tative, the Admiral of the Fleet, Sir G. Cockburn. Captain Cockburn, in the Hunter sloop, a little craft, with only forty men and a few swivel guns, was, in the year 1756, stationed off Brest, and on one occasion, after having been loitering about the mouth of the harbour all day, he took advantage of nightfall, and went boldly into the harbour in a little boat, with only five men, and, after rowing all round the men-of-war, and taking a particular account of the number and force, in order not to return empty-handed, he cut the cables of a French barque, boarded her, and carried her away from the midst of them. She was laden with wine, and proved a most acceptable prize to the fleet cruising off Ushant, by whom due honour was done to the health of the daring captain in many a bumper.

CAPTURE OF THE CERBERE.

Captain Jeremiah Coghlan, more familiarly known in the service as Jerry Coghlan, first introduced himself to fame and the naval service on the occasion of the wreck of the Dutton, East Indiaman, at Plymouth, in 1796, when, by his almost superhuman exertions, in a boat manned by volunteers, it is supposed that not less than fifty men were rescued from a watery grave before a single boat from any man-of-war dared

venture to his assistance.

It was on this occa

sion that Sir E. Pellew, afterwards Lord Exmouth, was so struck by his decision and gallantry, that he offered Mr. Coghlan, who had been then three years in the merchant service, to place him in the navy, and secure his advancement in it. Fired with ambition, our hero consented, and was entered on board the Indefatigable as midshipman, and then in the Impetueux, from which ship he soon earned his advance ment to the command of the Viper cutter, as a reward for several acts of conspicuous gallantry; and in her he performed a most brilliant exploit, which is so well described in the following official dispatch from Sir E. Pellew to Lord St. Vincent :

"MY LORD,

"I have true pleasure in stating to your lordship the good conduct of Lieutenant J. Coghlan, to whom, for former gallant behaviour, you had given an acting commission to command the Viper cutter. This gallant young man, while watching Port Louis, thought he could succeed in boarding some of the cutters or gun-vessels which have been moving about the entrance of that harbour, and for this purpose he entreated a ten-oared cutter from me, with twelve volunteers, On Tuesday, the 19th (July), he took the boat, with Mr. Silas H. Paddon, midshipman, and six of his own men, making, with himself, twenty; and, accompanied by his own boat and one from

the Amethyst, he determined on boarding a gunbrig mounting three long 24-pounders and four 6-pounders, full of men, moored, with springs on her cable, in a naval port of difficult access, within pistol-shot of three batteries, surrounded by several armed craft, and not a mile from a 74, bearing an admiral's flag, and two frigates. Undismayed by such formidable appearances, the early discovery of his approach (for they were at quarters), and the lost aid of the other two boats, he bravely determined to attack alone and boarded her on the quarter; but, unhappily, in the dark, jumping into a trawl-net hung up to dry, he was pierced through by a pike, several of his men hurt, and all knocked back into the boat. Unchecked in ardour, they hauled the boat further ahead and again boarded, and maintained, against eighty-seven men, sixteen of whom were soldiers, an obstinate conflict, killing six and wounding twenty, among whom were every officer belonging to her. His own loss was one killed and eight wounded, himself in two places, Mr. Paddon in six. I feel particularly happy in the expected safety of all the wounded. He speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Paddon, and of the whole party, many of whom were knocked overboard, and twice beat back into the boat, but returned to the charge with unabated courage. I trust I shall stand excused to your Lordship for so minute a description, produced by my admiration of that courage which, hand to hand,

gave victory to our brave fellows over four times their number, and of that skill which formed, conducted, and effected so daring an enterprise.

(Signed) "E. PELLEW."

This is a high and valuable testimony from him who afterwards formed, conducted, and effected the equally daring enterprise of the bombardment of Algiers, and well supported by the more veteran hero of St. Valentine's Day

-Lord St. Vincent,—who, in transmitting to the Admiralty the above letter, thus expresses himself: :

“I did not think the enterprise of Sir E. Hamilton*, or of Captain Campbell †, could have been rivalled, until I read the enclosed letter from Sir E. Pellew, relating the desperate service performed by acting Lieutenant Coghlan, of the Viper cutter, on the 20th July, which has filled me with pride and admiration; and although the circumstance of his not having completed his time in his Majesty's navy operates at present against his receiving the reward he was most ambitious of obtaining, I am persuaded the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will do all in their power to console him under his severe wounds, and grant him promotion the moment he is capable of receiving it."

*In cutting out Hermione.

For the capture of the Désirée.

Lord St. Vincent's trust in the Admiralty was more than repaid, for the Board did not wait until Mr. Coghlan was qualified by the regulations for his promotion, but obtained a special order from the King in Council, which enabled them to grant him his commission before he had served his time, and confirm him to the command of the Viper. This gallant officer distinguished himself on many subsequent occasions, and is well remembered in the navy for his sang froid and speeches, to which the circumstances under which they were uttered gave additional force. For instance, at the commencement of an action between Le Renard, under his command, and the privateer General Arneuf, which ended in the destruction of the latter, the French captain, confident in his superior force, hailed Le Renard and ordered her to strike; upon hearing which, Captain Coghlan took the trumpet and coolly replied, “Ay, I'll strike, and d-d hard too, my lad, directly." And again, on another occasion, when the national brig La Diligente hauled down her colours without offering any resistance, although of at least equal force to Le Renard, the captain, on ascertaining the size of Le Renard, asked permission to return to his ship and fight it out, a request which, of course, Captain Coghlan refused. The Frenchman then solicited a certificate that he had not acted cowardly. Captain Coghlan replied, "No, I cannot do that, but I will give you one that shall specify you acted prudently.”