astern. The Colossus was now enabled to devote her sole attention to the Bahama, who, on her mainmast falling, as it presently did, over her engaged side, shewed an English jack from the hen-coops on her poop, to denote that she had struck. Meanwhile the French Swiftsure endeavoured to bear up under the stern of the Colossus; but the latter, wearing more quickly, received a few only of the former’s larboard guns, before she poured in her starboard broadside. This brought down the Swiftsure’s mizen-mast. At the same time the Orion, in passing, gave the French ship a broadside, which brought down her tottering main-mast; whereupon the Swiftsure made signs to the Colossus of having surrendered. In hauling up to take possession of her two prizes, the latter lost her wounded mizen-mast over the starboard side.
“The main-mast of the Colossus was so badly wounded, that she was compelled, during the ensuing night, to cut it away; and her damages altogether were extremely severe.”
“With a truly gallant spirit. Captain Morris would not go below, but, applying a tourniquet to his thigh, remained at his post near the head of the poop-ladder, until, to avoid the fall of the mizen-mast, he descended to the quarter-deck. After the battle was over, and the Agamemnon had come down to take the Colossus in tow, he became faint from loss of blood, and was carried below. He was landed in his cot some days afterwards, at Gibraltar.”
The subject of this sketch was made commander, Dec. 24, 1805; and appointed to the Cruiser brig, of 18 guns, about Nov, 1808. In the following year, he captured two privateers, on the Baltic station, where he appears to have been principally employed until promoted to post rank, Dec. 4, 1813. Since the peace he has successively commanded the Tartarus, of 20 guns, Perseus 22, and Tamar 28; the latter stationed at Newfoundland.
Agent.– Sir F. M. Ommanney.
WILLIAM FAIRBROTHER CARROLL, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1813.]
This officer is a son of Daniel Carroll, of Uskane, co. Tipperary, Esq. a gentleman brought up to the Irish bar. He was born at Glencarrig, co. Wicklow, Jan. 28, 1784; and we find him commencing his naval career, Dec. 12, 1795, in the Diamond frigate. Captain Sir W. Sidney Smith, with whom he was taken prisoner by the French, April 18, 1796.
