his orders the Hind of 28 guns; in endeavouring to fall in with which ship he unexpectedly discovered the other.
On the 8th Feb. 1809, the boats of the Amphion and Redwing brig, under the command of Lieutenant Phillott, landed at the island of Melida, in the Adriatic, brought off three guns, and destroyed two large stores of oil and wine. The Amphion and her consort had previously taken possession of a French brig, mounting six guns, and an armed trabacolo, both employed in conveying troops from Zara to Ancona.
On the 23d April, in the same year. Lieutenant Phillott commanded a division of boats belonging to the squadron under Captain, (now Sir Jahleel) Brenton, and behaved in an “exemplary” manner at the capture of thirteen valuable merchantmen lying in the mole of Pesaro[1].
In October following, Lord Collingwood transmitted to the Admiralty a letter from Captain Hoste, “giving an account of a very gallant and well-conducted attack made on the enemy’s fort and vessels at Cortelazzo, between Venice and Trieste, by the seamen and marines of the Amphion, which so completely succeeded, that the fort was taken and blown up, and all the vessels that were in the port captured or destroyed. On many occasions,” observed his lordship, “I have had to represent the zeal, the bravery, and the nice concert of measures that are necessary to success, which have distinguished the services of Captain Hoste; and this late attack of the enemy is not inferior to those many instances which have before obtained for him praise and admiration. The manner in which he speaks of Lieutenant Phillott, who commanded the party, and of the other officers and men, is highly honorable to them; but the Amphion’s officers and men, following the example of their captain, could not well be otherwise than they are.” The annexed is a copy of Captain Hoste’s official letter:–
