On his return to England, with a convoy from Quebec, Captain Mounsey received a very flattering private letter from the First Lord of the Admiralty, of which the following is a transcript:
“Sir,– I did not fail this day, to lay before his Majesty the particulars of your conduct in the attack and capture of the Furieuse, French frigate, on the 6th July. The enterprising gallantry with which you approached and attacked a ship bearing such an appearance of a commanding superiority of force, and the skill, courage, and perseverance manifested by you, and by the officers, seamen, and uiarines under your command, during an action of such long continuance, and so warmly contested, have received his Majesty’s fullest approbation; and his Majesty has been graciously pleased to bestow on you a medal, as an honorable memorial of your very gallant and distinguished conduct on that occasion. It has given me the greatest satisfaction to sign a commission promoting you to the rank of Post-Captain, and appointing you to the command of the fine frigate, which you have so nobly added to the naval force of the country; I have also great pleasure in notifying to you the promotion of Lieutenant Symes, to the rank of Commander, and I have to request that you will transmit to me the names of the warrant officers of the Bonne Citoyenne, with a view to their promotion in their several ranks; together with the name of the mate, or midshipman, whom you shall recommend for the rank of Lieutenant, and the names of any very meritorious petty officers severally under the boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, who may be deserving of promotion, and qualified to receive it. I trust that this general promotion, through every rank serving in the Bonne Citoyenne, may be a satisfactory testimony of my estimation of the action which has been achieved; and may operate as an incentive to others, to emulate an example so worthy of imitation and applause. I have the honor to be, with the highest esteem, &c.
“To Captain Mounsey.”
The Furieuse requiring a thorough repair, in consequence of her shattered state, was not got ready for commissioning
- ↑ A public letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, dated three days after the above, informed Captain Mounsey that he was to take post-rank from the day of the action, and directed him “to signify to Lieutenant Symes, that it was the intention of their Lordships, as a reward for his gallant services, to promote him to the rank of Commander, the moment he should have completed his two years’ servitude as a Lieutenant,” which latter rank he did not obtain before March 13, 1808.
