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and even pelted the boats with shot by hand. Two days after this event, Lieutenant Croker commanded a party of the Active’s seamen employed in completing the demolition of the formidable battery on Point Pesquies, under the orders of Lieutenant Carroll, of the Pompée 74. He subsequently obtained the following testimonial from Admiral Sir W. Sidney Smith:–

“These are to certify that Lieutenant Waltor Croker being detached from His Majesty’s ship Active, which ship formed part of my division, destined by Vice Admiral Sir John Duckworth to destroy the Turkish men of war defending the passage of the Dardanelles, February 19th, 1807, succeeded with the boats of that ship in boarding and burning the Turkish frigate which ran on shore on the European side, shewing on this occasion the greatest intrepidity, intelligence, and skill, and performing the service committed to him hy Captain Moubray, to my entire satisfaction.

“Given under my hand, at Paris, this 27th day of March, 1827.
(Signed)“W. Sidney Smith, Admiral of the Blue.”

In the beginning of 1808, Lieutenant Croker joined the Thames frigate, commanded by his most revered and deeply lamented friend, the late Captain Bridges Watkinson Taylor, a truly amiable and noble-minded officer, with whom he had before served on board the Galatea. The following is the copy of a letter from Captain Taylor to the senior officer in the Adriatic, dated off Manfredonia, Feb. 27th, 1808:–

“From the rendezvous off Sansego, we the 23d instant chased and captured a large trabaccolo, with oil and almonds, from Barrie to Trieste; returning the following day, recaptured an Austrian brig from Messina, then another trabaccolo (Papal) from Zara, with wool; the latter led us near Ancona. I intended carrying these vessels to the rendezvous, hut on the morning of the 25th a most heavy gale came on from the N.E.; the first had parted for the night, and, I trust, then ran for Malta, otherwise, although a fine new vessel, I fear those on hoard perished, or, my only hopes are, that she bore up into an enemy’s port; the brig I ordered to Malta, being able to weather Ancona. The other trabaccolo broke her rudder, had her bow and quarter stove in, and was sinking; the sea being tremendous: under these circumstances, we tried to get her alongside to save the people (as we doubted our boats living), but without effect. Then Lieutenant Croker, with six good men, volunteered attempting it in the cutter, and it is with the most heartfelt gratitude I acquaint you, that all were saved by their exertions, – a woman, child, six of the Thames’s, and four Romans; the vessels drifted so fast whilst this was performing, that we had