Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/610

 continually broke over them. Two of the four seamen were likewise so exhausted, that their recovery was despaired of.

Having reached the Imperieuse, Lord Cochrane was the first to go down to the attack: his ship was for more than an hour the only English man of war in the harbour. His attack and capture of the Calcutta, which had one-third more guns than the Imperieuse, is a just subject of admiration.

The repetition of the explosions was so dreaded by the French, that immediately crowding all sail, they ran before wind and tide so fast, that the fire-ships could not overtake them before they were high and dry on shore, except three 74’s and the Calcutta, Which were afterwards engaged, taken, and burned. In this scene of devastation, Lord Cochrane forcibly illustrated the observation, that it is the characteristic of true courage and greatness of mind, when in the midst of the most imminent danger, to save and succour those whom superior valour has brought to the verge of destruction. The attention of his lordship was soon directed to the rescue of the vanquished from the devouring elements. In bringing away the people of the Ville de Varsovie, he would not allow even a dog to be abandoned; but took a crying and neglected little favourite up in his arms, and carried it away. But a still greater proof of his humanity was exhibited towards a captain of one of the French ships, who came to deliver to him his sword, lamenting that all he possessed in the world was about to be destroyed by the conflagration of his ship. Lord Cochrane instantly got into the boat with him, and pushed off to assist his prisoner in retrieving the most valuable part of his property: but in passing a ship which was on fire, her loaded guns began to go off, a shot from which killed the French captain by his lordship’s side, and so damaged the boat, that she filled with water, and the rest of the party had a narrow escape with their lives.

Immediately after this victory, Lord Cochrane returned to England in the Imperieuse, accompanied by Sir Harry Neale, who was charged with the official dispatches of Admiral Gambier. We have no doubt that his meritorious services will be as honourably rewarded by his majesty and his ministers, as they are duly appreciated by all ranks of his countrymen.

We must not omit to mention, that Lord Cochrane, at the general election in 1806, was returned to parliament for the borough of Honiton, and the following year was elected one of the representatives of the city of Westminster.