friend to the Leeward Islands in the Tamar frigate. Soon after their arrival on that station, the Dutch colony of Surinam surrendered without opposition to the British forces, and the Hussar, a fine prize corvette, mounting 20 nine -pounders, was immediately purchased into the service, named after the island where she was captured, and the command of her conferred upon the subject of this memoir.
The Surinam cruised with considerable activity, and Captain Cole was fortunate enough to take several of the enemy’s privateers, and make some recaptures: his exertions to promote the comforts of his men on all occasions, but particularly during a season of extraordinary malignity, were also very great, and eminently successful; the Surinam’s crew affording a remarkable instance of good health at a time when the yellow fever was committing great ravages in other ships, and on shore: the contrast was indeed so striking as to induce the commander-in-chief to represent it officially to the Admiralty.
In 1800, Lord Hugh Seymour was removed from the Leeward Islands to Jamaica, and with the consent of Sir John T. Duckworth, who had succeeded him on the former station, he despatched the Galgo from Port Royal to relieve the Surinam; but his wish to have Captain Cole under his orders again was frustrated by the unhappy fate of the Galgo, which vessel foundered with the greater part of her crew, during a heavy squall, on the 9th Oct. in that year.
Some time after this sad event, Captain Cole had the misfortune to be deprived of his noble friend, who fell a sacrifice to the yellow fever, and died sincerely regretted by all who were acquainted with his claims to respect and admiration[1].
Deeply as he felt the loss of such a friend, still Captain Cole had the gratification of finding that he had gained the
- ↑ Lord Hugh Seymour died Sept. 11, 1801, in the 46th year of his age. He was attacked by the fatal fever of the West Indies, about the middle of the summer, from which he had but a temporary respite, as it returned with increased violence on the 1st of Sept., and on the llth deprived the service of a gallant and meritorious commander, and society of a most accomplished and estimable member. The particulars of his Lordship’s professional career will be found in the Naval Chronicle. He left seven orphan children to mourn their irreparable loss; his amiable consort having died on the 12th Jan. in the same year.
