We all pray, sincerely pray, for your recovery – may the Lord be pleased for to heal your Wounds quickly, that you may be able to obtain all that so good and so brave a Commander as you are is worthy of – believe us, my good Sir, that there is not a man in the Ship’s Crew that would not risk his life in your defence. We humbly request your honor will excuse our troubling you in your present situation. We remain your ever obedient and humble Servants,
of his Majesty’s Sloop Sparrow.”
This letter requires no comment; but we cannot refrain from adding, that when Captain Tayler was hoisted over the side, to go to sick-quarters, every sailor and marine in the brig shed tears. The first lieutenant, of whose treatment they complained, is now no more.
Captain Tayler was landed at Plymouth, Aug. 9, 1813, at which time his shattered bones were protruding about four inches through the integuments of the leg, accompanied with a laceration and destruction of the surrounding fleshy parts, more extensive than any injury of the kind (where the limb was saved) that had ever come under the observation of Dr. Andrew Baird, then an Inspector of Naval Hospitals, who says, “I can never forget the tranquillity of mind he evinced, and the patient resignation with which he bore his long confinement and severe sufferings, to which may be ascribed his recovery.”
It is also certified by Stephen Love Hammick, Esq. the late surgeon of Plymouth hospital, through whose great practical skill, and constant kind attention, Captain Tayler was at length enabled to go about upon crutches, “that he was confined to his bed for twenty-eight weeks, without having it once made up;” nor was he sufficiently recovered to leave that institution till May 20, 1814: “the present appearance of the leg will prove the extent of his sufferings and danger; it has become considerably shortened, and is greatly exposed to inflammation, so as to render his situation much less fortunate than if it had been altogether removed.”
Captain Tayler was advanced to post rank Aug. 6, 1813; granted a pension of 200l., since increased to 250l. per annum, Nov. 12, 1814; and nominated a C.B. in Oct. 1815. On the latter occasion, he received a letter from his early
