1811	Action off Lissa	361

himself the hearts of those into whose temporary custody he had fallen.

After the destruction of the Favorite, the 200 survivors of her late crew retired to Lissa : in which port lay two prizes to the Active, in charge of two of her midshipmen, James Lew and Robert Kingston. These enterprising young men, assisted by come privateer's men, actually summoned the 200 French seamen and troops to surrender. As a contrast to this very gallant behaviour, a Sicilian privateer-brig, of 14 guns, commanded by Clemento Fama, lying in the port, hauled down her colours to a one-gun Venetian schooner: and that in the face of the British squadron. This was " Fama" indeed! The Active's two midshipmen, with the true Gordon spirit, went on board and took charge of the brig, beat off the schooner, and prevented her from destroying the British and Sicilian vessels in the bay.

On the 15th Captain Hoste sent a letter by a flag of truce to Captain Péridier of the Flore, at anchor in the road of Lessina, demanding restitution of the frigate in the same state as when she struck to the Amphion. This letter was replied to by the captain of the Danaé who, in consequence of the wounds of M. Péridier, had assumed the command of the Franco-Venetian squadron. He declared that the Flore did not strike her colour, but had them shot away, and requested Captain Hoste, if he had any thing further to say, to address himself to the French government. This letter was neither signed nor dated ; and Captain Hoste sent it back, repeating his demand to have the Flore restored to him. Thus ended the business. The Danaé, Flore, and Carolina remained at Lessina about a week, and then proceeded to Ragusa.

The Corona was a remarkably fine frigate, built early in the preceding year at Venice, and became added to the 38-gun class of the British navy by the name of Daedalus. The Bellona, a ship of 692 tons, was purchased for a troop-ship, and named Dover. Each of the four captains present at the Lissa action received a medal : and the first lieutenants of the ships, David Dunn of the Amphion, James Dickinson of the Cerberus, William Henderson of the Active, and William Wolrige of the Volage, were each promoted to the rank of commander.

If only to add another to the many proofs which the world has witnessed, that the boldest heart in deeds of arms is generally the most alive to the softer impulses of humanity we subjoin an extract from a letter of condolence addressed by Captain Hoste to a near relative of John Robert Spearman, one of the two young midshipmen killed on board the Amphion. " It is impossible I can describe to you the exemplary conduct of the poor lad I am now writing to you about. If it is any consolation to his friends to learn how he behaved, tell them that, even in those days when all strove to emulate, he distinguished himself amongst his shipmates in the post where honour or danger was

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