derived from the presence of your Excellency on the occasion of the calamitous event of the 17th instant, and of the captains, officers, and men of his Majesty’s squadron under your Excellency’s command; from whose active interposition, and uncommon exertions, every practicable opposition was made to the extension of the conflagration; but for which we might have had to lament far greater devastation, than what has unhappily occurred.
“Under the most grateful impressions from the zeal and cordiality of the aid thus experienced, we have the honor to offer to your Excellency personally, our most heartfelt acknowledgments of the advantage thus derived to our capital by your presence in it, at the season of this disaster; and to request that your Excellency will be pleased to convey to the commanders, officers, and men, who exerted themselves so meritoriously on this awful occasion, our sincerest thanks for the great fatigue they so cheerfully underwent, the memory of which must be coeval, in this settlement, with its duration as a British possession. We have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“Jon. Duncan.
(Signed)“J. W. Cherry.
(Signed)“Thomas Lechmere.”
“To H.E. Vice-Admiral Rainier[1].”
The Hobart was shortly afterwards sold out of the service: and as all the ships of war, that were ordered home, in consequence of the peace, had sailed for Europe, Captain Evans proceeded to Madras, where he embarked as a passenger on board the United Kingdom Indiaman, then on the point of departing for England.
Soon after his arrival at St. Helena, he heard of the renewal of hostilities; and as the Hon. Company’s ships were directed to wait there for convoy, he agreed with his fellow passengers, Major-General Baird and seven others, to remove into a whaler, the master of which undertook to run them home for 1000l. sterling; each paying an equal proportion[2]. This ship was captured off Cape Clear, by le Vaillant French privateer, of 30 guns and 240 men[3], commanded by
- ↑ Among the officers who particularly distinguished themselves on the above occasion was Captain J. S. Carden. See Vol. II, Part II, p. 1009.
- ↑ Captain Evans’s passage from Madras to England cost him altogether 600l., the whole of which was a dead loss to him, as the Admiralty refused to grant him any remuneration.
- ↑ See Vol. II, Part I, p. 392.
