Rodriguez, charged with despatches, and a letter of which we shall here give the copy:–
“My dear General, – This will be delivered to you by Lieutenant Watling, R.N. He was first of the Sirius, and engaged in the capture of l’isle de la Passe: he boarded and recaptured the Windham, under the batteries near the Rivièire Noire: – he was in the Sirius in the gallant, though unfortunate action, which took place in Port Sud-Est; after which he undertook, at very great hazard, and with much address, to convey the despatches of Captain Pym, in an open boat, to Bourbon; and then took the command of a schooner fitted up by Mr. Farquhar, in a few hours, having no other officer, nor any assistance but what he derived from the common sailors on board. He brought the Egremont to Madras, under these circumstances; and is now preparing, at my suggestion, to return, I fear in little better state, to Rodriguez, where his intimate acquaintance with the Isle of France, his intrepidity and readiness to promote the public service, must render him extremely useful: I am sure I need not recommend him to that attention from you which the army is always anxious to shew their naval brothers in arms. I remain, my dear General, yours most faithfully.
“To the Hon. Lieutenant-General Abercrombie.”
On his arrival at Rodriguez, where an expedition was then preparing for the reduction of the Mauritius, Lieutenant Watling was suffering from fever, which had reduced him so much that he could not quit his cot. When sufficiently recovered to do so, he was sent for by Vice-Admiral Bertie, who, on the quarter-deck of the Africaine frigate, publicly informed him that he much regretted the slate of his health was reported by the medical men to be such as would preclude the possibility of his accompanying the forces, to whom his intimate knowledge of the coast about to be invaded might otherwise prove of great benefit; but that, on the surrender of the French colony, he would promote him to the command of a ship, in testimony of his meritorious conduct. He was then sent to sick-quarters at Bourbon, where Governor Farquhar, in consideration of his former exertions and services, appointed him to the situation of port-captain. He subsequently proceeded to the Mauritius, where the same gentleman gave him the command of a large American prize schooner, destined to convoy important despatches to the
