changed for the commandant of the Dutch marine forces captured at Surinam, Captain Colville, in consideration of the kind treatment he had received, addressed the following letter to Admiral Kihkert, the Commander-in-Chief at the Texel:
“Sir,– Before I quit this place, so different from the usual state of captivity and hardships we had to expect, I beg leave, as well on my own part as on that of my officers, who belonged to His B. Majesty’s ship the Romney, to return you our most sincere thanks, and to assure you, that the very humane attention which we unfortunate men experienced from you, shall never be effaced from our memories.
“We request you to assure Captain Verderoon, and the other captains and officers of the ships under your orders, that we are sensible of the great friendship which has been shown to us. I will not intrude upon your occupations by a long letter; the remembrance of having shown every service of humanity and friendship to the unfortunate, is sufficient for Admiral Kihkert; yet we should have proved deficient in the respect that is due to him, if we had not, before our departure, assured him of our warmest gratitude.
“Permit me, Admiral, to give you the assurance of my highest consideration and respect, with which I, personally, have the honor to be, Sir,
“Your most obedient humble Servant,
“John Colville.”
On the 31st Dec. 1804, Captain Colville was tried by a court-martial, assembled on board the Africaine, at Sheerness, for the loss of the Romney. After a full investigation of all the circumstances relative thereto, it appeared to the court, that the loss of the ship was occasioned by the thickness of the fog, and the ignorance of the pilots in regard to the tides, &c. they having undertaken a charge, to which it appeared they were wholly incompetent. The sentence of the court was, that the pilots be mulcted of all their pay for the Romney, and rendered incapable of taking charge of any of his Majesty’s ships and vessels of war in future, and to be imprisoned in the Marshalsea, one for the space of six, and the other for twelve calendar months. Captain Colville, his officers, and crew, were honorably acquitted of all blame, it appearing to the court, that the utmost exertions were used by them to save the ship after she had struck, and to prevent the ship’s company from becoming prisoners to the enemy; and the court expressed, by the president, the high satisfaction which they felt at their conduct, under the very trying circumstances attendant upon that unfortunate occasion.
