMfiion
in Aug. 1812.

On the 27th Nov. following, Sir John Gore was again ap-
pointed to the Revenge, and ordered to the Mediterranean.
During the whole summer of 1813, he commanded the in-
shore squadron off Touhm ; and towards the close of the
same year he was sent to cruise off Cape St. Sebastian, with
several line-of-battle ships under his orders. On the 8th Nov.

ADDENDA, &C;. 493

Mi''boilB-cat ft French felucca privateer out of Palamos

Sir John Gore's promotion to the rank of Rear- Admiral
took place Dec. 4, 1813; and on the 23d of the following
month he received an order to hoist his flag in the Revenge.
During the remainder of the war he commanded the squadron
employed in the Adriatic.

On the 22d Mar. 1814, having arranged a co-operation
with the Austrian Field Marshal Bellegarde, Sir John Gore
commenced tlie close blockade of Venice by sea, anchoring
bin squadron off the town, and stationing the boats of the
4kSereBt ships to watch the entrances of Chiozza and Malan-
ooca. A flotilla equipped by the squadron was at the same
iMDe ordered to co-operate with amd sustain the Imperial
traops on the Adige and Piave.

In consequence of the successes of the allied armies in
FtMKCv -Eugene Beauharnois and Marshal Bellegarde en-
tered into ft negociation respecting the surrender and occu-
pation of Italy. This having been done without Sir John
Gore's knowledge, he remonstrated in the name of his sove-
reign against such a partial measure, and the indignity oflFered
to the British flag ; demanding that the ships, arsenal, timber,
and naval stores of every description should be placed in his
hands ; but without effect. Not having a sufficient force to sup-
port his claim, he declined having any thing more to do with
Venice, withdrew the whole of his squadron, &c. and submit-
ted his correspondence to the decision of the British govern-
ment.

From Venice, Sir John Gore proceeded to Corfu, and in-
formed the governor-general of the Ionian islands of the great
events that had recently occurred on the continent ; but could
not prevail upon him to evacuate them. He then went to
Trieste, and there received instructions to attend Lieutenant-
General Campbell, the commissioner appointed by govern-
ment to receive possession of Corfu. On the 8th June, a
French commissioner arrived to cede that island; on the
25th the British flag was hoisted in the citadel ; on the 26th
a French squadron sailed from thence accompanied by the

•484 ADDENDA, &C.

late garrison, 10,000 stronj:^, embarked in English transports ;
and on the 28tli Sir John Gore took his departure for Minor-
ca, from whence he returned to Spithead, on the 16th Aug.
following. We are informed that an order was sent out for
him to be left in command of the squadron, on the peace
establishment, in the Mediterranean, but that he had sailed
for England, in company with Lord Exmouth, before the ar-
rival of the messenger to whom that despatch was entrusted.

Sir John Gore was nominated a K. C. B. Jan. 2, 1815 ; and
appointed commander-in-chief in the river Medway, at the
buoy of the Nore, and from Dungeness to the river Tweed,
Mar. 23, 1818. His flag continued flying on board the Bul-
wark 76, till the end of June 1821. Since the battle of
Navarin he has been to the Mediterranean on a mission from
H. K. H. the Lord High Admiral. His commission as a
Vice- Admiral bears date May 27, 1825.

This officer married, Aug. 15, 1808, Georgiana, eldest
daughter of Admiral Sir George Montagu, G.C. B. by whom
he has had one son and six daughters.

Residence. — Datchett, near Windsor.

W. Pople, Printer.
l7tCI»notry Lmm.

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