10 men killed and 22 wounded; among the latter was Mr. Willis, her first Lieutenant, whom Captain Brenton describes as “one of the best and most gallant officers he ever met with.” The enemy, according to a French account, had 30 killed and 90 wounded, exclusive of the loss sustained by the captured brig; but we have reason to believe it was much more severe[1].
Captain Brenton’s distinguished conduct in the Bay of Naples, did not pass unrewarded. The Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s, voted him a sword, value 100 guineas; the King of the two Sicilies presented him with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand, and of Merit; he was raised to the dignity of a Baronet of Great Britain, Nov. 3, 1812; and nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815. Towards the conclusion of the war, we find him commanding the Stirling Castle 74. His subsequent appointments were, early in Jan. 1814, to superintend the naval arsenal at Port Mahon; about June following, to command the Dorset yacht; and in the autumn of the same year, to be Resident Commissioner at the Cape of Good Hope. The establishment at the latter place being reduced, he returned from thence in the Vigo, a third rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Lambert, and arrived at Portsmouth Jan. 1, 1822.
Sir Jahleel Brenton is at present commander of the Royal Charlotte yacht; the amount of a pension granted him for the severe wound he received off Naples, is, we believe, 300l. per annum[2]. He married, first, April 10, 1802, Isabella, daughter of Anthony Stewart, Esq., late of Maryland; second, Oct. 9, 1822, Harriet, daughter of the late James Brenton, Esq., of Halifax. His first lady died at the Cape of Good Hope, July 29, 1817; and his eldest son, at Winchester School, Aug. 27, in the same year.
- ↑ The Spartan had only 258 men and boys on board at the commencement of the action, 19 being absent in a prize. The enemy, as we have already shewn, mustered in the whole 1108. Captain Ayscough, who commanded the Success, had the mortification to be becalmed outside the islands, whilst his brother officer was adding to his well-earned fame in the Bay of Naples.
- ↑ It was many years before Captain Brenton was pronounced out of danger from the effects of his wound, but which is now considered to be cured, though he will never regain the complete use of his limb.
