Valette, having landed with the despatches and the whole of the crew, were immediately attacked by the Arabs. The two former and some others were killed, and all the rest stripped of their clothes. Her commander and a few of the men made their escape, nuked, to the beach; where our boats had by this time arrived, and begged, on their knees, to be saved. I am happy in saying, the humanity of our people extended so far as to induce them to swim on shore with lines and small casks to save them, which they fortunately effected. Amongst these was particularly distinguished a young gentleman, Midshipman of the Emerald, who brought off the French commander, at the hazard of his own life, through the surf.”
Captain Fane obtained post rank, Aug. 30, 1803; and subsequently commanded the Lapwing, Hind, and Cambrian frigates, the latter employed on the Coast of Catalonia in co-operation with the patriot General O’Donnell, whom he conveyed to Tarragona, in a wounded state, after recovering several towns from the enemy, and taking about 1400 Frenchmen prisoners[1].
On the 12th Dec. 1810, the Cambrian joined a squadron under the orders of Captain (afterwards Rear-Admiral) Thomas Rogers, who had been sent by Sir Charles Cotton, to cut off the supplies intended for Barcelona, where the enemy had assembled in great numbers, with but little means of subsistence. A French ketch of 14 guns and 60 men, two xebecs of 3 guns and 30 men each, and eight merchant vessels laden with provisions, were then lying in the mole at Palamos, and the senior officer, relying on Captain Fane’s knowledge of the place, immediately determined to attempt their destruction. The unfortunate result of this enterprise is thus described by Captain Rogers in his report to the commander-in-chief:
“I therefore formed my plan, and Captain Fane did me the favor ta volunteer the command of 350 seamen, 250 marines, and 2 field-pieces, selected from the ships under my orders[2], and well appointed for this desirable service. The enemy’s vessels lay in the mole, protected by two 24-pounders, one in a battery which stood high over the mole, and the other with a 13-inch mortar on a very commanding height; there were also, from the information I received, about 250 soldiers in the town.
- ↑ See p. 597.
- ↑ Kent 74, Captain Thomas Rogers; Ajax 74, Captain Robert Waller Otway; Cambrian 38, Captain Fane; Minstrel 18, Captain Colin Campbell; and Sparrowhawk 18, Captain James Pringle.
