Page:Tupper family records - 1835.djvu/193

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APPENDIX B.

��raised the science of gunnery on board his frigate." — Second Edition, Vol I., pp. 23/ to 242.

No. 4. Extract relative to the late Captain Edzoard Gordon.

" The Highflyer tender unexpectedly returned to us,* having fallen in with a heavy American privateer. A severe action had ensued, in which her brave commander, Lieutenant Lewis, was killed. Mr. Gordon, midshipman, (the same who so distinguished himself up the Archipelago in the boats of the Sybille, and who commanded the Acorn, sloop of war, when she foundered on the coast of America,) gallantly continued the contest till the enemy hauled oft"; but the Highflyer was so cut up in her rigging that Mr. Gordon was unable to follow her. She had only one long gun a- midships, and her crew were greatly exposed from having no bulwark, while their heavy antagonist was sheltered by one. The conduct of Mr. Gordon, who was then quite a lad, was highly commended by the rear admiral, and, as an earnest of his opinion, young Gordon was permitted to keep the command of the vessel, and dispatched to fulfil the orders of his late commander, after removing all the wounded on board the Marlborough, and filling up the vacancies in his own ship's company.

" It appears the vessel that engaged the Highflyer was the American privateer ' Roger Quarles, of fourteen guns, and full of men.' (Vide Niles' Register, Vol. IV., p. 228.) The American account states the action to have lasted from nine o'clock till eleven p. m. As the Americans are not in the habit of exaggerating their own force, this circumstance throws additional credit upon the gallant conduct of the late Captain Edward Gordon, and must be read by his friends with melancholy satisfaction." — Recollectio?is of a Naval Life, by Captain James Scott, R. N. — Vol. III., p. 117.

No. 5.

From a Portsmouth Neivspaper, December 31, 1825. — See p. 42.

" This morning sailed the Aurora for Hydra, having on board forty of the crew of the Greek brig of war, Cimoni, lately wrecked on the isle of Alderney, from whence they were taken to Guernsey, where they received the greatest kindness and attention from the

  • The Chesapeake station under the command of Rear Admiral Sir

George Cockburn. — Ed.

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