Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/237

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222
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1813.

being barbed, they could not be extracted but by the knife. The Portuguese had 1 killed and 8 wounded; the enemy, 16 slain and 20 wounded.

The following copy of an official note, and the extract of its enclosure, will shew how highly the Prince Regent of Portugal was pleased at the expulsion of the French from South America: and the various marks of favor which his Royal Highness was pleased to confer upon Captain Yeo, and the officers and crew of the Confiance, in consequence of their gallant and successful exertions in effecting the reduction of Cayenne:–

“The undersigned, counsellor, minister, and secretary of state for the departments of foreign affairs and war, has the honor to inform his Excellency Lord Viscount Strangford, his Britannic Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, that H.R.H. the Prince Regent of Portugal, justly appreciating the services and co-operation of the Confiance. in the expedition against Cayenne, the conquest of which settlement was achieved for the greater part by the valor and activity of her officers and men, and wishing to give to each of the individuals belonging to that ship, a mark of his gratitude, following as nearly as possible the usages practised in England upon similar occasions, has been pleased to order the gratifications and rewards specified in the enclosed paper to be distributed among them; and, as the said ship is to depart immediately for England, H.R. Highness’s envoy at London will receive instructions to carry H.M. Highness’s commands upon this subject into execution, without loss of time. His Royal Highness hopes that Lord Strangford will communicate the subject of this note, as well to his court as to the commander of the Confiance, in order that he may announce it to the officers and men previously to the departure of that ship from Rio de Janeiro. The undersigned requests Lord Strangford to accept the assurances of his highest regard, respect, and consideration.

(Signed)Conde de Linhares.”

Palace of Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 21, 1809.

“His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, as a special and singular favor, not to serve as example or precedent, grants to Captain Yeo the permission to wear the ensigns of a commander of the military order of St. Bento d’Avis: Captain Yeo receiving at the same time other mark of his Royal Highness’s good-will and consideration[1].

“To Lieutenant Mulcaster, H.R.H. gives a gold sword, with a suitable inscription; to Lieutenant Samuel Blyth, the sum of 150l. for the purchase of a sword, or of any other memorial of the conquest of Cayenne: to
  1. The Prince had previously presented Captain Yeo with a valuable diamond ring, from off his own finger.