and I therefore beg leave to recommend them in very high terms for that promotion their services merit.
“For the crew I can only say, that a braver and more determined set of men never met; and I feel much pleasure in certifying before this honorable court, their cool, steady, and uniform good conduct; those who have suffered from their wounds I recommend most strongly to the protection of their country.”
Superfluous as it may appear to repeat the decision of the honorable tribunal to whom this address was delivered, we cannot refrain from inserting a copy of the sentence:
“The Court, pursuant to an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated Nov. 10, 1808, proceeded to inquire into the conduct of Robert Cathcart, Esq. commander of his Majesty’s late sloop Seagull, and such of the officers and company of the said sloop as were on board her at the time she was captured by a Danish brig of war, and a detachment of gun-boats, off the harbour of Christiansand. The Court, after having duly weighed and considered all the circumstances attending the capture of the said sloop, are of opinion that Captain Robert Cathcart, throughout the action, behaved with the most cool and able judgment; and, by not leaving the deck until twice severely wounded, with the most determined resolution and courage; and that he did not strike the Seagull’s colours until she was totally unable to make the smallest further defence. The Court doth therefore adjudge Captain Robert Cathcart to be moat honorably acquitted, and he is most honorably acquitted accordingly.
“The Court cannot but express the highest approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant Villiers Francis Hatton, who, although most dangerously wounded, continued to give his support and encouragement to the last; as well as of the noble and steady behavior of the other officers, and the crew of the Seagull, during so sanguinary and unequal a conflict – a circumstance which, while it reflects the highest honor on them, does no less credit to the discipline of the King’s sloop; and the Court doth therefore most honorably acquit Lieutenant Hatton[1], the officers, and crew; and they are most honorably acquitted accordingly.”
Sir Joseph S. Yorke, president, on returning Captain Cathcart his sword, congratulated him on the decision of the court, which, he said, had “placed on record as gallant a defence of a British vessel as the numerous pages of our naval history afford. I feel flattered,” added that honorable and worthy officer, “in being the organ of the court, which unanimously returns you a sword that has been so honorably worn and used.”
- ↑ Made a Post-Captain in 1812.
