shoals near Faro, and anchored close to a battery. Captain Searle and his consort immediately brought up within range of grape, and after a severe action of 2 hours and 30 minutes succeeded in obtaining possession of them. Two of the gun-boats were also taken, the others driven a-shore, and the people in the battery obliged to desert their guns. In the execution of this service, the Grasshopper had one man killed, and her commander and three seamen severely wounded[1]; besides suffering greatly in her hull, masts, sails, and rigging. The Rapid was likewise much cut up, and had three persons badly wounded. The enemy’s loss must have been very severe, as the captured gun-boats alone had 40 killed and wounded.
After his promotion to post rank, April 25, 1808, Captain Searle was appointed in succession to the Fredereickstein 32, Elizabeth 74, and Druid frigate[2]. On leaving the Grasshopper, a sword, value 80 guineas, was presented to him by her crew, as a mark of their respect and attachment. In the course of the same year, he received a piece of plate, value 100 guineas, from the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s; and in June, 1815, he obtained the insignia of C.B., as a further reward for his meritorious exertions.
In Sept. 1818, we find Captain Searle commissioning the Hyperion 42, of which frigate he retained the command until her return from South America, in Mar. 1821. Previous to his proceeding thither he had the honor of attending on our present monarch during an aquatic excursion in the vicinity of Portsmouth. The Hyperion brought home specie to the amount of half a million sterling, and was paid off April 25, 1821.
Captain Searle married the daughter of Joseph Maddock, Esq. of Portsmouth dock-yard, by whom he has had three sons and eight daughters: two of the former are deceased.
Agent.– J. Hinxman, Esq.
- ↑ Captain Searle was shot through the thigh by a musket-ball – whereas in his official letter he modestly says “myself slightly wounded!!!”
- ↑ See Vol. II, Part I., p. 298.
