taking her to a neutral port, as stated in Commodore Bainbridge’s letter, for he repaired thither with his own ship, carrying in a valuable prize, the Eleanor schooner, from London.
“It is most gratifying to my feelings to notice the gallantry of every officer, seaman, and marine on hoard. I can never speak too highly of the able exertions of Lieutenants William Allan Herringham and George Buchanan; Mr. Batty Robinson, master[errata 1] and Lieutenants Robert Mercer and David Davies, of the royal marines. To Captain John Marshall, R.N. who was a passenger, I am particularly obliged for his exertions and advice throughout the action. To Lieutenant ____ Aplin, who was on the main-deck, and Lieutenant James Saunders, who commanded on the forecastle, I also return my thanks. I cannot but notice the good conduct of the mates and midshipmen, many of whom were killed, and the greater part wounded. To Mr. Thomas Cooke Jones, surgeon, and his assistants, every praise is due for their unwearied assiduity in the care of the wounded. Lieutenant-General Hislop, Major Walker and Captain Wood, the latter of whom was severely wounded, were solicitous to assist and remain on the quarter-deck.”
Annexed is a statement of the comparative force of the two ships:–
JAVA. | CONSTITUTION. | |||||||||||||||||
Maindeck | 28 | long eighteen-pounders | 32 | long twenty-four pounders. | ||||||||||||||
Quarter-deck, and Forecastle, |
16 3 |
thirty-two-pounder carronades and long-nine-pounders, |
22 |
thirty-two-pounder carronades. | ||||||||||||||
Total | 46 | guns, exclusive of a boat’s carronades |
54 | guns, exclusive of an 18-pounder carronade on a travelling carriage. | ||||||||||||||
Broadside weight of metal | long guns, 261 carronades, 256 |
517 pounds, | long guns, 384 carronades, 354[errata 2] |
736 pounds. | ||||||||||||||
Complement | Officers and men belonging to the ship Boys Officers, &c. passengers Supernumerary men and boys |
249 23 19 86 |
Total 377 | 477 3 none none |
Total 480. | |||||||||||||
Size in tons | 1081 | 1533 |
The following is an abstract of the loss sustained by the Java in this long and well-fought action.
Killed. – Messrs. Charles Jones, Thomas Hammond, and William Gascoigne, master’s-mates; William Salmond, midshipman; Thomas Joseph Matthias, sup. clerk; twelve seamen, and four marines:– total 21.
Wounded. – Captain Henry Lambert, Mr. Edward Keele, midshipman, and one sailor, mortally: Mr. James Humble, boatswain, and four men,Errata: