Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/163

 from the gallant exploit of Captain Willoughby, were an instance of the practicability, hitherto doubted, of making a descent upon the Isle of France, and a proof that the principal part of the troops in that colony consisted of militia, previously considered equal to soldiers of the line, but whose military character was now at once ruined. The following is a copy of the note to which we alluded :–

Mr. Yorke presents his compliments to Captain Willoughby, and has the pleasure to acquaint him, that in consequence of the gallantry he has displayed at Jacotel, it is his intention to take a very early opportunity of promoting him to the rank of Post-Captain.

“Admiralty, 5th Sept. 1810.”

Had the former First Lord of the Admiralty bestowed upon Captain Willoughby the reward to which he was justly entitled for his admirable conduct at Black River, and during the expedition against St. Paul’s, he would have taken postrank from Nov. 10, 1809, the date of his appointment to la Nereide, instead of Sept. 5, 1810, on which day Mr. Yorke, with his usual liberal feeling, signed a commission for him.

On the 15th June, 1810, a serious accident happened to the enterprising commander of la Nereide, then watering at Isle Platte, a small island near the northern extremity of the Mauritius.

Captain Willoughby was on shore, exercising his men at small arms, when a musket in the hands of a marine burst, inflicting upon him a dreadful wound, supposed at the time to be mortal. His lower jaw on the right side was badly fractured, and his neck so lacerated that the windpipe lay bare. The surgeon feared that it would slough away with the dressings, and of course end the life of his patient. For three weeks he could not speak; however, by skilful treatment, aided by a temperate habit of body, the wound at length healed; but not until a painful exfoliation of the jaw had taken place; and so great was the injury he received that even now (1828), he cannot open his mouth to any considerable extent:– after eating very distressing feelings ensue, and continue for some time.

Scarcely had Captain Willoughby recovered his speech,