her jolly-boat, but she was instantly swamped: the yawl was then launched overboard, and although only 6 volunteers could be procured out of the whole ship’s company, Lieutenant Elliot proceeded to make his daring attempt. At 10 P.M., he succeeded in getting under the lee of the brig; but the sea ran so high, and beat so heavy on her, that he found it impracticable to get alongside till day-light, when the weather moderated; and he had the happiness of fully accomplishing his object:– in less than an hour afterwards, the vessel went to the bottom! Lieutenant Elliot’s courageous perseverance on this occasion, was thus acknowledged by the master of the ill-fated brig, in a letter addressed to Dr. Hawes, the Treasurer of the Royal Humane Society:–
“Sir,– I beg leave to recommend to the notice of the Royal Humane Society, Lieutenant William Elliot, for rescuing me and my crew from the wreck of the merchant brig Success, who, though intreated not to hazard his life, still persisted in the attempt. Permit me to say, that I think Lieutenant Elliot not unworthy of your notice, and by laying the particulars before the R.H.S. you will oblige, &c.
On another occasion, whilst in the Rattler, Lieutenant Elliot saved the lives of three men, who could not swim, by jumping overboard after them, at sea. We have not been able to find a copy of Captain Mason’s letter to the above institution, but we are informed, that its honorary medallion has been twice presented to the subject of this memoir.
In October 1806, the Daphne accompanied the naval and military reinforcements sent to Buenos Ayres; and Lieutenant Elliot commanded a party of her seamen at the storming of Monte Video, Feb. 3, 1807[1]. The particulars of a very gallant exploit afterwards performed by him on the Baltic station, are thus detailed in an official letter from Captain Mason to Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, dated off Lessoe:–
