3 others were acknowledged to have been removed by a boat belonging to her consort, just before she surrendered; and at least 40 are supposed to have perished in their attempt to reach the shore; but as not a single document relative to the number serving in her at the commencement of the action was found by Captain Hillyar, it is impossible for any person, not an American, to arrive at a correct conclusion on that subject. We can only express our regret that the Essex junior did not venture out of port, in which case the Cherub would have been of course detached in pursuit of that ship, and the Phoebe no doubt have given an equally good account of her immediate opponent[1].
Captain Hillyar arrived at Plymouth with his prize, Nov. 13, 1814; and in the course of the following year we find him receiving the insignia of a C.B. as a just reward for his long and meritorious services.
He married, July 14, 1805, a daughter of N.Taylor, Esq. Naval Storekeeper at Malta. One of his brothers is a Commander, and another a Surgeon, R.N. The latter has recently received permission to accept and wear the insignia of a K.T.S. which the King of Portugal was pleased to confer upon him, when that monarch visited H.M.S. Windsor Castle, at Lisbon, in May, 1824.
Agent.– Sir Francis Ommaney, M.P.
RIGHT HON. LORD WILLIAM FITZ ROY.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1804.]
This officer is a younger son of Augustus Henry, third Duke of Grafton, by his second Duchess, Elizabeth, daughter of the late Rev. Sir Richard Wrottesley, Bart. He was born
- ↑ The Phoebe mounted 26 long 18-pounders, 4 long 9’s, 14 thirty-two-pounder carronades, and 2 boat-guns; the Essex, 40 thirty-two-pounder carronades, and six long nines. The former had on board 300 officers, men, and boys, including a few volunteers from two British merchantmen lying at Valparaiso; we are justified by the declaration of Captain Porter himself in stating that the latter had at least 260 persons, exclusive of those sent from the Essex junior to her assistance. The Cherub mounted 18 thirty-two-pounder carronades, 6 eighteens, 2 long-sixes, and 1 boat-gun; her total complement was 121.
