General in command of the Villa Nova division, of which the following is a copy:
“Excellent Sir,– A most wanton outrage has just been committed by some of your troops in the vicinity of the St. Antonio convent. A boat of H.B.M.S. Orestes, with her ensign flying, has been fired into, and another man shot[1]. I demand that you will take instant steps to give up the offender to me, or that you will satisfy me, and that immediately, that the party offending will be instantly punished. I wait your reply until two o’clock this afternoon. If not then received, I shall despatch a vessel direct to Admiral Parker, in the Tagus, acquainting him of this gross violation of neutrality. I have the honor to be, &c.
Long before Commander Belcher had reached St. Ovidio, the offender had been apprehended, lodged a prisoner in the guard-house, and the General’s aide-de-camp sent on board to learn the particulars of the case. On the night of the 11th, Commander Glascock received a letter from the Miguelite chief, Jose Antonio d’A Lemos, acquainting him that it was his intention to inflict corporal punishment upon the culprit, and intimating a desire that an officer of the British squadron should be present. Commander Glascock availed himself of this opportunity to visit the besiegers’ head quarters, accompanied by Commander Belcher.
“On my arrival at the camp,” says Commander Glascock, “General Lemos drew out his troops under arms, according to the customary mode when military punishment is about to be inflicted. Thinking it more becoming in a British officer to recommend an act of clemency (particularly at the present crisis, and having previously succeeded in obtaining the satisfaction demanded), than to exhibit any feeling manifesting a spirit of revenge, so soon as the prisoner was brought forward, I solicited the General to pardon him, which request, after making an impressive speech to the troops, was complied with, not more to my satisfaction than to that of General Lemos, who appears to be a truly humane and well-disposed man.”
Immediately after despatching Commander Belcher to
- ↑ John Connor – his wound was of a very slight nature, and he soon returned to his duty. It is a singular fact, that out of five men wounded in the British squadron, three were named Connor.
