1811	Alacrity and Abeille	367

compassionate others, as well as himself, Captain Palmer sent up orders to strike the colours. No sooner was the order announced on the quarterdeck, than, snatching up a pistol from off the binnacle, the boatswain swore he would blow out the brains of the first man who attempted to execute it. The threat had its effect, and the ensign of the Alacrity continued to wave at her gaff-end. In a very short time, however, while the intrepid Flaxman was standing near the main hatchway, exhorting the crew to act like British seamen, the gunner, who ranked above the boatswain, and seems to have caught the captain's infection, hauled down the brig's colours.

It was as fortunate for the memory of the Alacrity's late commander, as, in reference to the merits of this action, it was unfortunate for the cause of truth, that he died a month afterwards of a locked jaw brought on by his originally insignificant wound. Every person does not know that, in warm climates, a comparatively slight cut between the thumb and fore-finger will frequently produce locked jaw ; and therefore the undisputed fact, that Captain Palmer " died of his wounds, " not only exonerated him, in public opinion, from all blame, but stamped his character with a quality, to which, as is now evident, he had not a pretension. Let those who maintain, that the dead are not to be spoken ill of, answer the question, whether the good of the individual should not give way to the good of the many ? Whether, in short, it is not more consonant to justice to show, that a certain mishap or calamity arose from the defection of one man, than leave it to be inferred, that 100 men failed in their duty?

But, there were gems in the British character, that, had the Alacrity not met the Abeille, and had the captain of the former not behaved as he did, would perhaps for ever have lain hid. Lieutenant Rees, for instance, might never have had an opportunity of displaying the trait of heroism which caused his death ; nor James Flaxman, the boatswain, the undaunted spirit that animated him, and which at least delayed, although it could not prevent, the surrender of the British brig. Satisfied we are that, if the details of every British naval defeat were fully made public, instead of, as is usually the case, suppressed or but partially given, sufficient glory would be elicited to counteract the disgrace, which the unexplained result of the action is, in almost every case, calculated to produce.

Before we dismiss the action of the Alacrity and Abeille, let us do justice to the officers and crew of the latter. They did their duty like brave men and good seamen ; and, as an additional proof that they were brave men, treated their prisoners with attention and kindness. With respect to the Abeille's commander, he obtained the promotion to which his gallantry so justly entitled him: he was immediately confirmed in his appointment of a lieutenant de vaisseau, and made a member of

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