to avail myself of his Majesty’s permission to return to England, in a few days; and I cannot quit this colony without expressing to you my thanks for the zeal and activity which you have manifested for the protection and welfare of these islands, since you have been on this station: allow me to add my personal acknowledgments for your invariable kindness and attention to myself, and to assure you, that I have the honor to be. Sir, &c.
“To Jeremiah Coghlan, Esq. &c. &c. &c.”
“Sir,– Your late promotion having rendered the probability of your return to these islands very remote, permit me to say, that, in your departure, the public, as well as individuals, will sustain a very serious loss, because, during the whole period of your command within these islands, you have not only attended more particularly to their defence and the protection of their trade, but have at all times readily accommodated yourself to the wishes of individuals, as far as a due regard to your duty would permit. I have the honor to be. Sir, &c.
“To Jeremiah Coghlan, Esq.
Commander of H.M. sloop Lik.”
Captain Coghlan’s post commission was signed at the Admiralty, Nov. 27, 1810; but it will be seen, by the date of the President’s letter, that he remained in the Elk for more than five months after his promotion. We next find him commanding the Caledonia of 120 guns, bearing the flag of Sir Edward Pellew, on the Mediterranean station. His appointment to that ship took place, Sept. 30, 1812.
In Aug. 1813, Captain Coghlan volunteered to lead a detachment of marines to the attack of five heavy batteries, defending the bay and town of Cassis, a place situated between Toulon and Marseilles. The heroic manner in which he conducted himself on that occasion, and the successful result of the enterprise, have been stated at pp. 353–355 of Suppl. Part I.
Although a scarcity of seamen prevented the Toulon fleet, as a body, from making any serious attempt to put to sea during the year 1813, large divisions of it frequently came out to manoeuvre, but only when the wind was favorable for returning into port.
At the latter end of October, Sir Edward Pellew was blown off his station by a succession of hard gales, which lasted
