“He returned by land, through a violent storm and incessant rain, to St. Jean de Luz, in order to attend his charge at that place; and shortly afterwards, he had the happiness there to save from the most imminent danger of shipwreck, several transports, by going on hoard of them in the midst of a heavy gale, supplying as many of them as he could with pilots, and giving the others directions for crossing the bar. He subsequently saved a transport which hud grounded on the bar of the Adour, and was there left nearly dry.
“In the course of these services, your memorialist was once upset in his boat; once driven out in her to sea, where he remained during a whole winter’s night, without compass, provisions, or water, the wind blowing most violently, the rain pouring down in torrents, his men drooping and desponding, and the boat only kept from sinking by constant bailing with his hat; once, while rendering assistance to vessels in dangerous situations, he was washed off a pier-head; and on two other occasions, during storms, borne by waves into the sea, and not easily extricated; at another time he was knocked down, by a hawser slipping, and severely wounded in the head.”
Previous to his return home, Lieutenant Debenham received several handsome letters and testimonials from his superior officers, of which the following are copies:
“Dear Sir,– I beg leave to enclose you an extract from Admiral Penrose’s letter to me of the 25th February, and at the same time will avail myself of the opportunity of returning my most sincere thanks for the many services you rendered to the boats and vessels on their passing the bar of Bayonne, on the 24th ultimo. In the first place, I beg you will accept my kindest acknowledgments for the manly and humane assistance you rendered to me and my boat’s crew, without which a much greater number of lives must have been lost. In the second instance, your Country is much your debtor for the truly able and gallant style in which, regardless of the attendant danger, you pushed out into the breakers on the bar, and saved the lives of two seamen belonging to the Lyra’s gig, which was upset, a midshipman and two men being drowned before you could reach her; and also for saving three lives out of four that were upset in a transport’s long boat. I particularize those two instances, out of many, of your meritorious actions, because they came immediately under my own observation. I have been careful to report to the Rear-Admiral your unprecedented good conduct and exertions on this most trying occasion. I have only now to beg you will accept my best wishes for your welfare, from yours most sincerely,
“To Lieut. Debenham, Agent of Transports, Socoa.”
