ADDENDA
to post captains of 1814.
JAMES JOHN GORDON BREMER, Esq., C.B.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
This officer’s proceedings, while commanding the Tamar 26, and employed in forming a settlement upon Melville Island, in the Gulph of Carpentaria[1], are noticed in King’s Australia, vol. ii. p. 233, et seq. On the 8th Feb. 1827, he made the following official report to Rear-Admiral Gage, commander-in-chief on the East India station:–
“Sir,– I do myself the honor to inform you, that, having sailed from Bombay on the 20th of December, I proceeded with the squadron under my orders, in the further execution of the instructions I had the honor to receive from you.
“Cape Aden, on the coast of Arabia, was seen on the 6th of January, and having cruised there two days, I was, according to previous arrangement, joined by the Hon. Company’s ship, Amherst, from Mocha, having Captain Bagnold, the British Resident at that place, on board. I proceeded across the sea to the African coast, and on the 10th, in the afternoon, made Burburra.
“A number of native vessels were in the harbour, which, on our approach, got under weigh, and, by keeping close in shore, succeeded in escaping us, although a fire was opened on them, as it was my intention to have commenced a strict blockade of the port.
“On anchoring at the entrance of the bay, I sent Lieutenant (John) Downey, with an interpreter, on shore, to the Sheiks of the place, explaining to them the object of our visit (of which they had long been in expectation), and desiring to see them on board, giving them every assurance of safety: they promised to come off the following morning.
“Having, during the night, myself sounded the bay up to the town, at day-light on the 11th, the Tamar, Pandora (sloop) and Amherst,