critical situation, by taking the prize in tow, and by their incessant labour ever since, will, I trust, when their small number is considered, place them in a light superior to any praise I could bestow. I am even unwilling to speak of the particular conduct of any of the officers; but the talents displayed by the first Lieutenant, Devonshire, who was but just out of the sick list, during the action, added to his uncommon fatigue in taking care of the prize, and the very able manner in which he conducted and prepared to defend her, entitle him to this distinction, and prove him highly deserving of the recommendation you gave him with his appointment in the West Indies; and although I had rather any other person should observe the conduct of a brother of mine in action, and speak of it afterwards, yet I feel it my duty, as Captain of the ship, to state that I thought Mr. Bowen’s conduct was particularly animating to the ship’s company, and useful, from the number of guns he saw well-pointed in the course of the action; added to which, from the absence of the first Lieutenant on board the prize, the labouring oar of this ship has fallen on him, and, in my mind, the task we have had, has been infinitely more arduous than the action itself[1]. The name of the prize is the Mahonesa, carrying on the main-deck twenty-six Spanish 12-pounders, weighing 18 ounces more than ours; 8 Spanish sixes on the quarter-deck, and a number of brass cohorns, swivels, &c.; had on board 275 men, besides six pilots, qualified for the Mediterranean as high as Leghorn, and to be put on board Admiral Langara’s fleet, which she had been sent from Carthagena to look for. She was built in 1789, at Mahon; is of very large dimensions, measuring 1114½ tons (Spanish); was before the action in complete good condition; and is considered by the Spanish officers the fastest sailer, one of the best constructed, and what they attach considerable importance to, the handsomest frigate in their navy. Both the ships have this moment anchored in safety. I am, &c.
“Mahonesa, by the best accounts I have been able to collect, had about 30 killed or died of their wounds the day of the action, and about the same number wounded, several of whom are since dead.
In consequence of the well-merited commendation bestowed in the above letter, the Admiralty promoted Lieutenant Devonshire to the rank of Commander. His post commission, dated April 27, 1801, was given him as a reward for his gallant conduct when commanding the Dart sloop of war, attached to Lord Nelson’s division, in the battle off Copenhagen. The Dart on that occasion had a Lieutenant and 2 men killed, and 1 man wounded. During the late war he commanded several line-of-battle ships, but
- ↑ Mr. George Bowen, second Lieutenant of the Terpsichore, died a Post-Captain in 1817. See note * at p. 94.
