The loss sustained by the British on this brilliant occasion amounted to 9 killed and 22 wounded; the enemy had 14 slain and 20 wounded. When we take into consideration the fatigue of so long a row as the boats’ crews had before they came up with le Lynx, their great disparity in numbers, their having to attack a man of war under sail, completely prepared for their reception, and their perseverance in the attack, without a chance of support from the Galatea, after being twice repulsed, we can have no hesitation in declaring that more determined bravery was never displayed, and that the eulogy afterwards pronounced in the House of Peers was highly merited. In the death of Lieutenant Walker, who had some time before been promoted from the Northumberland 74, the service lost a most promising officer. Lieutenant Coombe’s conduct speaks for itself; although he had previously lost a leg, his activity in the execution of his duty had always been remarked: in this action a musket-ball passed through the muscular part of his thigh, above the former amputation. The zeal and gallantry manifested by the whole party were deservedly praised by the Board of Admiralty, who promoted the surviving officers, each of whom received a sword from the Patriotic Fund. Le Lynx being a fine brig of 337 tons, was added to the navy as a sloop of war, and the command of her given to Lieutenant Coombe[1].
The Galatea returned to England in the spring of 1809, and being found very defective, was soon after put out of commission and taken to pieces at Woolwich. In Nov. following Captain Sayer was appointed to the Leda, a new frigate of 42 guns; and at the commencement of the ensuing year, ordered to convoy a number of transports with troops to Cadiz, from whence he came home with the flag of Vice-Admiral Purvis, on that officer being relieved in his command by Sir Charles Cotton[2].
- ↑ There being already a Lynx in the British navy, the Galatea’s prize was named the Heureux, after a vessel so called which had foundered with all her crew in the preceding year. Captain Coombe was killed by a 24-pound shot, when heading his boats in an attack on several French vessels at Guadaloupe, Nov. 29, 1808; an account of which will be given under the head of Captain Daniel Lawrence.
- ↑ See vol. 1, p. 241.
