We have inserted the above document from two motives: that of shewing the estimation in which the Culloden’s services were held by the commander-in-chief; and that of endeavouring to do away a misconception which has prevailed,, respecting the veteran Admiral himself, in consequence of his having omitted specifically to notice the exertions of such officers as most effectually contributed to the success of the action[1]. It is now only necessary to add, that the Captain and Culloden alone, turned the whole van of the Spanish fleet, consisting of three first rates, and several two-deckers; and that the latter ship, at the close of the action, was in a worse state than any other of the British squadron, the Captain alone excepted. Her loss consisted of 10 men killed and 47 wounded.
The subject of this memoir was promoted, at the period we have already mentioned, for his conduct as first Lieutenant of the Culloden on the above glorious occasion; and during the ensuing eight months we find him holding an appointment in the Sea Fencible service, in the Isle of Wight. He obtained the command of the Atalante of 16 guns, in Nov. 1798; and was posted from that vessel, after cruising with considerable activity against the enemy’s privateers, in the Channel and North Sea, April 29, 1802[2].
- ↑ Charnock, in his “Biographical Memoirs of Lord Nelson,” at p. 74, says, “No particular observation is made on the conduct of Lord Nelson [in the official or Gazette account]: and that circumstance, perhaps, paradoxical as it may appear, is in itself a matter of the highest praise; for it is the natural infirmity of the human mind, to be silent as to the promulgation of that worth, which it feels itself shrink as it were from the task of paying sufficient tribute to.”
- ↑ On the 10th Aug. 1801, a gallant little exploit was performed by Mr. Francis Smith, a Midshipman of the Atalante, who with eight men, in a six-oared cutter, captured a French national lugger mounting two 4-pounders and four swivels; the cool intrepidity with which he rowed up in face of a brisk discharge of cannister and grape from the vessel, and a cross fire from two small land batteries, excited his commander’s admiration. The lugger was lying about mukset shot from the French shore; notwithstanding which she was boarded and brought off without any body being hurt on the part of the British, who jumped on board at the moment her crew were deserting her.
