“In the shattered and disabled state of H.M. ship, a retreat was impossible. The superiority of the enemy’s heavy and destructive fire left me no hopes of success. Reduced to this distressful situation, feeling the firmest conviction that every energy and exertion was called forth, under the influence of the strongest impressions I had discharged my duty and upheld the honor of H.M. arms, feeling it a duty I owed to the officers and crew, who had nobly displayed that bravery which is so truly their characteristic, when I had lost all hopes of saving H.M. ship, to prevent a useless effusion of blood, I was under the painful necessity of directing a light to be shewn to the second ship, as a signal that we had struck.
“I think it a duty I owe to Captain Ross, of H.M. 69th regiment, to thus publicly acknowledge the able support I received from him and his party of men, who were acting as marines for the time being.”
“To Rear-Admiral Drury, &c. &c.”
The enemy’s ships proved to be the Venus, of 1105 tons, mounting 28 long 18-pounders, 4 nines, and 12 heavy carronades, with a complement of 380 men; and the Victor corvette, of 16 guns and 150 men. The Ceylon, on quitting Madras, was 47 men short of complement; but she had there embarked 100 soldiers, part of whom were to serve as marines, so that, including Major-General Abercromby and his staff, she had about 295 persons on board at the commencement of the action. Her loss consisted of 10 killed, 5 dangerously, 8 (including Captain Gordon) severely, and 18 slightly wounded. We have already stated that she was retaken in the course of the same day by H.M. sloop Otter, in company with the Boadicea frigate[1]. Her captain, officers, and crew were soon afterwards tried by a court-martial, and honorably acquitted.
Captain Gordon married, Nov. 20, 1818, Anne, eldest daughter of Lieutenant-General Lord Blayney.
GEORGE HARRIS, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1807.]
Son of the late Mr. Thomas Harris, more than half a century, chief proprietor and manager of Covent Garden Theatre.
