1813, he assisted at the capture and destruction of six armed vessels, as will be seen by the following official letter:–
“Sir,– I have the honor to inform you, the bouts of the Elizabeth and Eagle fell in, off Goro, with seven armed merchant vessels, laden with oil. Four of them were captured, and the other three ran on shore into a tremendous surf, under the protection of a two-gun battery, two schooners, and three settee gun-boats, who opened a most galling fire. Notwithstanding all these difficulties, one of the vessels was brought off, and another destroyed, much to the credit of Messrs. Roberts and Greenaway, senior lieutenants of the Elizabeth and Eagle, under whose directions this arduous service was performed. They speak highly of Lieutenant Holbrook, of the Eagle, who was also there, and of all the petty officers and men employed on this service. I am happy to add, no person was hurt. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Rear-Admiral Fremantle.”
On the 8th June, 1813, the marines of the Elizabeth and Eagle drove the enemy out of the town of Omago, on the coast of Istria, while the boats of those ships destroyed a two-gun battery, and brought off four vessels, loaded with wine, that had been scuttled. Between this period and the spring of 1814, when the Eagle was ordered home. Lieutenant Holbrook appears to have been present at the capture of Fiume, Trieste, Boca Ré, and nearly all the towns and forts on the coast of Istria and at the mouths of the Po; likewise at the capture and destruction of about 150 sail of the enemy’s vessels[1].
On the 25th July, 1814, Mr. Holbrook was appointed to the Wanderer 20; and subsequently to the Fly sloop, in which vessel he served for three years and a half, as senior lieutenant, on the West India and Irish stations, where he assisted at the capture of several contraband traders. In 1825, we find him first of the Dryad 42, and three times at sea in command of that ship, during the protracted illness of her captain, the late Hon. Robert Rodney, under whose successor, the Hon. George A. Crofton, he continued to serve
