“The officers and men displayed the same eager desire to distinguish themselves which I have had occasion to mention more than once, and are deserving of praise for their exemplary conduct; Captain Black assures me, that the conduct of the officers and men employed in the Weazle’s boats was equally meritorious.
“The Weazle joined me in the evening with the two gun-boats she had been sent in pursuit of; and a circumstance occurred in the capture of them, which will, I trust, recommend the midshipman to the notice of the commander in chief. Notwithstanding the exertions of the Weazle, the boats were enabled to close with the enemy before her, and the then leading boat, commanded by Mr. Webb, of the Bacchante, got up with the sternmost, who received him very warmly: he, however, boarded and carried her. She mounted one 14-pounder in the bow, one 6-pounder in the stern, and had forty men actually on board. He left her to be taken possession of by the boats that were coming up, and pushed on after the headmost, which he boarded and carried in the same gallant manner. This one had a 9-pounder in the bow, a 6-pounder in the stern, and 32 men actually on board. Mr. Webb’s boat mounted a 3-pounder in the bow, and he had 18 men only with him. He has passed his examination as lieutenant, has been two years acting lieutenant, and is a very promising meritorious young man.
“The enemy had quitted Corfu the evening before, and were bound to Otranto to convey money for the payment of the troops on that island. They are very fine vessels, and sail remarkably fast. Their guns are fitted so as to turn on a pivot, and may be fired in any direction without altering the course, which enabled them to keep up a very smart fire, as our boats approached. As it is the only force of this description the enemy have at Corfu, the capture of them will be of considerable annoyance to the island. The enemy had two men severely wounded. I am happy to say, we had no casualty whatever. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Rear-Admiral Freemantle.”
The Corfu flotilla consisted of l’Arrogante, la Diligente, and l’Indomptable, each mounting two guns (long 14 and 6-pounders), rowing 30 sweeps, and manned with from 36 to 40 men; la Salamine, of two guns (9 and 6-pounders), 30 sweeps, and 32 men; and la Calypso, of one long 12-pounder, 28 sweeps, and 30 men. Three of them were commanded by enseignes de vaisseaux, the others by aspirants. The following officers and midshipmen were employed in the boats of the Bacchante and her consort on this occasion:
- ↑ The latter afterwards killed near Manfredonia – see Nav. Chron, xxxi, 512.
