public manner my grateful sense of the brave and gallant conduct of every captain, officer, seaman, and royal marine, employed on this occasion. From my first Lieutenant, Mr. David Dunn, I received every assistance that might be expected from a zealous, brave, and intelligent officer; and his exertions, though wounded, in repairing our damage, is as praiseworthy as his conduct in the action, particularly as I have been unable to assist him from a wound in my right arm, and several severe contusions. Captain Moore of the royal marines, of this ship, received a wound, but returned to his quarters immediately it was dressed. The Captains of the squadron speak in the wannest terms of their officers and men, particularly of their first Lieutenants, Dickenson, Henderson, and Wolridge; and the behaviour of my own officers and ship’s company, who have been with me so long, was every thing I expected from their tried worth; but I must not particularize where all are equally meritorious. The damage the ships have sustained is very considerable, and I fear will render us totally incapable of keeping the sea. I enclose a statement of the enemy’s force[1], together with a return of the killed and wounded in the squadron, and deeply lament they are so great[2]. I have the honor to be, &c.
“George Eyre, Esq. Senior officer in the Adriatic, &c.”
“Sir,– On my arrival here this morning, I found the remainder of the French Commodore’s crew and troops, 200 in number, had retired to Lissa. They were summoned to surrender by Messrs. Lew and Kingston, two Midshipmen of the Active, who had been left in charge of prizes, and several men belonging to privateers. The summons was acceded to; they laid down their arms, and were made prisoners of war. The spirited conduct of these young men deserves every praise; nor can I forbear mentioning the dastardly behaviour of a Sicilian privateer brig of 14 guns, named the Vincitore, awl commanded by Captain Clemento Fama, who was lying in this port, and previous to the commencement of the action hauled down his colours to a small one-gun Venetian schooner: this was witnessed by every man in the squadron, and I believe there was but one opinion on the subject. Messrs. Kingston and Lew afterwards went on board, took charge of the brig, beat off the schooner, and prevented her from destroying the vessels in the bay.
“I omitted a circumstance in my former letter respecting the Corona, which, from the meritorious conduct of those officers and men employed, deserves to be mentioned. The Corona caught fire in the main-top, shortly after her capture, and the whole of her main-mast and rigging was instantly in flames. Lieutenants Dickenson of the Cerberus, and Haye of the Active,- ↑ See note at p. 472.
- ↑ Amphion 15 killed, 47 wounded; the other ships 35 killed and 103 wounded. Total 50 slain, 150 wounded.
