and then on his first voyage:– The following is an extract of a letter written by one of the Java’s officers, dated at St. Salvador, Brazil, Jan. 26th, 1813:–
“My dear friend, – I have a most unpleasant commission for you, or rather, it would be better for B. to break it to his father, which is the death of poor young Keele; he was badly wounded in the action, and obliged to have his left leg amputated, and in consequence died the next day:– he was a fine courageous little fellow. The elder Keele also, poor fellow! was very severely wounded in the arm, but is now quite out of danger, and the limb safe. The youngest continued to shew the same undaunted spirit to the last; when the action was over, he enquired if the ship had struck, and seeing a ship’s colour spread over him, he grew uneasy, until convinced it was an English flag. The wound the elder received must have proceeded from a shot passing between his arm and side; he was particularly noticed by his superior officers, for his great coolness and bravery in action.”
On his return to England, after being exchanged, Mr. Charles Keele joined the Rivoli 74, Captain (now Sir Graham E.) Hamond, fitting out for the Mediterranean station; where he was serving when the war with France terminated, in 1814. He then, together with many other young men who, like himself, had passed their examination, volunteered his services against America, and was returning home from Genoa, passenger on board the Edinburgh 74, Captain John L. Manley, when he found at Gibraltar an official notification of his promotion, by commission dated Sept. 24th, 1814, appointing him lieutenant of the Rivoli.
The rock being then under quarantine, and having no immediate prospect of obtaining a passage to Genoa or Malta, Lieutenant Keele continued in the Edinburgh until her arrival at the Motherbank, when he reported himself to the Admiralty, and was immediately ordered back to the Mediterranean, in the Clorinde frigate. Captain Samuel G. Pechell. In the mean time, Rear-Admiral Penrose had selected an officer to supply his place, and although Lieutenant Keele presented himself on board the Rivoli, he was told that he must await further orders before he could be received, except as a supernumerary. In consequence of this, he was precluded sharing prize money as a commissioned officer for
