Certificate of Conduct supplied by Pellew for Thomson (2) after the action with the Droits de l`homme.
This is to certify that Mr John Thomson (2) served as Acting Master on board his Majesty’s ship Indefatigable under my command from the 28th September to the 29th day of October 1795 and from the 12th day of December 1796 to the 22 day of May 1797, during which time he Behaved with Diligence and Sobriety & complied with the General Printed Instructions, and was not absent six weeks at one time.
Given under my hand
on Board H.M. Ship
Indefatigable, Falmouth
May 29th 1797
EDWARD PELLEW, Captain
Letters on the Thomsons' Service
His Majesty’s Ship La Nymphe, off Portland,
June 19, 1793
SIR, I have the honour to inform you that at day-light yesterday morning, I was so fortunate as to fall in with the national French frigate La Cleopatra, mounting 40 guns, and manned with 320 men, commanded by Monsieur Jean Mullon, three days from St. Maloes, and had taken nothing.
We brought her to close action at half past six, and in fifty- five minutes took possession of her; the two ships having fallen on board each other, we boarded her from the quarter-deck, and struck her colours; and finding it impossible to clear the ships, then hanging head and stern, we came to anchor, which divided us, after we had received on board 150 prisoners. The enemy fought us like brave men, neither ship firing a shot until we had hailed. Her captain was killed; three lieutenants wounded; the number of men not yet ascertained, but, from the best accounts, about sixty; her mizen mast overboard, and her tiller shot off.
I am extremely concerned she was not purchased at a less expence of valuable officers and men, on our part, whose loss I cannot sufficiently regret, and to whose gallantry I cannot possibly do justice. We had 23 men killed, and 27 wounded, of which a list is inclosed.
I am very particularly indebted to my first lieutenant, Mr. Amherst Morris, and no less so to Lieutenants George Luke, and Richard Pellowe, and I was ably seconded on the quarter deck by Lieutenant John Whitaker, of the marines, and Mr. Thomson, the master; and I hope I do not presume in recommending those officers to their Lordships protection and favour: And, I should do injustice to my brother, Captain Israel Pellew, who was accidentally on board, if I could possibly omit saying how much I owe him for his very distinguished firmness, and the encouraging example he held forth to a young ship’s company, by taking upon him the directions of some guns on the main deck.
I am &c.
Edward Pellew
To Philip Stevens Esq.
Admiralty Office.
A list of the Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty’s Ship La Nymphe, Edward Pellew, Esq. Captain, in an Engagement with La Cleopatra, a French Frigate, off the Start, on the 18th of June 1793.
Killed.
Mr. Tobias James, Boatswain. Mr John Davie, Midshipman.
Mr. Richard Pearse, Master’s Mate. Mr. Samuel EdsaIl, Ditto.
Mr. George Boyd, Midshipman.
Together with 14 seamen, and 4 private marines.
Wounded
Lieut. George Luke, 2nd Lieutenant: Mr John Plaine, Midshipman.
Mr. John A. Norway, Midshipman, Mr John Whitaker, Lieut. of Marines.
Together with 17 seamen, and 6 private marines.
Admiralty-Office, October 6, 1804
Copy of another letter from the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Nelson. K.B. &c. to William Marsden Esq: dated on board His Majesty's Ship Victory, at Sea,
11th August 1804.
SIR,
HEREWITH I transmit you, for the Information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Copy of a letter from Captain Donnelly, of His Majesty's Ship Narcissus, with Copy of one to him from Lieutenant Thompson, of the said Ship detailing the Destruction of several of the Enemy's Coasting Vessels, the Importance of this Service may he but little, but the determined Bravery of Lieutenants Thompson, Parker, Lumley and Moore, and the Petty Officers, Seamen, and Marines employed under them could not be exceeded. I am concerned to observe that Lieutenant Lumley has been obliged to suffer Amputation at the Shoulder Joint, but I have much Pleasure in saying, that this fine young Man is fast recovering; his Sufferings, I am sure, will meet their Lordships' Consideration.
I am, &C.
NELSON & BRONTE.
His Majesty's Ship Narcissus,
Hieres Bay,
July 11, 1804.
LAST Night we attacked about a Dozen of the Enemy's Vessels at La Vandour, in this Bay with the Boats of the Narcissus, Seahorse and Maidstone, commanded by Lieutenants Hyde Parker, J. R. Lumley, and Ogle Moore, the whole under the Orders of Mr. John Thompson, First Lieutenant of this Ship, who, with his gallant Companions, boarded and destroyed almost the whole, under a prodigious and incessant Fire of Great Guns and Musquetry, as well from the Vessels as from a Battery and the Houses of the Town, close to which they were hauled in and well secured.
I refer your Lordship to the included Letter from Lieut. Thompson for an Account of that Affair; and I beg to add, that it is impossible for me to express the Praise due to that intrepid Officer and the Men as well as Officers of every Description under his Command, whose Conduct I viewed with Admiration.
Herewith I also transmit a List of the Killed and Wounded, which I am extremely grieved to say amounts to Twenty-seven.'
I have the Honor to be, &C.
(Signed) ROSS DONNELLY
The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Nelson, K.B.
Duke of Bronte, &c. &c. &c.
His Majesty's Ship Narcissus,
Hieres Bay,
July 11, 1804
SIR.
I BEG Leave to report the Proceedings of the Detachment of Boats you did me the Honor to place under my Command last Night, whose Conduct and Gallantry I cannot sufficiently Praise.
The Attack commenced at Midnight, under a Tremendous Fire of Grape-Shot and Musketry; not withstanding which we boarding and firing most of the Enemy's Vessels, consisting of Eleven or Twelve Settees, chiefly laden. The Enemy were fully prepared and had taken every Precaution to secure them, they being moored Head and Stern, with their Bars on the Beach, and completely propt together under Water; we however towed one out in spite of their heavy and incessant Fire. This Service I am sorry to say, has cost us several valuable Lives. Among the Killed I have to report that very promising young Man W. Roche Midshipman of this Ship, who was shot in the Firing of the Vessels: and Lieutenant Lumley, Messrs. Bedingfield, Watt, Victor, and Mansell, Midshipmen on board wounded; I fear the former mortally; together with several Seamen and Marines severely.
To Lieutenants Lumley and Moore of the Seahorse and Maidstone I feel greatly indebted for the steady and well-directed Fire kept up from the Launches of those Ships under their Command; also to Lieutenant Parker of the Ship, for his very able Support in boarding and destroying the Enemy's Vessels. Indeed my warmest Thanks are due to every Officer, Petty Officer, Seaman and Marine employed on this Occasion.
I am &c.
JOHN THOMPSON.
Ross Donnelly, Esq; Captain of His
Majesty's Ship Narcissus.
List of the Killed and Wounded in the Boats of His Majesty's Ships undermentioned, on the Night of the 10th of July 1804, in destroying a Number of the Enemy's Vessels in La Vandura.
Narcissus - 2 killed and 9 wounded.
Sea Horse - 1 killed and 5 wounded.
Maidstone - 1 killed and 9 wounded.
Total - 4 killed and 23 wounded.
A PROCLAMATION
By the Commanders in Chief of his Britannic Majesty`s Forces by Land
and Sea.
Although the laws of war, give all ships, barges, vessels, boats, and craft of every description in harbours, rivers, and creeks, to the captors, yet the Commanders in Chief of His Britannic Majesty’s forces by land and sea, feeling that such captures will distress the owners of small vessels, as they may be the only means by which they gain their livelihood, and anxiously wishing to give every encouragement to real industry, and every accommodation to the inhabitants of South America, do by this Proclamation give up all such small vessels as shall appear to be really vessels carrying out the coasting trade of the river. And they at the same time call upon all the owners of those vessels, and the inhabitants in general, to see that no imposition is practised on the captors by the vessels claiming this act of grace that are not entitled to it. The captors trust they merit this attention from their liberal conduct to the inhabitants of South America, and their desire to do every thing in their power to promote the happiness of the country.
The description of vessels included in this Proclamation, are to be named by Captain Lajunor, and Captain Thompson (sic), Captain of the Port.
Given under our hands, in the Castle of Buenos Ayres, the 30th day of June, 1806.
W. C. BERESFORD.
HOME POPHAM.
(A true Copy.)
Geo. W. Kennet, Mil. Sec.