gradually full into a partial one of asphixia, from which I hardly expected him to recover.
“My opinion concerning the nature of his wound was now demanded of me by General Hislop and other officers; ocular demonstration too plainly convinced me that a vital part had been most dreadfully injured, not only by the hall, but by large splinters of bone; the former of which I suspected had lodged in the back, and produced that distress which he generally complained of: the inferior extremities lost their vitality; they were cold, and insensible to the touch. I had no hesitation in pronouncing it mortal.
“In the course of the night his sensitive faculties returned; he took a little nourishment, talked rationally, but the circulatory system remained exceedingly weak; and what I thought rather singular, the powers of respiration unimpeded: he slept a little towards the morning of the following day, and appeared better than I could have expected. About noon he was conveyed on board the Constitution – the task was a painful one; the sea was very high, and with difficulty we removed him from the wreck. I sent my assistant, with most of the wounded men, in the evening, and remained myself in the Java till within a few minutes of her being set on fire.
“Dec. 31st. I found Captain Lambert more animated; he slept a little the early part of the night, but was much worse next morning. We succeeded in safely landing him at St. Salvador, the 2d of January; – to the morning of the 3d he had intervals of ease, and signs of improvement, which though transitory, I several times ventured to hope would have a happy termination. He talked incoherently during the greater part of the fifth day; our unhappy situation seemed to produce reflections which existed uppermost in his disordered mind, on which he raved till he was completely exhausted: at night he became totally insensible, and fell into a disturbed slumber; the organs of respiration performed their office with difficulty; at every gasp the air issued from the wound with a peculiar noise; his pulse grew faint, and a few minutes before ten o’clock, he breathed his last sigh.
Thus terminated the brilliant career of Captain Henry Lambert. “In him,” said Lieutenant Chads, when reporting the sad event to the Admiralty, “the country has lost a most gallant and valuable officer, and myself (who have served under his command some years), the officers, and crew, a kind friend. His remains were interred on the 5th of January (1813) with military honors, in Fort St. Pedro; and it is with much satisfaction I add, that every respect was shewn on this occasion by the Conde Dos Arcas (Governor of St. Salvador), and the Portuguese in general.” At a later period,
