APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 



77 



persuaded the lords commissioners 

 of the admiralty will do all in their 

 power to console him under his 

 severe wounds, and grant him 

 promotion the moment he is in a 

 capacity to receive it. 



I am, Sir, &c. &c. &c. 



St. Vincent. 



Impeteux Palais Road, 

 1st August. 

 My Lord, 



I have true pleasure in stating to 

 your lordship the good conduct of 

 lieutenant Jeremiah Coghlan, to 

 whom, for former gallant behaviour, 

 you had given an acting commission 

 to command the Viper cutter from 

 this ship. 



This gallant young man, when 

 watching Port Louis, thought he 

 could succeed in boarding some of 

 the cutters or gun-vessels, which 

 have been moving about the en trance 

 of that harbour, and, for this pur- 

 pose, he entreated a ten-oared cut- 

 ter from me, with twelve volun- 

 teers ; and on Tuesday night, the 

 29th instant,he took this boat, with 

 Mr. Silas H. Paddon, midshipman, 

 and six of his men, making, with 

 himself, twenty ; and accompanied 

 by his own boat and one from the 

 Amethyst, he determined upon 

 boarding a gun-brig, mounting 

 three long 24-pounders, and four 

 6"-pounders, full of men, moored 

 with springs on her cables, in a 

 naval port of difficult access, within 

 pistol-shot of three batteries, sur- 

 rounded by several armed craft, 

 and not a mile from a seventy-four 

 and two frigates, bearing an admi- 

 ral's flag. Undismayed by sucli 

 formidable appearances, tlie early 

 discovery of his approach (for tliey 

 were at quarters), and the lost 

 aid of the otlier boats, he bravely 

 determined to attack alone, and 



boarded her on the quarter ;- but 

 unhappily, in the dark, jumping 

 into a trawl-net hung up to dry, 

 he was pierced through the thigh 

 by a pike, and several of his men 

 hurt, and all knocked back into 

 the boat. 



Unchecked in ardour, they hauled 

 the boat further a-head, and again 

 boarded, and maintained, against 

 87 men, 1 6" of whom were soldiers, 

 an obstinate conflict, killing 6 and 

 wounding 20, among whom was 

 every officer belonging to her. His 

 own loss 1 killed and 8 wounded ; 

 himself in two places, Mr. Paddon 

 in six. I feel particularly happy in 

 the expected safety of all the 

 wounded. He speaks in the highest 

 terms of Mr. Paddon, and the 

 whole of his party, many of whom 

 were knocked overboard, and twice 

 beat into the boat, but returned 

 to the charge with unabated cour- 

 age. I trust I shall stand excused 

 by your lordship for so minute a 

 description, produced by my admi- 

 ration of that courage which, hand 

 to hand gave victory to a handful 

 of brave fellows over four times 

 their number; and of that skill 

 which formed, conducted, and 

 effected so daring an enterprise. 



Le Cerbere, commanded by a 

 lieutenant de Vaisseau, and towed 

 out under a very heavy fire, is given 

 up as prize by the squadron, to 

 mark their admiration, and will not, 

 I know, be the only reward of such 

 bravery; they will receive that pro- 

 tection your lordship so liberally 

 accords to all the young men in the 

 service, v>'ho happily distinguish 

 themselves under your command. 



I enclose lieutenant Coghlan's 

 letter, and have tlie honour, &c. 



(Signed) Edward Pellew. 

 Admiral the earl of St, Vin- 

 cent^ K. B. &c. 



