chants of the town, beg leave to offer their congratulations on your recovery, not in the ordinary style of addresses, but with heart-felt and unfeigned satisfaction and joy.
“We do not attempt to express at large our sense of your magnanimous and disinterested conduct, while engaged in the command of a squadron, or singly cruising after the enemy, lest it. should appear like flattery, which neither our candour, nor our regard for your feelings, would allow us to offer; but we feel peculiar pleasure in observing the manner in which the Lords of the Treasury have marked such conduct, and their having recommended it to the notice of H.R.H. the Prince Regent, in the disposal of American prizes, condemned as droits of the crown. As Underwriters, we are more especially called upon to express our thankfulness for your exertions in our favor, under the pressure of such difficulties as you had to encounter, in recapturing and preserving some of our most valuable risks, and sending them home to us, even while in the face of the enemy; at the same time declining to send in valuable prizes, but preferring to destroy them, rather than weaken the force of your ship.
“To a late brilliant event we will only point in silent admiration, well knowing that our feelings are in perfect unison with those of the nation at large; the public expression of which, from the highest authority, no doubt awaits yon, and the brave officers and crew of the Shannon. In further testimony of our esteem, we beg your acceptance of a piece of plate, value 100 guineas, which will be presented to you in London by a gentleman who was lately one of our number.
The Court of Common Council of London voted Captain Broke their thanks, with the freedom of the city, and a sword of 100 guineas value. The thanks of the corporation of Ipswich (the freedom of which he was by birth entitled to), were also presented to him, and a subscription opened by the gentry and other inhabitants of the county of Suffolk, for the purpose of purchasing him a piece of plate, which closed at an amount of about 730l. A convivial society at Ipswich, called “The Free and Easy Club,” likewise subscribed 100 guineas for the purchase of a silver cup, bearing a chaste and unostentatious inscription.
On his return to England, the Shannon being found unfit for further service, Sir Philip Broke was offered the command of one of the new ships built to match the large American vessels, misnamed frigates; but his wound was not then sufficiently healed to allow of his immediately serving again. He was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815.
Sir Philip married, Nov. 25, 1802, Sarah Louisa, daughter
