occasion, for surely never was greater spirit displayed I have the honor to be, &c.
In the beginning of 1808, Lieutenant Furber was serving as first of the Flora frigate. Captain Loftus Otway Bland, on the North Sea station. The following account of the loss of that ship is taken from a letter dated at Lewarden, in Friesland, Jan. 26th, 1808:–
“The Flora struck upon Schelling reef last Monday, the 18th; about nine o’clock that night we succeeded in getting her off, but lost our rudder in the attempt; and after getting her to sea, could hardly keep her free with all the pumps, therefore was obliged, the next day, to run her on shore again. After making rafts, fearing that if it came on to blow hard during the night, she would go to pieces, the captain, Furber, Keith, Doneville, Watson, and myself, pushed off in the barge, that being the only boat we then had, with about 130 of the crew on rafts, the rest choosing to stay by the ship. After rowing for eighteen hours, without sustenance, we landed on the island of Ameland, where they made us prisoners. Those whom we left on the wreck are at Harlingen.”
We lastly find Mr. Furber first lieutenant of the Lively frigate. Captain (now Rear-Admiral) M‘Kinley, employed in co-operation with the Spanish patriots on the coast of Galicia, from whence he was despatched to England in a hired vessel with intelligence of the surrender of Vigo, Mar. 7th, 1809[1]. His commission as commander bears date Sept. 1st, 1824.
JOHN DAVIS MERCER, Esq.
[Commander.]
Obtained his first commission on the 8th December, 1809; and was serving under Captain Charles Gill, in the Cleopatra frigate, at the close of the French war in 1814. He was subsequently flag-lieutenant to the late Sir William Charles Fahie, on the Leeward Island and Halifax stations. His promotion to the rank of commander took place Sept. 9th, 1824.
