vessels, from 20 to 50 tons, hauled up under its protection, we burnt; and, previous to abandoning the fort, we spiked the guns, brought off the ammunition, and burnt the public buildings.”
On the 1st Feb. 1810, perceiving a brig lying under the fort at Manippa, with Dutch colours flying, Captain Montagu sent three boats to bring her out. This service was performed with great judgment by Lieutenant Vidal, under a heavy fire of musketry and grape, the vessel being very close to the shore. The prize was bound to Amboyna, with a cargo of turtle, fowls, fruit, and sago, which afforded a seasonable supply to the ship’s company of the Cornwallis.
Two days afterwards Captain Montagu captured the Dutch corvette Mandarine, of 16 guns and 66 men. His conduct at Amboyna is thus spoken of by Sir Edward Tucker.
“To Captains Montagu and Spencer, the greatest praise is due, for the able support afforded by them in the attack on the forts and batteries, where a difficult navigation, with baffling winds and strong currents, required the greatest judgment in the management of the ships.”
Captain Montagu’s official letter reporting the capture of the Margaretta Dutch national brig, Mar. 2, 1810, will be given in our memoir of Lord Selsey, who had the direction of the boats employed on that occasion.
From this period we lose sight of Captain Montagu until Nov. in the same year, when he was entrusted with the command of the naval brigade landed to assist at the reduction of the Isle of France. The following paragraph is extracted from the general orders issued by Major-General the Hon. John Abercromby after the defeat of the French troops before Port Louis, Dec. 1, 1810:
“Major-General Abercromby is happy also to acknowledge the steadiness shewn by the 12th and 22nd regiments; and he feels himself particularly grateful for the zealous exertions of a detachment of seamen landed from the squadron, under the command of Captain Montagu; he requests to offer him, and the officers and men under his command, his sincere acknowledgments for the service which they have rendered to the army.”
In another general order, promulgated subsequent to the surrender of that valuable. colony, there appears another paragraph, no less complimentary to the navy:
