subsequent operations against the Turks, by the squadron under Sir John T. Duckworth, the Thunderer had 6 men killed and 28 wounded.
Towards the latter end of the year 1809, our officer was appointed to the Victorious, another 74, stationed in the Mediterranean, where he destroyed the Leoben, Italian schooner of war, of 10 guns and 60 men, from Venice bound to Corfu, laden with ordnance stores.
On the 21st Feb. 1812, Captain Talbot being off Venice, in company with Captain Andrews of the Weazle sloop, discovered an enemy’s squadron, consisting of the Rivoli, of 74 guns, two brigs of 18 guns each, one of 10 guns, and two gunboats, proceeding from that port to Polo, in Istria. A very close action ensued between the two line-of-battle ships, during which one of the brigs, engaged with the Weazle, blew up, and the others took to flight. Captain Andrews then placed his vessel very judiciously on the bow of the Rivoli, which had already been rendered perfectly unmanageable, and in that situation gave her three raking broadsides, so that she was at length compelled to surrender, after a most gallant defence of four hours and a half.
From the length of the action, and the smoothness of the water, the loss of men and the damages on both sides were very great, the Victorious and Rivoli having been within half-musket-shot during the whole of the battle, which only ceased at intervals, when the ships were hid from each other by the fog and smoke. The former had 32 killed and 109 wounded; among the latter number was Captain Talbot, who received a contusion from a splinter, and for some days afterwards was nearly deprived of his sight[1]. The Rivoli had 400 men, her Captain, and most of her officers, either killed or wounded; she had on board at the commencement of the action 862 persons; the Victorious only 506.
The Rivoli bore the broad pendant of Commodore Barre, the Commander-in-Chief of the enemy’s forces in the Adriatic, whose conduct, during the whole of the battle, convinced Captain Talbot he had to deal with a most gallant man, as well as an experienced and skilful officer.
The Rivoli, in crossing the gulf of Fieume, lost her fore and
- ↑ Ten of the wounded died soon after the action.
