The vessels taken consisted of six gun-boats, mounting 4 long 18-pounders and 2 brass 36-pounders; two scampavias, each carrying a long brass gun; one pinnace armed with swivels, &c.; and twenty-eight transports. The other gunboat, scampavias, and transports were destroyed, as stated in Captain Waldegrave’s letter. The loss sustained by the British was only 1 marine killed and 6 men wounded. That of the enemy could not be ascertained; but 14 prisoners and deserters were brought off on this occasion. The following is a list of the gentlemen who were employed in the boats of the Thames and her consorts:
Thames – Lieutenants Edward Collier and Francis Molesworth; Messrs. Matthew Liddon, Christopher Wyvill, John Veal, John Murray, the Hon. Trefusis Cornwall, and William Wilkinson, Midshipmen.
Weasle – Captain Henry Prescott, and Lieutenant Thomas John James William Davis; Messrs. George Cayme (the Master); William Holmes, and John Golding, Midshipmen.
Pilot. – Lieutenants Francis Charles Annesley and George Penruddocke; and Mr. Thomas Leigh, Master’s-Mate.
For their gallantry in the command of the boats, Captain Prescott and Lieutenant Collier were both promoted, and their commissions dated back to the day on which this service was executed.
To shew the importance attached to the gallant exploit at Amanthea, we shall here introduce some extracts from the newspapers of that period.
“A Heligoland mail is arrived, with German papers to the 26th ultimo. It appears by an article from Naples, that Murat’s flotilla, even according to his own admission, has at length suffered a severe defeat. The engagement took place on the 25th July, when the whole of the enemy’s flotilla, as well as the vessels under their protection, were taken and destroyed. The convoy thus disposed of, and that which was destroyed on the 8th July, by a brig of war (the Pilot), is acknowledged to have been indispensably necessary to complete the preparations for the invasion of Sicily; and therefore we may expect to hear that that enterprise has been postponed to some future occasion.” Hampshire Telegraph, 10th Sept. 1810.
“Reggio, Aug. 6th. – It is asserted here, that the misfortune which befel the convoy of twenty sail, commanded by Captain Gorafolo, and more particularly the unfortunate action of Amanthea, in consequence of which Captain Carracciolo’s convoy was lost, and along with it a large collection of articles, of the utmost importance for the completion of the expedition,
