The report made by Captain Osborne of the Centurion, of the action with the French squadron, in the preceding year, not being satisfactory to Captain Smith, he applied to that officer for an explanation. Captain Osborne, after more distinctly expressing his approbation of Captain Smith’s conduct than he had done in his public letter, thought fit to demand a court-martial for enquiring into the conduct of the two ships, with a view of justifying his letter on service. The court sentenced Captain Smith to be dismissed the service; but on his return to England in 1798, he appealed against their verdict; and his memorial being referred to the Crown lawyers and the Admiralty counsel, they reported their opinion that the sentence was unwarrantable, and not to be supported. Captain Smith was consequently restored to his rank in the navy, but never afterwards called into service.
CHARLES CUNNINGHAM, Esq
Commissioner of His Majesty’s Dock-Yard at Chatham.
[Retired Captain.]
This officer was born in 1755, and entered the royal navy as a Midshipman on board the AEolus frigate in 1775; previous to which he had, (owing to the want of employment for young men in the King’s service,) made several mercantile voyages with a friend in America, from whence he returned to England at the commencement of the colonial war.
Early in 1776, the AEolus sailed for the West Indies, on which station Mr. Cunningham joined the Bristol of 50 guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Parker, by whom he
cable breach was made. A summons was then sent to the garrison; but the Governor demanding terms which were inadmissible, and refusing to accept those sent in return, hostilities recommenced. Three hundred seamen and marines were also landed, under the command of Captain Smith, for the purpose of assisting to storm the fort, had the enemy determined to hold out. In a short time, however, a white flag was displayed on the ramparts, and the Dutch commandant surrendered at discretion, The loss sustained by the British in obtaining possession of this post amounted to 16 men killed and 60 wounded; 1 of the former and 6 of the latter were sailors. The fort of Oostenburg, situated on an almost perpendicular hill, and garrisoned by 400 Europeans, was next summoned, and the enemy seemed resolved to defend it; but observing their invaders making preparations for a bombardment, and about to cut off their water with which they were supplied by pipes from an opposite hill, they at length agreed to surrender. Several other posts and factories in Ceylon soon after shared the same fate.
