Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/264

 obliged to cut away the main-mast, to prevent its falling in-board, from the heavy rolling of the ship. The enemy now bore up to renew the action; made every preparation to receive him; reloaded the guns with round and grape. Mustered at quarters, and found 110 men missing; six quarter-deck guns, four on the forecastle, and many of the main-deckers disabled, with the wreck lying over them; the hull knocked to pieces, and the fore-mast, in falling, had passed through the forecastle and main-decks; all our masts gone, the ship making water, and one pump shot away. I consulted with Lieutenants Herringham and Buchanan, when it was determined to engage again, should the enemy give us an opportunity of so doing with a probability of disabling him, which was now our sole object; but that it would be wasting lives, in resisting longer should he resume a raking position, which unfortunately was the case. When he arrived close to us, and brought his broadside to bear, I struck, and hailed him to say we had done so; this was at 5-50. We were taken possession of at 6, by the American frigate Constitution, commanded by Commodore Bainbridge, who, immediately after ascertaining the state of the Java, resolved on burning her, which we had the satisfaction of seeing done, as soon as the wounded were removed. The Americans allowed that they had ten killed, but differed very much about their wounded which I found to be forty-four severely, and four mortally, the number slightly wounded I could not ascertain. As my account differs from the one in the public papers, said to be the official report of Commodore Bainbridge, I beg leave to state the manner in which I obtained this knowledge.

“Being, of course, anxious to discover the loss sustained by the enemy, I directed Mr. Matthew Capponi, assistant surgeon, to lend his assistance in dressing their wounded: this he did, and reported to me the statement I have made. It having also been said in the papers, that the Constitution was soon in a condition to commence a second action, I must observe, that I do not think such a statement could have been authorised by Commodore Bainbridge, for her rigging was much cut, and her masts severely wounded; so much so, as to oblige her to return to America, which she certainly otherwise would not have done; for she was waiting only to be joined by the Essex and Hornet, when the further destination of this squadron, I was given to understand, was India.

“When the prisoners were removed from the Java, she was set fire to, although but twelve leagues distant from St. Salvador, with moderate weather; the cause of which was her shattered state, and not from any fear of