tenant Tupper was also very severely wounded[1] at the same time, and the boats suffered so materially as to oblige them to retreat under cover of our guns, which kept up a heavy and well-directed fire on the island and misticoes. Having dislodged a strong party of the pirates who had taken a position behind the rocks and stone breast-works on the island, from whence for a little time they kept up a brisk fire of musketry upon the ship, having also sunk two of the misticoes, and effectually crippled and disabled the others in their masts and yards (their hulls being protected by a projecting rocky point), and perceiving that the effect of our fire had been so destructive to the pirates, whose dead bodies aud muskets were every where strewed among the rocks, I conceived that nothing more could be done; we therefore weighed and made sail, having previously saved a marine (who had been left in the abandoned mistico) by means of the Greek schooner’s boat, which I had detained on board during the action.
“I regret that in the execution of this service our loss has been so severe; but the discovery and destruction of these freebooters, who appear (from the strong works they had thrown up) to have been long established upon the island, has for some time at least made the navigation of this part of the Mediterranean safe; and though I lament the loss of so many brave men, I should not have felt that I had done my duty if an attempt had not been made to destroy them.
“It is utterly impossible to express my admiration of the gallantry and determined bravery evinced by Lieutenant Gordon and the officers and men placed under his command; and as I have upon two other occasions where that officer has rendered important services to his country, recommended him to your protection, I trust that his conduct upon this, as well as the severe wounds he has received, will induce their Lordships to consider him deserving of promotion; as also Mr. John Pyne, Admiralty Mate, who commanded the yawl, and has passed nine years. I subjoin a list of killed and wounded[2], and a copy of the depositions I received from the consul-general at Alexandria. I am. Sir, your obedient servant,
“To Sir Harry Neale, Bart. G.C.B. &c. &c.”
We should here observe, that in consequence of Captain Pechell’s former recommendation, Lieutenant Gordon was promoted by the Admiralty fifteen days previous to the sanguinary affair at Candia, on which occasion he appears to have been most desperately wounded, two balls having passed through, and a third lodged in his body.
The Sybille subsequently visited Rhodes, the S.W. part of
