Nelson expressly to receive them. On his arrival at the rock, Captain Vincent had the gratification to find that his exertions in their defence had been duly appreciated by the masters of the vessels which had escaped thither, who previous to their departure for England drew up, and caused the following address to be published in the garrison gazette:
“We, the undersigned Masters, who departed from Malta under convoy of H.M. sloop Arrow, Captain Vincent, and Acheron bomb, Captain Farquhar, prompted by the truest sense of gratitude, offer them our sincere thanks for their unremitting and assiduous care of our ships, during a passage of perpetual and tremendous gales; and for their exertions, uniting with their abilities, by which they constantly kept the fleet in order, until the unfortunate morning of the 4th February, when two heavy French frigates attacked the convoy.
“The annals of history never yet produced, we conceive, a contest more unequal, skill and activity more exerted, nor magnanimity more displayed, than in that event. Captains Vincent and Farquhar’s manner of attack, and drawing the enemy to leeward of the fleet, merit great praise, as the only possible means of saving us. The well-directed fire from both the Arrow and Acheron must have done considerable execution to the enemy; whose superior force, after a long and severe battle, compelled Captains Vincent and Farquhar to yield a victory, by the enemy as dearly bought, as by them unwillingly resigned. An engagement thus commenced, and supported for the honor of our country, for the protection and interest of its commeree, cannot fail to obtain the enthusiastic admiration of their fellow subjects, and become a memorial of their bravery, enrolling their names in the list of British Heroes.”
Captain Vincent and his officers sailed from Gibraltar for England, in the Camel store-ship, on the 28th May, and arrived at St. Helen’s after a passage of only seven days. On the 17th June, a Court-Martial assembled in Portsmouth harbour to try them for the loss of their sloop, after a minute enquiry into all the circumstances, pronounced the following sentence:
