intrepid conduct, and that of the brave men who were with him, was viewed with admiration by all.”
On the 23d June following, a vessel under French colours came out of Civita Vecchia, and endeavoured, by crossing the Porcupine, to get to the westward, but failed in the attempt, and was obliged to run ashore, under two towers, mounting two guns each; Captain Duncan instantly sent Lieutenant Price to destroy her, which he did most effectually, and without any loss, though exposed to a very heavy fire. She proved to be from the island of Ischia, loaded with wine. The service for which Lieutenant Price obtained a commander’s commission is thus described by Captain Duncan, in a letter to Lord Collingwood, dated July 14, 1808:
“On the morning of the 9th inst. being off Monte Circello, on the coast of Romania, I observed two French gun-boats, with a merchant vessel under convoy, going alongshore to the westward: as the ship was becalmed, I sent Lieutenant Price, with the boats, in pursuit of them; after a row of eight hours, in a hot sun, he drove the latter on shore, and forced the gunboats to take shelter under the batteries of Port D’Anzo. At this time, seeing three very suspicious vessels coming down, with a fresh breeze from the westward, I was obliged to recal him; but before we could cut them off, they also got into the same harbour. Next morning I observed one of them,[1] a large polacre ship, lie further out than the others, and having reconnoitred, thought it possible to take her. * * * * * As soon as it was dark, the boats went in, under the command of Lieutenant Price, and from uuder the heaviest fire I ever saw, brought her out; she carries eight long 6-pound guns, and had on board between 20 and 30 men, from Hieres Bay, bound to Naples, with salt. When I consider that this vessel was moored to a beach lined with French soldiers, within pistol-shot of two batteries, a tower, and three gun-boats, carrying each a 24-pounder, and 30 men; that from the baffling winds, she was an hour and twenty minutes before she got out of range of grape, and that the enemy were at first perfectly prepared for the attack; I cannot find words to express my admiration at the intrepid conduct of all the officers, seamen, and marines employed. I am sure that the services of Lieutenant Price, he having been more than thirty times in action with the boats of this ship since October last, and his sufferings on this occasion, being severely wounded in the head and right leg, will be a sufficient excuse for my requesting, in the strongest terms, that your lordship will recommend this gallant officer to the consideration of the Lords of the Admiralty.”
On this occasion, the British had not a man killed, and only 8 persons, including Lieutenant Price and Mr. John O’Brien
- ↑ The Nostra Signora del Rosario.
