“On Tuesday last, the 1st instant, being then in latitude 47° 30′ and longitude 9° 45′, laying-to, with a strong gale from the westward, under a close-reefed main-topsail, we discovered a large sail to the westward, and on approaching found her to have a signal of distress flying, which induced me immediately to render every assistance in my power, and on nearing, found her to be on fire.
“About three P.M., being then on her bow, we succeeded in getting the first boat from the vessel, which proved to be the Hon. Company’s ship ‘Kent’ (Captain Cobb), of 1400 tons, for Bengal and China, with troops and passengers amounting, with the crew, to 637 souls. From three to eight P.M. the boats were constantly employed in bringing the people to the ‘Cambria,’ and succeeded in saving 296 officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, 46 women and 52 children appertaining to ditto, 19 male and female private passengers, and Captain Cobb and 139 of the crew, amounting in all to 553. The flames now becoming exceedingly fierce, I could not urge the sailors again to return to the ship, nor deem it at all prudent for the preservation of the lives already on board my vessel to remain longer near the ‘Kent,’ expecting her instantly to blow up. By accounts since made it is supposed that 68 soldiers, 1 woman and 21 children, and 4 of the crew were left when Captain Cobb quitted the vessel, whose conduct during the trying occasion is beyond my humble praise, displaying the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and by his exertions, and those of Colonel Fearon, the commander of the troops, who were the last to quit, the women, children, and passengers were got into the boats; and they did not leave themselves until their influence to induce any more to go into them was useless.
“At two A.M. the ‘Kent’ blew up, after being completely enveloped in flames for four hours previously. The fire originated in the after-hold, where the spirits were stowed for the use of the troops; a cask of which breaking adrift, and bursting, the contents were unfortunately ignited by a candle in a lantern. I feel the greatest gratification in stating that the gentlemen and their Cornish miners, in all 36, with my own crew, 11 more, behaved throughout the trying period with the greatest kindness in getting the people from the boats, soothing their sufferings, giving up their own clothes and beds to the women and children, volunteering to go into the boats (which I had good reason to prevent), and leaving nothing undone to make them as comfortable as the limited size of my brig would allow (only 200 tons). It would be pleasing also could I speak as highly of the crew of the ‘Kent,’ but I cannot refrain from expressing my disappointment of their conduct (in which I am borne out by Captain Cobb) derogatory in every respect to the generally received character of a British seaman,—by refusing to return to the ‘Kent’ for the people, after the first trip, and requiring my utmost exertions and determination to compel them to renew their endeavours to get out the soldiers, passengers, and the remainder of their own shipmates, who were left behind; and it was only by coercive measures, in conjunction with my own crew and passengers, and telling them I would not receive them on board unless they did so, that they proceeded, though reluctantly, in their duty. I must, however, except the officers, particularly Mr. Thomson, fourth mate, and Mr. Phillips, the boatswain, whose conduct and behaviour, in every respect, justify my warmest praise.
“It may not be amiss to state that, two hours after the ship blew up, a soldier’s wife was delivered of a fine boy on board the ‘Cambria,’ and both mother and child are doing well.
“I remain, Gentlemen,
“Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) “W. Cook.
“To Messrs. Wm. Broad and Sons,
“Agents to Lloyd’s.”
“Falmouth, 4th March, 1825.
“Sir,
“It is with feelings of the deepest regret I have to report, for the information of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, the melancholy calamity which has befallen that portion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment under my command, embarked on board the Honorable Company’s ship ‘Kent,’ for conveyance to Bengal, owing to her loss, she having taken fire towards the close of a heavy gale of wind on the 1st instant, about noon, in the Bay of Biscay. The moment it was discovered bursting from the after-hold of the vessel every possible effort was made to get it under, and by the immediate application of wet blankets, soldiers’ great-coats, and other woollen articles that could be obtained on the emergency, we had for a short period every reason to hope these efforts would have proved successful; but, unhappily, having communicated to the spirits, the hope of extinguishing it was soon dispelled, and all further exertion to save the vessel appeared evidently vain; the conflagration, owing to the state of the weather, gaining ground so rapidly. Under these circumstances it became the imperative duty of Captain Cobb and myself to endeavour to save the lives of as many of the people as possible, for which purpose the boats were hoisted out, and some rafts hastily constructed, and as many of the women and children put into the former as we could at the moment assemble. At this instant, by the Divine interposition of Providence, a sail hove in sight, which, discerning our perilous situation, came promptly down to our relief; and, owing to the persevering heroism of the commander, at the evident risk of losing his own vessel, and by the cool and intrepid conduct of Captain Cobb, whose attentions were unremitting, a larger portion of the troops than could even have been anticipated under so unforeseen a calamity were preserved, though, I lament to add, sixty-eight men, one woman, and twenty-one children appear to have perished, exclusive of five seamen.