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 with the enemy’s patroles, who, but for Captain Cole’s alacrity and promptitude in making the above signal, without waiting to complete the arrangement of boats, &c., as usual in such cases, would have taken post in a wood at the back of the beach, and might have occasioned great loss to the invading army. We should here observe, that Captain Cole had previously volunteered to command the naval battalion appointed to serve on shore; but the presence of Captain Sayer, who was senior in rank to himself, and equally desirous of the honor, prevented Commodore Broughton from placing him in that honorable post. He subsequently obtained permission from Rear-Admiral Stopford to proceed to head-quarters and make an offer of 400 additional seamen, to be commanded by himself, to assist in storming Meester Cornelis, or any of the enemy’s positions; but his co-operation was necessarily declined, as such an increase of force was not wanted, and might have served to discover the General’s intention to the enemy.

The following is an extract from Rear-Admiral Stopford’s despatches relative to the reduction of Java, dated Scipion, Batavia Roads, Aug. 28, 1811:

Captain Cole arrived in England towards the close of 1811, and soon after received a letter from the Secretary to the Admiralty, informing him that he was to be honored with an appropriate medal for the capture of Banda, and enclosing a copy of the letter which had been written to Vice-Admiral Drury, in answer to his despatch announcing the conquest of that island.

“Admiralty Office, July 3, 1811.

“Sir,– I received on the 1st inst. by Lieutenant Kenah, and laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, your despatch of the 3d Jan.