timents on the powerful and effectual assistance afforded by you from his Majesty’s squadron under your command. Allow me to express my warmest thanks for the honor you have done me in accompanying me during the operations, and personally affording your assistance and advice; as also to convey my thanks to the whole of the captains, officers, seamen, and marines landed from the squadron under your command. I trust we have convinced these daring pirates, as well as the enemies of our country in all parts of the world, that his Majesty’s navy and army, when acting together heart and hand, are invincible.”
The following is an extract from the general orders published by the Supreme Government of India, on learning the result of the expedition against Sambas:
“Although it is not within the immediate province of the Supreme Government to bestow on the officers, seamen, and marines of his Majesty’s squadron, who so cordially and zealously co-operated with the troops, and shared with them the fatigues and dangers of the contest, those encomiums of exalted praise which their unanimity, perseverance, and characteristic bravery so justly merit, his Lordship in Council would nevertheless do violence to his feelings were he to refrain on the present occasion from expressing his deep acknowledgments to Captain Sayer, who commanded the squadron; to Captain the Hon. George Elliot, of the Hussar, who was entrusted with the immediate arrangement and command of the armed boats; to Captain Norton, of the Procris; to Captain Samuel Leslie; and to all the captains, officers, seamen, and marines, of his Majesty’s ships, who so ably seconded the troops in the attack on Sambas.”
Sir Samuel Hood, when transmitting an account of the Borneo expedition to the Admiralty, expressed himself as follows:
“The cordial co-operation with which this service has been executed, does great honor to the officers of the army and navy employed thereon; and more distinguished gallantry has been seldom shewn than by those who had the good fortune to be engaged in carrying the works of the enemy. Captain Bayer’s services are well known to their Lordships, and require no comment of mine to heighten their value; and he appears to have been most ably seconded on this arduous service by the Hon. Captain Elliot, the other captains, officers, seamen, and marines under his command.”
Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood died at Madras, Dec. 24, 1814, after an illness of only three days; and the command of the squadron consequently devolved on Captain Sayer, as the officer next in seniority, at a period when the relations of amity between Great Britain and various European powers
