until July 1813, an officer appointed by Lord Melville to supersede him not having been able to reach Smyrna at an earlier period. In answer to the application made by a friend, for his confirmation, the following answer was given:
“I have had the honor to receive your L____’s note of yesterday, requesting that Lieutenant Canning may be confirmed in the command of the Kite. I have had much pleasure, in compliance with your wishes, in recommending this officer for an Admiralty vacancy in due season, but I regret that my engagements did not admit of his confirmation on the present occasion, and he had therefore already been ordered to be superseded.
The following are the official details of an affair which gave rise to a discussion between the British ambassador at Constantinople and the Turkish Government:
“Sir,– I beg to acquaint you, that, in obedience to your instructions, cruising in the Archipelago, on the 20th inst. about 5 P.M., a lateen vessel of very suspicious appearance was observed off the south end of Amorgo, the wind light and inclining to calm. I immediately hoisted all the boats out, and sent them, under the command of Lieutenant Williams, in chase of her: it may be proper for me to add, that, before they left the Kite, I plainly saw part of the vessel’s hull from the deck. About 7-20 p.m. we heard the report of three guns, and saw the flashes of several muskets in the direction of the boats: at 9 o’clock they returned, bringing the vessel with them.
“Hardly, Sir, do I know how to express my feelings, when I acquaint you, as it is my duty to do, the vessel was manned with nine men and one boy, Turks, belonging to Candia, and, as they said, bound to Scala Nova, who having hailed the boats when within pistol-shot, though at peace with all nations, immediately opened what might have proved a most destructive fire upon them, from small carriage guns, by which Thomas Williams, sailmaker, being in the headmost boat with Mr. Hall, the master, received a musket-shot, which passed through the left shoulder and out at the right breast. On boarding the vessel, the Turks threw down their arms. I have now further to inform you, with the deepest concern, for, as on the one hand I felt all the respect due to the flag and the subjects of a nation with whom we are at peace, so, on the other hand, I felt equally for the honor of my country; therefore, as the firing directly into the boats when close to, and when boarded calling out they were Turks, which under those circumstances could only be considered as calling for quarter, evidently appeared to me an act no better than wilful murder and piracy, I have, though
