“Palermo, 10th Mai, 1810.
“Monsieur L’Amiral,
“Le Roi mon auguste maître vous a exprimé de vive voix, ses sensible regrets sur la situation du brave Capitaine Brenton, qui dans une des actions les plus glorieuses á la marine de la Grande Bretagne a été si dangereusement blesse. Mais sa Majesté toujours occupé de ce brave homme m’ordonne de vous parler encore, et de vous dire combien elle est affectée de la circonstance, et d’attribuer a’ une ordre générale existante et à l’absence de sa Majesté de Palermo, qui a retardé l’ordre d’admettre sans délai á la pratique la frégate le Spartan. Que sa Majesté aime a se flatter, que le Capitaine Brenton guérira de sa blessure; qu’un tel héros sera conservé a’ la marine anglaise, et a’ la bonne cause; et que sa Majesté aura la satisfaction de le voir décoré de la croix de Commandeur de son Ordre de Mérité, que J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer jointe a cette lettre, avec prière de la faire passer a ce brave Capitaine avec la plus grande promptitude; vu qu’il tarde a sa Majesté qu’il reçoive ce témoignage des sentimens, que lui inspire son incomparable conduite; et que le publique y voit l’empressement de sa Majesté a reconnoitre le mérité des brave officiers de son auguste et fidèle allié, qui exposent si courageusement leurs vies pour les intérêts communs, autant que pour ceux que sont personnels à sa Majesté.
“Le Roi ne doute pas, qu’en envoyant l’ordre au Capitaine Brenton, vous lui donnerez connaissance de cette lettre. Ainsi il ne me reste Mons. L’Amiral, que de vous réitérer l’assurance de la haute considération avec laquelle J’ai l’honneur d’être.
“MONS. L’AMIRAL, &c. &c. &c.
“Marquis de Circello.”
“A son Excellence L’Amiral Martin.”
The Rear Admiral had, indeed, as he observes in his letter, most fully expressed his sentiments, public and private, as far as related to Captain Brenton, in his interview with him at the cabin windows of the Spartan, and they were of the most flattering, the most gratifying, and the most affectionate description. He said upon that occasion, “My dear Brenton, this is a bad climate for wounds, I am anxious you should be at home. If you wish it, I will take the responsibility upon myself, and order the Spartan to England. I am sure the Commander in chief will approve of my doing so. A frigate will be required to take Mr. Arbuthnot, our minister, from Constantinople to England, and I will appoint the Spartan for that purpose. He may be expected at Malta every day.” This Captain Brenton joyfully accepted, as he felt that a long time must elapse before he could again be fit for active service; and his only wish now was to be restored as soon as possible to his family, where he knew happiness awaited him, if any where in this world.
His friend, for well he might call him so, Lord Collingwood, was now no more, having sunk under the disease, against which he had long struggled. For the last year of his life his feeling and his regard for Captain Brenton had become very warm, as may be seen by his official letters; and he undoubtedly left a strong recommendation of him to his successor, as one of the first acts of Sir Charles Cotton was to appoint Captain Brenton to the command of the squadron in the Adriatic, a situation which had long been the object of his wishes. It now however came when he could no longer avail himself of it. It reached him the day after he was wounded.
The last letter he received from Lord Collingwood was one so peculiarly his own, and so comprehensive in a short space, that it may not be amiss to insert it.