“To insert any thing in this letter in praise of the veteran and gallant crew of the Centurion, must be needless to you, Sir, who are well acquainted with them j but I cannot refrain from saying that they displayed great experience, and cool courage. The good discipline of the ship was conspicuous, and does great credit to their proper commander, Captain (John Sprat) Rainier.
“H.M. ship has received considerable damage in her masts, yards, and rigging. The fore-mast, mizen-mast, and main-yard are badly wounded, as well as several smaller masts and yards; several shot remain in the bottom, between wind and water; one came through into the gunner’s store-room. It is with pleasure I acquaint you, that very few men considering the long action, have suffered; none were killed, and only nine wounded; one of whom is since dead; the others are not in apparent danger.
Captain Lind in the foregoing letter alludes to the difficulty and danger he experienced in getting on board the Centurion. This requires some little explanation.
Immediately the approach of the strange squadron was announced to him, he hurried down to the beach, and jumped into a boat manned with natives, who rowed him some distance, ignorant of the cause of his hurry; but, immediately the fire commenced, they expressed a wish to pull back. This he very naturally refused, but neither by threats nor promises could he prevail upon them to proceed; whilst the firing lasted. For some time the boat was in the line of fire, and as he would not allow them to return towards the shore, the affrighted rowers were with great difficulty prevented by him from jumping overboard and swimming thither. At length a favorable opportunity was afforded by the enemy, and he succeeded in getting on board his ship at the crisis he has mentioned. His conduct during the second attack was most highly applauded by the commander-in-chief, who, when writing to the Admiralty, declared that he did not hesitate to rank the Centurion’s action “with the most famous of the defensive kind in the glorious annals of the British navy.” Captain Lind received the honor of knighthood on his return to England, in the spring of 1805; obtained the insignia of a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815; and died at Southampton on the 12th June, 1823. At the latter period we had not advanced sufficiently far in our present pursuit to apply to him for information – should this hasty sketch meet the eye
