terwards received several slugs through his left arm and body. Lieutenant Campbell received several slight sabre wounds, and Mr. Augustus Barrington Hamilton was shot, while in the boat, through the thigh, notwithstanding which he boarded, and his conduct is highly spoken of; John Wells, a seaman, was also shot through the thigh. The loss of the enemy appears to have been 13 wounded, 6 badly; and some are supposed to have been wounded and driven overboard.
“I give your lordship the detail of this service, feeling it incumbent on me to do justice to the parties employed upon it, and humbly hoping that Mr. Beaufort’s conduct and wounds will entitle him to the protection given in the present war to officers of distinguished merit. I regret exceedingly that Mr. Hamilton wants some considerable part of his servitude, as he is of age, and, in all other respects, well qualified for a Lieutenant * * * * *. I have the honor to be, &c. &c.
“To Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, K.B.”
The commander-in-chief, when transmitting the above letter to the Admiralty, reported to their lordships that the San Josef had been captured “under circumstanccs very highly creditable to Lieutenant Beaufort” and added, “I anticipate with satisfaction, the approbation with which I am sure their Lordships will regard the gallantry that has been evinced in the execution of the enterprise.”
In Nov. 1801, a paltry pension of 15l. 12s. 6d. per annum was granted to Captain Beaufort, in consideration of his severe sufferings. The following mention of him is made by Mr. Edge worth’s daughter at p. 207 et seq. of the volume quoted at the commencement of this memoir:–
“When Lord Hardwicke was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, government at length desired the establishment of a telegraph in this country, and my father was employed to form a line of communication from Dublin to Galway. Captain Beaufort of the navy, (his friend and brother-in-law) not being at that time in active service, engaged to assist in this undertaking, both from private friendship, and from a belief, that it would be beneficial to the country. He would not accept of any pecuniary remuneration, and devoted to this object two years of his life in unremitting zealous exertion.
“A line of telegraphs from Dublin to Galway was completed, temporary guard-houses were built at the recquisite stations, and a telegraphic corps was formed from those of my father’s yeomanry corps, and others of his tenantry, whom he had judged fit for the purpose. They had some additional pay, and their expences of living at different stations were de-