consult my officers and accordingly assembled them all on the quarter-deck; when, upon surveying and examining the state of the ship (engaged as I have already described), they deemed any farther resistance would be ineffectual, as every possible exertion had already been used to save her, and therefore they were unanimously of opinion, that to resign her would he the only means of saving the lives of a number of brave men. Then, and not till then, I ordered the colours to be struck; a measure which, on a full investigation, I hope and trust their lordships will not disapprove. Hitherto I have not been able to collect an exact list of the killed and wounded, as many of the former were thrown overboard during the action, and when taken possession of, the people were divided and sent on board different ships; but I do not believe they exceed forty, or thereabout. No one above the rank of boatswain’s-mate was killed. Lieutenant Fitzgerald, of the marines, Mr. Burns, the boatswain, and Mr. M‘Curdy, pilot, were wounded, but they are in a fair way of doing well.
“The cool, steady, and gallant behaviour of all my officers and ship’s company, throughout the whole of the action, merits the highest applause; and I should be deficient in my duty, as well as in what I owe to those brave men, were I to omit requesting you will be pleased to recommend them in the strongest manner to their lordships’ favor and protection; particularly Lieutenants Godench, Epworth, Carter, West, and Darracott; Major Tench, and Lieutenants Fitzgerald and Brown, of the marines; Mr. Robinson, the master; together with the warrant and petty-officers, whose bravery and good conduct I shall ever hold in the highest estimation. I have hitherto been treated with great kindness and humanity, and have not a doubt but that I shall meet with the same treatment during my captivity. I am, &c.
(Signed)“Richard Rodney Bligh.”
“To Philip Stephens, Esq.
Secretary of the Admiralty.”
At the period of her capture, the Alexander was returning to England from the coast of Spain, whither she had escorted a convoy, in company with the Canada 74, Captain Charles Powell Hamilton. The latter ship escaped through superior sailing, and her commander had the pleasure of witnessing the recapture of the Alexander, off l’Orient, June 23d, 1795[1]. According to the French papers, two of their 74’s were very much disabled, and sustained between them a loss in killed and wounded amounting to 430 officers and
