Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/385

 extremities might yet be avoided, and requested me first to be the bearer of a letter, in which he pointed out the necessity of making reparation on the points contained therein; and having delivered his Excellency’s letter, together with one from myself recapitulating the points upon which they had the alternative of making reparation to his Majesty, or of the seizure and detention of all armed vessels under the Greek flag, and finding my efforts were of no avail, I directed Lieutenant (Edward) Gordon to proceed with the boats of this ship, and capture the armed schooners which were then moored under the batteries of that fortress; and when I consider the strength of this important place, and the state of preparation it is constantly kept in, being the seat of the provisional government of Greece, and the reef of rocks behind which these vessels were lying, protected and flanked by numerous batteries on the line walls and the island, which were all manned, too much praise cannot be given to Lieutenant Gordon, and those under his command, for the very prompt and decided manner, by which he succeeded in boarding the three schooners named in the margin, and bringing them out under the guns of the Sybille; and I therefore trust you will recommend Lieutenant Gordon to the favorable consideration of their lordships. The schooners were full of armed men; but I am happy to say, that owing to the judicious arrangements made by Lieutenant Gordon, no accident occurred on our side, though many lives were lost on the other; the schooners are now on their way to Zante, for the disposal of his Excellency the Lord High Commissioner, and I shall return to Corfu to land the prisoners.”

“H.M.S. Sybille, Catacolo, west const of Morea, 9 Oct. 1825.

“Sir,– I have the honor to inform you, that upon receiving intelligence from the resident of H.E. the Lord High Commissioner, at Zante, that a pirate mistico under Greek colours had been committing depredations upon Ionian vessels, and had captured two, one of which was rescued by the crew and brought to that place, I proceeded in H.M. ship under my command, with the Medina, in quest of her, and found her at anchor with her prize in the cove of Catacolo. I immediately anchored the Sybille in such a position as would afford protection to the boats, and directed Captain (Timothy) Curtis, in the Medina, to anchor so as to prevent the possibility of her escape into either of the rivers; the boats of the two ships then advanced to attack her, but found her moored in such a position as to prevent their approach except by a very circuitous, narrow, and intricate channel; and as the hills which surrounded and commanded the cove were covered with armed men, I hesitated for some time before could make up my mind to allow their going on: but nothing could resist the gallantry and order with which the boats approached and boarded her; and such was