I took the first opportunity of visiting my gallant and worthy chief, whom, with my friend Dunn and many others, I found in a dismal state from their wounds, now become painful in the extreme. He expressed great satisfaction at seeing me, and complimented me on the Bellona being the first ship in getting into the harbour, and upon my managing the prisoners so well. He allowed the two Portuguese seamen to enter his Majesty’s service, and ordered me a few more of the Amphion’s crew, with two or three marines.
He appeared greatly annoyed by the perfidy of the captured frigate Flore, and was preparing a letter[43] to the senior officer of the fugitives, demanding her to be given up, according to the laws of war and honour. We, as soon as possible, carefully got the wounded Captain Duodo on shore, to the comfortable residence of a dignitary of the church (a canonico), where he shortly expired.
The surgeon of the Bellona being the senior, and considered clever, Captain Hoste directed all the wounded prisoners to be placed under his superintendence, amongst whom was a Frenchman of the Favorite, whose right leg was so badly shattered that amputation was instantly necessary. Anxious to learn this poor fellow’s history, I visited him in the cockpit, where I found him extended on the platform, the operation having been performed. His spirits were high.
He assured me he had no recollection of a single circumstance after his ship had been set fire to; he, with many of his wounded companions, were then prostrate on the decks; all who were capable of moving had of course quitted the ship. He must have been blown to the shore when the ship exploded; and he supposed his unfortunate fellow-sufferers had fallen into the sea. “Our ship’s fate,” he observed, “was quick and extraordinary. La moitié a sauté dans l’air, l’autre a coulé à fond”; and, he added, “I am your prisoner, and have lost my leg; but, my good officer, I have an excellent appetite, and a good meal would make me quite happy.” I need not say that this brave Frenchman was taken especial care of, until he was sent on the 20th, with all the wounded, to Lessina.
Two hundred of the Favorite’s crew, who had escaped on shore, were compelled to surrender their arms on Sunday, by the enterprising conduct of Mr. James Lew and Mr. Robert Kingston, midshipmen of the Active, left in charge of prizes at Lissa, who placed themselves at the head of a few privateer’s men whom they persuaded to volunteer on the occasion.
The squadron and prizes being in a tolerable state for encountering the perils of the sea, on the 25th we quitted Port St. George to proceed to Malta; and off the harbour Captain Hoste communicated with the Magnificent (seventy-four) and Éclair (brig), which were watching the enemy.
On Thursday, 28th March, when off Cape Colonna, on the Calabrian coast, a heavy gale of wind came on, which made the Bellona labour exceedingly, rolling her lower yards nearly in the water, and the whole squadron strain very much. We found the pumps choked, and the leaks gaining rapidly; but, however, we cleared all away round the pump-well, and commenced baling with buckets, at which the prisoners were most active, and actually volunteered their services to fight the guns, in the event of falling in with an enemy. This favour, I assured them, I could not accept, as, should we unfortunately be recaptured, they would every one be put to death. The fact was, they were triple our number, and I allowed them to remain in their beds during the night, and had sentinels placed over the hatchways, without their suspecting it, to prevent many coming up at a time on any pretence whatever. The pumps at length were cleared and got to work, the gale abated, and all was once more in ship-shape order.
On Sunday, the 31st, we arrived in the harbour of Valetta, in Malta. The joy and enthusiasm with which we were received were most gratifying to the feelings of the whole squadron. The lines were manned spontaneously by the entire garrison; nor do I suppose an individual remained in any of the houses who could by any means move out, or mount to their flat roofs, which appeared crowded to excess, whilst a continued hurrah and vivas were kept up from the time we entered the harbour until the ships were anchored and sails furled.
Fêtes, balls, and every kind of homage and attention were paid by the different families and individuals, of every class, in the garrison, to the victors; and the gallant prisoner, Captain Paschaligo, shared in every honour shown them, for which he appeared truly grateful. The Amphion and Volage were so much cut up, that to place them in a state to reach England with the prizes was as much as was possible to be hoped for or attempted.
On the 26th of April I had much pleasure in reading to our little crew of the Bellona a complimentary letter, for their gallant conduct on the 13th ult., from the commander-in-chief, Sir Charles Cotton, which they received with reiterated cheers.