The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-05 00:00:00

EVEN ING 14`DITICN

THE iIIERCANI ILE

Her Majesty has rewarde I Captain DA
late of the merchant ship Cambridge, by
ferring on him the honour of Knicothood
patriotic conduct at Singapore and in the
River, but praiseworthy as hi 3 conduct
fell far short of that of Captain Lennon all
,4
crew of the Hibernian in the last American., e
The account subjoined is extracted from
title in the Colonial Magazine, just Pubirdr
We need not apologize 'for its length-'--tofiie tbi
scription is spirited, and the brave deeds. thoo,
Captain and gallant crew surpass even"
ascribed by the poet to the c Saucy Arztho-
had
,
The Hibernia, a 'merchant vessel, tvlialli,ce
been in action before under the Sallie L'ell
mander, carried six guns, with twenty-W:1.7 30
and boys. Her opponent, the " C°lll%'oll
American privateer, carried sixteen guns,
crew of 130 men
From the period of his affair With Commodore Ba"eYthe I°'
non continued in command of the Hibernia. Denied ss'e
vantages of a runnir, ship, he had landed all his gul'i't
four eighteen-pound' carronades and two long 9's• „age II
close of 1813, the Hibernia was once more on her pa'
St. Thomas, with a crew of seventeen officer, and se, tb°
five boys. Having parted company with the convoYAt 11,
1 lth of January, 1814, the Hibernia sighted Saba. legtel
30m. p. 31. the island bore N.N.E. seven or eightd to?
distant. At this moment two schooners were deser`e obi
southward—one of which was evidently a prize to the, id
At two, the headmost vessel was made out to be do
schooner, with top gallant-yards across, in full chase/ono°
Hibernia, with whom she was coming up very fast' but 51Jj;
continued his course with every sail he could carry,
ing an engagement or surrender inevitable, he called the
aft, andMy thus. addressed them : nesio34lP,
" lads, I have called you together to ask you 0,100-0,
t
question, and to make you one straightforward 01l
.1
There is no mistaking that fellow who is coming up s~a
hand over fist. I know well that you are all j011Y,7
if you will stand by me, why, I mean to show fight.
A hearty cheer was the gratifyingha response. a 011'
„ I need not tell you, m y lads, that a shot well placeotes°
effects wonders. I know well that you are not men •,,1.0.?;
men, and that, in case of accidents, you have oeitherther,„'
with nor a pension to fall hack upon. All I can sai,.eg temr'
that if you will stand by me, like the men I take)-sod,T,e
you shall each receive two months' additional PaYh' to
entire of the prize, should we be lucky enough
herl:3lar' ing spirits accomplish with ease that which:a".„Kor;;;
re
rigged
Inhilogeetigi
wrreeeadfi:oti bethin gatchecueetnitilo-orebsnohdo.
Aris
tsi:theobr
ifsrnahbioa
re i2edor
tmohmoi.
ste
acclamationst
caaiosnl,
u.
star
thsnaeLedys nae thennn do _t e
ot,
boarding-nettings. • At sh. 50m. all hands ainvedr:rait:gollt:
ex, rcising the guns. " Stations" was now the ivercheet,
though the cook's is commonly alleged to be the fore-I,lo'
upon this occasion, it was to see the poker sufficient '
,
Lennon's alleged purpose.
till 'll 001
At six the schooner shortened sail, although s 1,
the Hibernia double-shotted her guns, loaded her s Ptie
and made every disposition to avert being boarded'
ldt
30m., the enemy having closed, rounded to athwart
nia's stern, giving her several broadsides, and keeli: sieFk
storm of musketry. This kindness was returned wn
ut 9r'
arm fire, and from the ship's stern-chasers. At ab'arter;.,4
the privateer ranged up close upon the larboard gins hsbe'.o
baffle this intent, Lennon yawed to port, bringing antag°:p
guns to bear, and, as Quashee says, giving 1111 f as hl
toko for yam." From this time a close action 0
ands?
lto
duration ensued, Lennon evincing his coolness i af19,4
twice raking the schooner—once with his larboarn'beerea
with his starboard ns. At about 10 the enernkssvenif4
to repair damages.gu In some twenty minutes, 1' obile g°,o
again renewed the attack, the Hibernia all thew ~u. 4
large, and drilling with her stern-chasers as he canes-Aloor',
about 10h. 30m. close action once more ensued, thel,z,
taking his position on the larboard sole, and I:l°`,!,lllifvers
heavy fire. At this stage of the combaA the Hiher''' 'l,Ol
of her larboard guns disabled, fuel., of her feeble,c,rolio
wounded, and one killed ; this last was the poor co°,.'r the toti
gone to tie up a favourite dog of the captain's on ",e, he .5
gallant forecastle. Having accomplished his nut; Vbel"tist
returning to supply the captain with the hot Pn b-o'ried
round shot took him on the crown of the head and
upon the deck a mangled corse.
Lennon / to
Finding the enemy's fire very destructive Le 01 g ,7,01
athwart the privateer's sttru, bringing his starboad tiI•JP:;,O
bear, and firing with great precision. They contirorna,er Tol•
engaged for abevo half an hour, when the se''':-„aor irk
sheered off, At this time the Hibernia bad the ITV': rlat,‘
tie shot away—all her braces were gone, her gall "ProOte
and she had sustained other considerable daxnage*, upon
by the retreat of their foe, single braces were gn4ii,tie
.9irds, the gaff was hoisted, and the' main- Wr f'
placed. red"'
At 1111. 30m. the schooner was once mare diseolereceicedtid
;ehrlevraihndegnansshdt
eergrbnaajdepheasr t reach, shedovis'i
aerlsotuuenrubslwe
difromrolgseu of
pthr
this unfriendly salute as speedily as possible, the
tied a press of sale, that he might lay himself ta°lls;rcl, -Wad"
out b°oooer
wards midnight, having gained the Hibernia's laru;ion e';'„ttt
meross.t epocageeiotusly a odor
close conflict of three-quarters of an hour's dura-elinshof
At the expiration of that time, he evinced an itior cares be
board. With the view of either running him d°"l3 helot toe
away his mainmast, Captain Lennon ordered 111 the Cod
dapped hard a-stai board, issuing at the same tiru'dgeci'
be
mand, " Boarders to repel boarders. '
so expeditiously was Lennon's manceuvrSeo 114 t ter
effectedhat deqd
barely missed the enemy's mast—her escape froinfar' tiler I,te
casualty being owing to the schooner shooting, ran ber,
than Lennon expected. As it was, the Hibernia
it oar to
boom through the privateer's main-sail, tearing it ferileirt!
though with the loss of the spars. At this eventful
iero.s
privateer's men were clustering around the
but Lennon's tars were at their pc's- One of the
but he ate-A5
gained the fore humid(' of the British ship,
body. -bog'
Lack into his own with a pike through olst. „toter. d,
vessels shot clear of each other, Lennon broug"' "di
ere
shiers
versary, to hear, and bestowed a heavy raking tet s
versary, then jammed upon a wind, and in the act
her
(1,4,
off. Besides the cook slain, the Hibernia 115 u n„ Avow' ,rie
mate, boatswain, carpenter, steward, and seventtle,";,i his 'die
The courage, however, of her dauntless caPtllt-eir stOP"
remaining men and boys, was still unimpaired. bed, fel'
indeed, was w ore, but their si irits were unquen,,,c, dr
Thu almost exhausted barky continued steen."rt* other
Ling fresh breechings for her guns, and roll the I:P'erel
mares as best she might. At Ih. 30m. Aar'' ° ain
privateer, having bent another main-sail, was afgias-,r5
to be coming up astern. Again the stern-e' had regbor
4
their deadly shower. About two the SehOODer_l%fivsiot
her former favourite station upon the Hibe'rlitolathei44s
quarter ; broad.ide after broadside was poured I,itotii ho'dotto,
ble ship, and a furious encounter was maintainens,u.., of 50,
four. By this time every yard of the British rig aofs,ed
every, brace and rope attached thereto had been co rea° oer#,
for the last two hours of the conflict she had be,Aculif, boe,
two men and two boys, who with the utmost
able to fight one gun. At 4h 30m., however,. tnovedietiooPoesi
also evidently had enough. By way of partingybeis cartgdifil
lasting remembrance, Lennon rammed one of
_sd opt' „Iye'„,
Oiling it to the muzzle with all sorts of missiles a haJ 1e),1
500 mu.ket-balls. W&ting until the ibisschoosnLe farhosio
round off and exposed her stern, he then ea deatlP
" along the gun—the red hot poker did its duty—the hroloere.
was evidenced by the yells of mortal agony " eo
the schooner's deck, who now hauled off to return dea
alto _
The discharge, which had carried so much ,!_e
doom to the foe, had nearly proved fatal w s`l
Lennon. Every shot—and he threw none awr:,%plflosiaga
fired by his own hand; but when this last gu,sver,
prodigious was the charge that it canted clean
the hero of this nine hours' unequal, all° asir'et
~ott
contest. s 16 r 0,7
At daylight the schooner, which was afterif I, of 90,0%
to be the Comet, of Baltimore, Captain Boyd teirt)pean,
about 350 tons, " and a crew of one hundred g'inortis dr.
was discovered about a mile to windward ( Oe
N., St Thomas, W. N. W. ), a perfect wreck,
over the
e,clW;
neat ; her decks were ripped up—her topmasts
untied' ed Po
and she had lost 48 men, killed and mortally ‘`rniashe.oo
sive of others severely and slightly. The Hthe,d to re,tottit he
her colours, a compliment he was in no m°o vet s' thstrri
fact, during the whole encounter, he had ,Lennon carry
colours, and it was the impression of Captain attempt to 11 S
had struck. Had Lennon succeeded in his tentiond doe'nhe
away the Comet's main-mast it was his ariftes.,hich to
placed the Hibernia to windward, and to ha,s: syser,
buoy, with a hawling-line attached to a "_ar helog
would have compelled him (under the threat . oiuge to ac
lay hold of. This would, indeed, have belts:, fee Lejlettr
merchantman. Her means, however, were stood; iv
complish a purpose so spirited. As matte he could,
made for St. Thomas in the best mannth"'e 3 ~teron' of
rived there, without further casualty, ou Tyro.
12th. ti, cot 41;
ap
The second schooner, seen by the Hihertodert alter
the Comet, turned out to be the Admirals the 10 wo
tbe
and 65 men, which Boil had capture:d on e the n'"co,
action of thirty minutes. her er vtorar,,,,
Scarcely had the Hibernia dropped her fifelean d°sehs'""
island of St. Thomas, from Governor 'atulations,iiit.
rang with acclamations.- Addresses, coogrt pOUreUtown. /be
Lions, songs, odes, testimonials of every sner ,:ierchan netpc
'The subscribers consisted of masters oi—e,tee in \`ett.
tot
appropriate a tribute of his fellow-seamed' rose"
rine ere
only token of the admiration which Len, to e ii,t, t`e of
colonists of St. Thomas were equally Prnli„ on the reba:jol
feelings ; 550 e, with Governor Alaaean t!i,.l the par 41,
speedily subscribed-1031. to be expeneleo,..','idue to. a ;01.eg,
a piece of plate for the captain ; the _roe'tained in
It be
among the crew. I.ennon's portion is `; ossession' oof
silver salver, now in the gallant veteran's P
forehan je
the following apposite inscription by the 1% ailatitti
Presented to Captain John Lennon
ui,hed g ait'o of
the Island of St. Thomas, for his disting 6gu
aottooti.
defending and saving his ship, the Htber,'",a, after 30 tAI :
men, of whom 12 were killed and wounded' 16 guus a
1611°1
nine hours with an Americun privaterr
of januor.)o''ritipr
men, off the Island of Saba, on the 10ththe 111 I)
Jiitt
The Comet, even in worse condition than
(al" a,
a noble and ,e_tittatine _es ‘',..re
intmo7iPthortthße iterou,etos
Boyl wrote to his undaunted antagonist, !1'
woen. gar,
sue it would afford him to see Lennon
Coln° fo•
admit of an exchange of courtesies. Both
tablo Dr
tr,terpttairadamage.s., rrenero. f°o,e'the Fold
It slightly wounded, each in the arm.
was rernar;o-00
Lennon's official tter to the Admiralty
details at larg.e the vio,'
ten
its modesty. but having given the 0e.31 rit.,d in iO5. Ito
mere iteration to transcribe it. Upon his arseo_en aga.
rett
he found an Admiralty order to protect his_
pressment. The speedy establishment of Pe'Las
however, of no value. The Hibernia's ear.gors"_t, thane
the
the amount of 40,00 W., yet the underwriters
oys cant
o
would not contribute a shilling to the averagetaen
rrisks up
soy
tamed by the action. Those wino had k
were the resulet
ship acted very differently. Two trials,_‘:
owners,
ifj hi e
verdict finally given against hisLetinon;itiol.a.,, he wool
to
,d
thereby a loss of 5,000/, not one-lni.nt
contrast
n'"
this P'ese!'uplic''
e n incurred
al
u s
as by
m surrender
ofthe
rh o r s
aVih,isa,t
r atr
in the matter, ei deserve a better a oh: .4
The fictions of John intim vr
snatch them froinin
than he who thus endeavours
No
doubt many kind e sP
°I!?
city of all-devouring time. who s. ere in no wa,s: "
to theirbattles rO. a.
that they may have
• he indisputable cradle 0
‘;
t,t,
.41
have existed, and may
The me Meant-service
encouroged, and advan.cenut ose
gory ; may it be foster('
Burr tJ achieve so itoPrilaiariue
again repeat—
no way so _u
eance
again exist.
and er
• If he loyal
as by rendering
National." e undersincer ebleYt terra sari.octeoele

E 15/
RETIREMENT 6r. MADEMOISELLE Mit- too
Mademoiselle Ma's appeared for the last time rip the:.trie
on Wednesday night. At an early hour tit!, moors
0,10,5 e
Theatre Francais were besieged, and not a seat in the Piper
remained vacant. Mademoiselle Mars had selected two °' it;
best characters for this spen.al OCC36IOD-- Elmire, in Taftil;,;l
and Sylvia, in the fear de `Anon) et du Hazard. .it, her
be said, and we ate delighted at it, that she carries olt',lijoit
the i egret of all parties—a noble conclusion to her brP '
Sigler*