little eight-and-twenty, of nine pounders, the Lowestoffe, a two-and-thirty of twelve pounders, had to contend with the superior force of La Minerve, a two-and-forty, whose guns were eighteen pounders, those of the other Frenchmen were twelve pounders, each having on board 350 men; the Dido had 200, the Lowestoffe 220. Can you credit our having gained a complete victory, with such odds against us; and further, that the Lowestoffe had not a man hurt! The little Dido had six men killed, and twenty-one wounded. She was the commodore, and led on first. The French commodore run aboard of her, in consequence of which the Dido's mizen mast was carried away, and in this close intercourse it was that the chief part of the men above mentioned were killed and wounded. Up comes Lowestoffe ! raked her-Dido at her on the lee bow. Away goes Minerve's foremast, bowsprit, main-top-mast, and mizen mast. The other fellow, a most abominable coward, after fighting a little sheered off, and the Lowestoffe made after him; owing to superior sailing she unfortunately got away, and fled though possessing a considerable superiority. In the mean time Dido hauled off to repair damages she made our signal to return; so Lowestoffe tacked and stood towards Minerve; when we favoured her so plentifully with our shot as caused the National Flag to be struck --what three hearty cheers we gave!"

Captain Towry's letter to Admiral Hotham is dated Port Mahon, June 27, 1795.

"I this day dispatched the Fox cutter to communicate to you, that in the execution of your instructions of the 21st instant, with his Majesty's ship Lowestoffe under my orders, being at day light of the 24th in latitude 41 deg. 8 min. and longitude 5 deg. 30 min. E. we discovered and chased two French frigates; after some manoeuvring they stood towards us, and at a quarter before nine, A. M. the Dido, leading down, commenced a close action with the headmost of the enemy's ships, which, falling twice on board, was at an early period much disabled from the loss of her bowsprit, foremast, and main-top mast; our mizen-mast being shot away, fore

and main top sails perfectly useless, we no longer kept to, at which time the Lowestoffe opened a well directed fire; the enemy's second frigate then passing, and exchanging the opposite broadsides, his Majesty's ships were kept on the same tack till she went about, when fearing she might stand to the assistance of the dismasted ship, the Lowestoffe was sent in chace: the French frigate escaped by superior sailing, leaving her friend to be raked in a very judicious manner, on the return of the Lowestoffe, to whose fire she surrendered about noon. The Dido having cleared the wreck of the mizen mast, and bent new topsails, joined in securing the prize, La Minerve, a new ship of 42 guns, eighteen pounders, on the main deck, and 330 men, a remarkable fast sailer. Her companion we learnt to be L'Artemise, of 30 guns *.

Having given a detail of the action, it becomes as much my duty, as it is my inclination, to acknowledge the very able support of his Majesty's ship Lowestoffe, and to testify, that by Captain Middleton's good conduct, the business of the day was, in a great measure, brought to a fortunate issue. I must at the same time pay the just tribute of my warmest gratitude to the officers and ship's company I have the honour to command; and it is with deep regret I add, that Lieutenant Buckoll (first of the Dido), a most active officer, is among the wounded, I fear severely, though he never quitted the deck; Mr. Douglas, the boatswain, a deserving man, is killed. Captain Middleton's report of the conduct of the officers, and people, of the Lowestoffe, is also highly flattering. "I have the honour to inclose a list of the killed and wounded t. Having received information from the pri

This appears to have been an incorrect statement; probably from the enemy's wishing to lower the force of the frigate that fled.

List of the killed and wounded on board his Majesty's ships Dido and Lowestoffe :

DIDO.

Mr. Cuthbert Douglas, boatswain, and five seamen killed.

Mr. Richard Buckoll, first lieutenant; Richard Willan, clerk; John Henley, quarter-master; James Gregory, boatswain's mate; and 11 seamen, wounded,

LOWESTOFFE.

Three seamen wounded.

soners that the French fleet were actually at sea, the state of the ships obliged me to run for this port (Mahon), where I propose fitting jury-masts in the prize, and proceeding to Ajaccio. Circumstances are, I hope, sufficiently strong to plead my excuse for not fully executing your former orders. I remain with respect,

"Yours, &c.

"G. H. TOWRY.

"P. S. We cannot exactly estimate the loss in the French ship, but imagine it to be about 20. L'Artemise was also much hulled."

Admiral Hotham, in his letter to the Admiralty, adds :"the capture of La Minerve, when the great superiority of the enemy's force is considered, reflects the highest honour on the captains, officers, and crews, of the Dido, and Lowestoffe."

The undaunted behaviour of Lieutenant Buckoll, during the whole of this brilliant action, was such as might be expected from his character. Though severely wounded at the beginning of the engagement, he steadily refused to quit the deck; and though exhausted with the blood that flowed from his wound, he continued firmly to execute his duty, until the colours of La Minerve were struck. He was then conveyed to his cot, where he shortly became senseless; and his life was long despaired of by his brave Commander, and messmates, who anxiously watched the progress of his recovery.

Captain Towry, with his accustomed benevolence, not only wrote home to the Admiralty, in behalf of his suffering officer, but likewise sent a letter to his father, Commissioner Towry, anxiously desiring him to forward the promotion of his wounded lieutenant, in terms at once expressive of gratitude and respect.

With the continued care, and affection, of every one around him, Lieutenant Buckoll was at length able to reach Ajaccio Harbour, in Corsica; where, to his great joy, he found his old patron, Captain Inglefield, from whom he received that comfort, and attention, which the warm heart of a British

seaman is so peculiarly formed to administer. Lieutenant Buckoll's promotion, as Commander, was soon afterwards obtained but being unable to procure an appointment, he returned to England; and on the 6th of March (1796), arrived at Yarmouth, having travelled over land by way of Florence, near 1700 miles. He was appointed to the Serpent sloop on the 4th of November following; and on the 5th of January (1797), again sailed for the coast of Africa, which was destined to become his grave. During this voyage, he captured the Axmar, a Swedish vessel, laden with Spanish, and Dutch property, to the amount of 40 000l. ;-great part of it was claimed, and the remainder still continues unsettled.

Captain Buckoll returned to Portsmouth on the 6th of July (1797), and landed gold-dust to the value of 15,000l. with fourteen tons of ivory. On his passage home, he captured a Spanish felucca, which was stationed to apprise all Spanish vessels from the Havannah, South America, or the West Indies, of the commencement of hostilities between the kingdoms of Great Britain, and Spain; and to order them not to attempt Cadiz, but to make the best of their way for any of the Spanish ports in Galicia. The Spaniard was so confident that the Serpent was a friend, from her hoisting Spanish colours, that his ship immediately hove to, and was instantly taken possession of, without her having had time even to destroy her papers, and private signals, which Captain Buckoll was thus fortunate enough to obtain.

The Serpent, on her arrival in England, was put into dock; being refitted, she cruised towards the end of September, off Havre, and joined Sir Richard Strachan. They soon afterwards drove a privateer on shore, which was immediately destroyed by the crew of the Serpent, who landed, and burnt her. Captain Buckoll besides this took many small vessels, one of which was laden with naval stores, destined for Havre. Having received orders to fit for foreign service, the Serpent got under weigh from Cowes Road on the 25th of November; but experiencing a most heavy gale of wind, she was obliged to return to St. Helens, with all her convoy, consisting of twenty-one sail.

Wol. II.

They waited for an easterly wind until the 6th of January (1798), on which day Captain Buckoll sailed, never to return! It appears from a letter, received by one of his friends, dated off Madeira, January the 20th, that before he left his native country, for the fatal and contagious shores of Africa, he felt himself in a declining state of health, owing to the dreadful wounds he had received in the action between the French frigates:-" I have experienced a very severe illness, and cannot at present say any thing in favour of my health, though I think, and hope, I am in a convalescent state. The climate is more favourable, and I find myself better than when I left England. This is the seventh time I have sailed for the coast of Africa! My being in England, in July, depends on our finding a frigate at Cape Coast; if I do not, I shall certainly sail for the West Indies, and God knows when I shall return."

The heavy tidings of his death reached his afflicted family on the 15th of October 1798. A considerable time had elapsed without their receiving any information, which was the more extraordinary, as his commission had been sent out, appointing him to post rank, with the command of the Trent frigate, The uncertainty of receiving intelligence from so distant a station, consoled them under a suspence, that at length became painful beyond measure. In this state of mind they heard the dreadful tidings of his death; which left a widowed mother inconsolable, and at once sunk a numerous and respectable family into the deepest abyss of affliction.

The news of his having attained the rank of post captain, an event which he naturally looked forward to, as the pinnacle of his hopes, never reached him. He expired on the 23d of April (1798), after only an illness of eight days, in Acra Roads, off the coast of Africa: his remains were deposited in the fort, with every respect that could be shewn them. A grand procession followed them to the grave, which was formed by the voluntary attendance of his numerous lamenting friends. Every mark of honour and respect was paid him, both by his own crew, and the natives of the country, by