“Resolved unanimously, that the thanks of this meeting be given to Jeremiah Coghlan, Esq. commander of H.M. sloop Renard, his officers and men, for their activity in bringing to action and destroying the privateer ship of war General Ernouf, mounting 20 guns, with a crew of 160 men, 30 of whom were soldiers of the line, commanded by a Lieutenant of the garrison at Guadaloupe.
“Resolved, that the Mayor be requested to communicate the foregoing to Captain Coghlan, in behalf of the Meeting.
On the 11th Oct. following, Captain Coghlan captured la Bellone privateer, of 4 guns and 50 men; and on the 28th May, 1806, la Diligente, a national brig, hauled down her colours to le Renard, without attempting the least resistance, although mounting 14 long 6-pounders and 2 brass 36-pounder carronades, with a complement of 125 men. When taken on board le Renard, the French commander, Mons. Vincent Thevenard, was struck with the smallness of that vessel, and, with much sang froid, he requested permission to return to his late brig, that he might try his skill in fight, which of course, Captain Coghlan laughed at. He then, with equal gravity, solicited a certificate, stating, that he had not acted cowardly:– Captain Coghlan replied – “No, I cannot do that; but I will give you one, that shall specify you have acted prudently!”
Captain Coghlan’s next appointment was, about Aug. 1807, to the Elk brig, of 18 guns, in which he captured the Spanish letter of marque Posta de Caraccas, Oct. 19, 1807; and the French privateer Harlequin, Feb. 12, 1808; both of these were fine schooners, the former having on board 24,000 dollars in specie, and a cargo of leather and bass rope, from Campeachy, bound to the Havannah. During the whole time that Captain Coghlan commanded the Elk, a period of nearly four years, he was employed as senior ofticer of a light squadron stationed at the Bahamas for their protection, a service which he conducted with his usual activity and success. While thus engaged, he received two more testimonials of public approbation:–
