boats, he bravely determined to attask alone, and boarded her on the quarter; but unhappily, in the dark, jumping into a trawl net, hung up to dry, he was pierced through the thigh by a pike, several of his men hurt, and all knocked back into the boat. Unchecked in ardour, they hauled the boat farther a-head, and again boarded, and maintained, against 87 men, 16 of whom were soldiers, an obstinate conflict, killing 6 and wounding 20, among whom were every officer belonging to her. His own loss, one killed and eight wounded; himself in two places, Mr. Paddon in tax. I feel particularly happy in the expected safety of all the wounded; he speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Paddon and the whole of his party, many of whom were knocked overboard, and twice beat back into the buat, but returned to the charge with unabated courage. I trust I shall stand excused by your lordship for so minute a description, produced by my admiration of that courage which, hand to hand, gave victory to our brave fellows, over four times their number; and of that skill which formed, conducted, and effected so daring an enterprise.
“La Cerbère, commanded by a Lieutenant de vaisseau, and towed out under a very heavy fire, is given up, as a prize, by the squadron, to mark their admiration, and will not, I know, be the only reward of such bravery; they will receive that protection your lordship so liberally accords to all the young men in the service who happily distinguish themselves under your command. I enclose Lieutenant Coghlan’s letter, and have the honor to be, &c.
When transmitting the above letter to the Admiralty, Earl St. Vincent expressed himself as follows:–
“I did not think the enterprise of Sir Edward Hamilton, or of Captain Campbell, could have been rivalled[1], until I read the enclosed letter from Sir Edward Pellew, relating the desperate service performed by acting Lieutenant Coghlan, of the Viper cutter, on the 29th July, which has filled me with pride and admiration; and, although the circumstance of his not having completed his time in his Majesty’s navy operates at present against his receiving the reward he is most ambitious of obtaining, I am persuaded the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will do all in their power to console him under his severe wounds, and grant him promotion the moment he is in capacity to receive it.”
On the same day, Aug. 4, 1800, his Lordship addressed the following public and private letters to Sir Edward Pellew:
