coast of Italy, and then proceed to point out the brilliant actions in which he was afterwards more immediately engaged.
“I feel particularly indebted to Captain Gordon for the judicious manner in which his ship was placed, by which means he prevented any body of the enemy from forming in the rear of our men; and the promptitude and zealous co-operation I have constantly experienced from him since we have been serving together.
Captain H.M.S. Cerberus.
The most important naval event which had for some time occurred in the Mediterranean, or indeed on any other station, was the victory obtained by Captain (now Sir William) Hoste, over a French squadron, near Lissa, on the 13th Mar. 1811. For its extent, the engagement was unquestionably one of the most severe, and for bur countrymen, one of the most brilliant that took place during the late war. Captain Hoste’s force consisted of the Amphion, Cerberus, Active, and Volage, mounting in the whole 156 guns, and carrying only 879 men. To those four ships were opposed six frigates, one brig, and four smaller vessels, numbering in guns 284, and in men 2655[1]! The enemy were totally discomfited, after a conflict of six hours: two frigates being captured, another destroyed, and the remainder obliged to fly from the scene of action. The British sustained a joint loss of 50 killed and 150 wounded; only 9 of the former, and 26 of the latter belonged to the Active – a convincing proof that the number of casualties on board any particular ship is not to be considered as a sure criterion by which to judge of the part borne by her in a general battle. Captain Hoste, in his official letter, which we have inserted at full length in its proper place, does such ample justice to the subject of this memoir as to render any farther observations on our part superfluous.
On the 29th Nov. following, another severe engagement took place near the same spot, in which Captain Gordon was the principal actor, and his ship the greatest sufferer. The result was the capture of la Pomone, French frigate, of 44 guns and 322 men, by the Active, unassisted by her consorts, the Alceste and Unité; and of la Persanne, a 26-gun ship, by
