Hospital, the same as that of seamen of the fleet, and two years on the reserved list, shall be considered equal to one year's service at sea. Reserve men shall attend at the most convenient ports and stations at the end of every three months, and after being duly inspected by a coast guard officer, shall receive the quarterly payment. Their lordships are aware, that in an arrangement so entirely new, it will be necessary that the Board should retain the power to make such regulations from time to time as experience may suggest. It will also be advisable to admit the entry of able seamen who have not served in her Majesty's navy, in case the number proposed be not completed from those who have served. The estimated expense of this arrangement is as follows:200 1st-class petty officers, at 127. per annum 800 2nd 4,000 able seamen at 9 £2,400 7,200 24,000 £33,600 As their lordships propose that the arrangement and machinery shall be worked through the officers of the coast guard, they apprehend that the expense for management will be small; but in order to cover the expense of calling out the reserved men for a short time for the purpose of inspection or drill, their lordships propose to add a sum of £5,000 for contingencies, making a total of £38,600 The Lords of the Admiralty request the sanction of the Lords of the Treasury for making provision for this sum in the naval estimates, under the first vote. I have, &c., (Signed) The Right Hon. W. G. Hayter, M.P., Treasury. J. PARKER. Treasury Chambers, 13th Feb., 1852. SIR. With reference to Captain Hamilton's communication of the 10th inst., I have it in command to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury are pleased to approve of the measures therein proposed for manning the fleet in case of any emergency, and to sanction provision being made in the naval estimates, under the first vote, for the sum of thirty-eight thousand six hundred pounds, (£38,600,) for the purpose of carrying the same into effect. I am, &c., J. CORNEWALL LEWIS, THE CAPTURE OF LAGOS, BY COMMODORE BRUCE'S SQUADRON. Intelligence reached us on Monday last of the capture of Lagos, by Commodore Bruce. The Sampson, steam frigate, Captain Jones, was sent home with the despatches, and reached Lisbon on the 11th, when the Royal mail packet Severn was leaving for Southampton, who transferred her despatches to the packet, and Lieutenant Scrivener, the Naval agent, delivered them to the Admiralty. The following is the official account of the affair as gazetted: "Penelope, off Lagos, Jan. 2, 1852. "SIR. I have the honour to report, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that their Lordships' instructions of the 14th October, and the wishes of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, as far as respects Lagos, have been most faithfully fulfilled by the expulsion of the slave-dealing chief, Kosoko, and his people, the utter destruction of his town, and the establishment of the friendly chief Akitoye, with his followers, in the seat of power at Lagos. "By my letter, No. 216, of 1851, their Lordships are aware that Kosoko very recently rejected the proffered friendship of England, and that he opposed with fire and sword the approach of a flag of truce proceeding to his seat of government with Mr. Consul Beecroft, who offered to negociate and to advise with him, and who was merely attended by an escort of armed boats, scarcely problematically sufficient for his personal safety among savages. "I, therefore, determined to send a strong and well-organised force to punish this refractory chief, and having through the untiring energy and exertions of Mr. Beecroft, procured the attendance of Akitoye, and nearly 500 of his followers, near the scene of action, ready to take advantage of a clear sweep when we should make it, I concerted measures with Captain Lewis I. Jones, of the Sampson, and Captain Henry Lyster, of this ship, who both were volunteers on the occasion, and entrusted the detail and execution of the service to Captain Jones, seconded by Captain Lyster, and their Lordships will see from the accompanying reports, the complete success with which the enterprise has been crowned. "I am at a loss to do justice to the chivalrous bearing and devoted bravery of these two Officers; Captain Jones, who, commanding the expedition, was no less conspicuous for his gallantry and firmness than for his judgment and energy; and Captain Lyster, who, finding himself, by unavoidable circumstances, exposed in the Teazer to be summarily destroyed by the enemy's guns, made a noble rush into the midst of armed men on shore, and with his undaunted followers spiked the obnoxious guns, and turned the fortune of the day at that point. It is to be borne in mind that our people could expect no quarter, nor did they get any. "I should come short of my duty did I not bring before the notice of their Lordships, the ardent and devoted gallantry exhibited during this very severe affair by officers and men. The responsible part which Captain Lyster filled cost him a severe wound, happily not dangerous. Commander Hillyar of this ship, who was charged with him, is severely but not dangerously wounded. Lieutenant Edward Marshall and F. D. Rich, each in command of a paddle box boat, exhibited heroism and firmness never surpassed. Lieutenant John Corbett, in command of Mr. Beecroft's iron boat with rockets, with his own hands spiked the guns, receiving a shot in his arm after doing so, and had five severe wounds before the affray ended. Lieutenant Williams, R.M.A., was dangerously wounded, and Mr. Frederick Fletcher, Midshipman, commanding one of the cutters appointed to guard the boats when on shore, defended them to the last, and fell with two balls in his forehead. With the other division Lieutenant Saumarez, of the Sampson, received a dangerous wound while encouraging his men; and Mr. Richards, Midshipman of that ship, got his death wound. The conduct of Lieutenant Patey, commanding the Bloodhound, and Lieutenant Larkin, commanding the Teazer, and the success attending their efforts is beyond all praise; besides their annihilating fire, their vessels were a rallying point for the respective divisions of boats, and were conspicuously instrumental in the attainment of victory, reflecting infinite credit on all belonging to them. Commander Coote, of the Volcano, and Commander Gardner, of the Waterwitch, with their detachments, contributed, as soon as they arrived, to the labours of the hour with an energy and zeal well worthy of them. "Nothing could exceed the devotion of the Officers of the Medical Staff to the exigencies of the day. Mr. Richard Carpenter, Surgeon, Mr. Walling and Mr Sproule, Assistant-Surgeons, of this ship; Dr. Barclay, Acting Surgeon of the Sealark, and Mr. Morgan and Mr. Pendrith, Assistant-Surgeons of the Sampson. Wherever a man was struck in the boats, a Medical Officer was immediately by his side, setting their own lives at nought when compared with the wants of their brave companions in arins. Mr. Walling and Mr. Sproule landed at the charge, with their comrades, under Captain Lyster. "Mr. Beecroft, during all these operations, was on board the Bloodhound, and gave every assistance that his advice and experience could afford. "I cannot withhold the expression of my regret for the very severe loss which has attended this achievement, but in which, I trust, their Lordships will feel that the dignity of England has been asserted, and the honour of the flag gloriously sustained. The enclosures with this dispatch will afford all further information. "I have, &c., (Signed) "R. W. BRUCE, Commodore and Commander-in Chief. "The Secretary of the Admiralty. NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY AND RELEASE OF THE "VIOLET," BY PIRATES OF THE RIFF COAST. THE Peninsular and Oriental steam ship Madrid, which arrived at Southampton on Thursday evening, brought four seamen belonging to the brigantine Violet, of Wisbeach, of 230 tons, which was captured and burnt by the Riff pirates. The following is a narrative of one of the four seamen, named Henry Taylor:We left Glasgow on the 1st of May, 1851, bound to Malaga, laden with coals and iron; our crew consisted of seven hands-and arrived there on the 16th; left in ballast for Galatz on the 6th of June; arrived there on the 6th of August and loaded with Indian corn from Messrs. Rosetta and Co., and were consigned to order, calling at Queenstown or Falmouth. When off Carthagena experienced a heavy gale from the westward, which lasted five days, and finding we had sprung our foremast we made the land for shelter. On the 3rd of October, when about fifteen to twenty miles from the shore, it became a dead calm. On the afternoon of the 5th, observed four boats stealing from the shore towards the ship. When they arrived within about 300 yards, they laid upon their oars; there appeared to be about thirty-five in each boat, armed to the teeth, and opened fire upon us. Captain Layton received three wounds, one shot having pierced his left shoulder, another through the palm of his left hand, and the third taking off the top of his middle finger. We then went below; James Glen and the wounded captain in the forepeak. Emanuel Francis in the forecastle, Mr. Cross (the owner), myself, Edward Hall, and William Scrivener in the main cabin. The pirates continued firing till they boarded us. diately after they were on board James Glen heard a single shot, and Emanuel Francis exclaimed "Oh, Lord!" That same night Edward Hall saw the body thrown overboard naked. The pirates compelled the crew to work the ship to the shore, holding swords and guns to our throats. Owing to the wind being light the ship was at times unmanageable. It took us three days to reach the land, when they made us cast anchor and furl the sails. We were then taken on shore at the Riff Coast, and conducted under guard about two miles to a village containing about twenty-five houses. We were put into an outhouse, under guard of several armed Moors. The next day we observed several mules and asses loaded with corn coming from the direction of the ship; also portions of her running gear. When we had been prisoners three days one of the chief Moors took James Glen, myself, and William Scrivener to the beach. We Imme observed the ship was light, both masts cut away and hanging over the sides, and the bulwarks torn away. We never saw any more of the ship, till in about four or five days we observed a large fire in that direction, which we supposed to be our unfortunate ship. And about nine days we were taken two days' journey further to the westward, to the house which we afterwards discovered to be the Shereef's, from whence we were sent out to labour in the fields. Our food had been barley bread and onions at first, and subsequently figs and raisins were added. All this time we had to sleep upon the damp clay ground, upon a yarn mat without covering, it being the rainy season and extremely cold. On the 14th Mr. Cross was taken ill with cramps, and after two days' severe illness died on the afternoon of the 16th. We buried him at the foot of a mount in the vicinity, having a little liberty owing to the return of the Shereef. From that time Captain Layton grew gradually worse, his wounds mortifying, and having no assistance from the Shereef or people. He died on the 24th, and we buried him alongside of poor Mr. Cross. We were kept in captivity for three months, till we were ransomed through the agency of the Consul-General, Mr. Drummond Hay. That gentleman's messenger had been for six weeks negociating our release. It appeared that we had fallen into the hands of the Shereef "Adda of the Reef," whose territory consists of several small villages, furnishing a great number of boats along the coast, and about 1500 or 1600 fighting men. Every house had nine or ten inhabitants, who seemed to live by piracy. I went into the Shereef's house two or three times, and observed four large boxes of silver coin, and two of other coin. There were innumerable ship's stores and arms and instruments, as guns and weapons, sextants, quadrants, two anchors, one of which was marked "Shields." Mr. Hay's negotiation having been successful we were sent in a large boat to Tangier, where we arrived on the 10th of January, and the next day were put on board H. M. steam ship Dragon, and conveyed to Gibraltar, where the Governor did us the favour to invite us to dinner. From Gibraltar we were taken on board H. M. steamer Janus, Lieutenant Powell, accompanied by Captain Giffard, of H. M. S. Dragon, to point out the localities of the Riff Coast, for the purpose of finding out the haunts of the pirates. When about a short distance from the place where the Violet was taken ashore, the Moors fired two shots, and waved white flags. The steamer having been ordered not to make a descent, but merely to survey the coast, with a view to future operations, returned to Gibraltar. We embarked on board the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Madrid, on the 23rd, and arrived at Southampton at 8 P.M. on the 29th. Captain Layton had been master of the Violet about eighteen months, and was engaged from Newport, Monmouthshire. He leaves a widow to mourn his loss. Emanuel Francis, was brother to Mrs. Layton, and aged 22. He was the whole support of his widowed mother. Mr. Edward Bailey Cross, the owner of the unfortunate Violet, was the second and youngest son of the late Rev. Samuel Cross, Vicar of Hunstanton, in the county of Norfolk. He was cut off in his 30th year. TESTIMONIAL TO HENRY GRINNEL, ESQ. It is with no little pleasure that we learn that the proposed national token to this gentleman, for his humane and liberal conduct in sending out ships for the search of Franklin, is being responded to, in varions parts of the country; and it is highly satisfactory to find those of our own service are early supporters of the laudable undertaking. Indeed it may be said to have originated with them, the Arctic officers having been the first to suggest it. Among the various contributions, we are glad to announce, that Captain Martin and every officer of every rank in H.M.S. Prince Regent, have subscribed a day's pay, which we trust will be followed by every ship in the Squadron. The whole of the officers and men in the Coast Guard Service at Sheerness, have done the same, and we have little doubt the subscriptions will be general throughout the fleet. They are received at all the principal bankers, at the ports, and at Coutts and Co., and Herries and Farquhar. 29 15.858 53.034 68 42.652 1005 822 1097 260 1188.618 1280 197 1371-535 1463 074 1645 890 1828.767 122.527 400 218.727 731-507 37.184 124:356 450 246.067 822.945 37.730 126.185 500 273-408 914 383 550 300.749 |