Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/384

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366
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1808.

“It would be an act of injustice to all those officers and men, were I not to bear testimony to their gallant and intrepid conduct; it was such as to merit the highest encomium. I herewith enclose a list of the killed and wounded[1], and have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)James Polkinghorne.”

The Right Hon. Sir John B. Warren,
Bart. K.B. &c. &c.

The prizes were very fine vessels, and of large dimensions for schooners, each measuring from 200 to 225 tons. The Racer and Lynx, under the names of Shelburne and Musquedobit, wero afterwards 14-gun schooners in the British service. It is almost needless to say that Captain Pechell’s first Lieutenant was subsequently made a Commander for his very dashing conduct.

In the same year we find Captain Pechell very actively employed under the immediate orders of Rear-Admiral Cockburn, particularly at the attack on Craney Island, and the destruction of the enemy’s camp at Hampton; on which latter occasion he commanded the boats and tenders detached to cover the landing of the troops under Sir Sydney Beckwith[2]. The St. Domingo returned to England in June 1814.

Captain Pechell was nominated a C.B., June 4, 1815, as a reward for his meritorious services; and appointed to the Sybille frigate, fitting for the Mediterranean, July 1, 1823. In Oct. following he proceeded thither, and was most actively employed in the suppression of piracy, and protecting the Ionian islands, for a period of three years, during which his boats were frequently in action. The following are copies of his official letters to Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Neale, Bart., G.C.B., reporting the capture and destruction of several daring marauders:

H.M.S. Sybille, Gulf of Napoli de Romania, 5 Oct. 1824.

“Sir,– I have the honor to inform you, that I received directions from their lordships to seize and detain all armed vessels sailing under the Greek flag, and to conform myself in all particulars relative to the naval service contained in the enclosed despatch from Earl Bathurst to the Lord High Commissioner.

“His Excellency was of opinion, that in consequence of the recall of the proclamation of the 27th May, by the provisional government of Greece,
  1. 2 killed and 11 wounded: the enemy had 5 slain and 11 wounded, one of whom mortally.
  2. See Vol. I. p. 524.