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No. 27
LIST of the Officers of the Fleet, setting forth the merits of each, and the services upon which they are employed, and also whether they are serving under the Royal Letters or Order of the Queen, or by Warrant from me, issued in consequence of the want of Officers alleged by the Chief, and whom I appointed in conformity with the Royal Orders which have been sent to me.
Rio de Janeiro, 22nd October 1777.
(Part referring to Captain Phillips.)
| Vessels. | Captains. | Lieutenant-Captains. | Lieutenants. | ||||||
| By Royal Letters. | By Warrant. | Remarks. | By Royal Letters. | By Warrant. | Remarks | By Royal Letters. | By Warrant. | Remarks. | |
| Santo Agostinho | Arthur Phillips | This Officer is most honorable and meritorious. When at the Colony[1] he, with only his own frigate,[2] made the Spaniards respect that fortress as they ought to. When the Fleet sailed from St Catherine's upon receiving news of the Spanish Fleet he made every effort to induce the Chief to attack the enemy; and, finding that he did not do so, he wrote a private letter to him imploring him, for the sake of his own honour and that of the Nation, not to refrain from attacking them. The Chief replied that his orders were positive, and were to the contrary; and when he called upon all of them to give their votes, which was when the Spaniards were already commencing to enter the port, in order to make Phillips change his opinion he read to him the orders which he had previously received, informing him that he had received no others since them, and that it was those which they were all bound to obey. This he did, but only out of the great deference he renders to the orders of his superiors. His health is very delicate, but he never complains, excepting when he has nothing special to do for the Royal Service. | José Caetano de Lima. | Agostinho da Rosa | The first-mentioned was named in the orders which I received from the Court, and I wrote a letter to him to that effect to serve as his Warrant, as I had been charged to do. He has served very well.
The second came out here as a Lieutenant. He has served with much distinction, and was appointed to serve as Lieutenant-Captain upon the application of the Chief. |
Jeronimo Pereira.
Antonio da Rosa. |
The first-mentioned passed from ordinary mariner to volunteer, and, as such, sailed in one of the vessels which entered Rio Grande on the 19th February last
year. He bore himself with great valour and promptness. He is not wanting in intelligence, but, as he was not brought up to be an officer, it is difficult for him to adapt himself to that particular mode of life. The second was a coasting Captain of Rio da Praia and all the southern ports. He is a very intelligent and brave officer. They were appointed by Warrant, upon the application of the Chief. They have fulfilled their duties most perfectly. | ||
| (Signed) Marquez do Lavradio | |||||||||
