cumstances. An attachment now soon took place between him and the commissioner’s youngest daughter, which led to their union about the close of the same year[1].
On his return home in the Centaur, then commanded by Captain (now Sir John) Talbot, Mr. Croker was promoted into the Active frigate, Captain (now Hear-Admiral) Moubray, by commission dated Feb. 6th, 1800. The high opinion entertained of him by that distinguished officer is shewn in a recently written letter, of which we happen to have a copy:–
“My dear Sir,– I have much pleasure in complying with your wish, that I should state my opinion of your services, whilst you were a lieutenant in the Active under my command, since I can, with truth, declare they were such as did you infinite credit. Your eagerness on all occasions to be employed on enterprises of danger, gave me the highest satisfaction; and your gallant conduct, immediately under my eye, in leading the boarders when the Turkish frigate was destroyed by the Active in the Dardanelles, strongly impressed me with a sense of your cool, intrepid character in action.
“I beg to assure you that I shall be extremely glad to hoar of your promotion to the next most desirable step, and that I am ever, my dear Sir, yours most faithfully,
“To Commander Walter Croker, R.N.”
The Turkish frigate here spoken of was a fine noble ship of 56 guns, and had on board at least 450 men. She formed part of the squadron attacked and destroyed by the rear division of the force under Sir John T. Duckworth, at the forcing of the passage of the Dardanelles, Feb. 19th, 1807. Having cut her cables and run over from Point Pesquies to the European side, she was instantly followed and soon driven on shore by the Active; but still she would not strike her colours, and persisted in occasionally firing a gun. In order to obtain possession of and destroy her. Captain Moubray at length sent all his boats under Lieutenants Willes and Croker the latter of whom was the first person who boarded, and had the honor of cutting down the Ottoman colours with his own hand. The Turkish crew resisted until the last moment,
- ↑ See Nav. Chron. xxviii, 270.
