that island was obliged to surrender to the British arms[1]. The naval force employed on this occasion, consisted of two 74’s and six smaller vessels.
Captain Littlehales’ “assiduity and attention,” during this short but successful expedition, were duly acknowledged by Sir Samuel Hood, with whose despatches, announcing the conquest of St. Lucia, he returned to England in the Morne Fortunée, a brig purchased for the purpose. Ill health, occasioned by his long services in the West Indies, preventing him from accepting the command of an active ship, he has not since been afloat. For two years previous to the dissolution of the Sea Fencibles, he commanded the Liverpool district; and during the last four or five years of the war superintended the payment of ships afloat at Plymouth.
Our officer married, Aug. 22, 1803, Mary Anna, daughter of Thomas Cleather, Esq. of Plymouth, and by that lady has four sons and one daughter now living. The second son is at present a Midshipman in the Revenge 78, under the auspices of Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Neale.
Agent.– ___
ROBERT PHILPOT, Esq
[Post-Captain of 1800.]
This officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790, and obtained the rank of Commander Jan. 3, 1799. On the 14th Oct. following, being on a cruise off Porto Rico in the Echo sloop of war, he chased a French letter of marque mounting 12 four-pounders, with a complement of 30 men, into Aguadilla bay; and the following day his boats captured a Spanish brig of 2 guns and 20 men, laden with cocoa and indigo. On the 16th in the evening, the Echo’s pinnace and jolly-boat, containing 15 men, under the command of Lieutenant Napier, pulled into the bay and succeeded in carrying the letter of marque, which was brought off in triumph, notwithstanding a heavy fire from 2 field-pieces, one 18-pounder, and several smaller guns, all placed on the beach for her protection. In the execution of this service the pinnace was sunk, but not a man hurt. The prize had on board a valuable cargo, and was bound to Curaçoa.
