Badcock volunteering to land him under cover of night, which, after being twice discovered, and the alarm guns fired, he at length succeeded in doing, close to the walls of the town. On this occasion, being well aware of his fate if taken prisoner, he recommended his men to fight to the last, should they be attacked, as they would find it better to be shot than hanged. From thence the Melpomene proceeded off Leghorn.
On the 18th May, 1806, Lieutenant Badcock was suddenly ordered to jump into a 6-oared cutter, and proceed in pursuit of a French row-boat and several other small vessels near the shore. So eager was Captain Parker to go in chase of a ship then to leeward, that he would not allow him time to get his sword and pistols, but directed him to push off with the arms that were hastily thrown into the boat as she descended from the quarter, consisting of only 4 cutlasses and 2 pistols, for nine persons, one of whom was a Tuscan. A small gig, however, was afterwards sent to his assistance, and directed by him to attack one of the merchant vessels, while he continued to pursue the row-boat, which was captured, after some little resistance, within gunshot of Leghorn, and found to be so full of corn that there was not room for any of the prisoners to be confined below. Her crew consisted of 16 well-armed men.
It now fell calm, and Lieutenant Badcock ordered four of his men to the oars, in order to get the prize’s head off towards the frigate, and increase her distance from the shore. Whilst thus employed, a shot fired at the gig unfortunately drew his attention, and the prisoners, instigated thereto by the Anglo-Italian, rose, and regained possession of the vessel, but not until they had wounded him in the hand, and stunned him by a blow on the head, stabbed one of his men, and thrown two others overboard; leaving only four persons to resist the whole seventeen. We must do them the justice, however, to say, that they did not allow those who were in the sea to perish.
At the expiration of three months, Lieutenant Badcock had the good fortune to get exchanged; and he appears to
