1815	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	390

The pain and danger of the operation was augmented by the proximity of the grape-shot wound. His life was subsequently despaired of, but, after a long course of hopes and fears to his numerous friends, this brave and amiable young man (or what Captain Warrington had left him) survived.

Of course, the American captain, who had himself escaped unhurt, the moment he was informed of the casualties on board this prize, either visited, or sent a condoling message to, her dreadfully mangled commander ? Reader, he did neither. Captain Warrington, in the words of the poor sufferer, in his memorial to the court of director, " proved himself totally destitute of fellow-feeling and commiseration ; for, during the time he retained possession of the Nautilus, " which was until 2 p.m. on the 1st of July, " he was not once moved to make a commonplace inquiry after the memorialist, in his then deplorable condition." No wonder, that, throughout civilized India, the perpetrator of this atrocious act is looked upon as a barbarian : let but the requisite publicity be given to the case of the Nautilus and Peacock, and the name of Warrington will beheld in equal detestation throughout the civilized world.

On the evening of the 29th of December, 1822, the sloop Eliza, armed with one 28-pounder carronade, and with a complement of 24 men (including officers), commanded by Mr. Hugh Nurse, admiralty mate, anchored in compliance with orders received from Lieutenant Hobson, off Guajaba.

The next day (the 30th), a small vessel, felucca rigged, was observed standing towards the Eliza with a signal flying. Having approached her within five miles, the stranger tacked, and stood, towards Green Key, still keeping the same signal flying. About five o'clock p.m. she was joined by a schooner, when both vessels stood towards the Eliza. Mr. Nurse on perceiving this, immediately prepared to slip and make sail : at 7 o'clock the schooner having taken an advantageous position upon the larboard bow of the Eliza, opened her fire upon her. The Eliza immediately slipped her cable and made sail to close, keeping up a return fire upon the schooner. The felucca had now got into action, and warmly supported her friend. At 7-o'clock, after several cool and steady man�uvres in order to clear the shoals by which the Eliza was surrounded, Mr. Nurse found himself close to windward of the felucca ; he instantly bore up, poured in a round of grape, followed up by a volley of musketry, and boarded her an the larboard bow. The enemy made a smart resistance, but Lieutenant Nurse, although he had received a gun-shot wound in the right shoulder, cheered on his gallant crew, and in five minutes was in possession of the vessel. The schooner seeing her comrade disposed of in this summary way, made sail and escaped, and as the prize was quite ungovernable, on account of the loss of her bowsprit, Mr. Nurse judged it prudent to anchor for the night. The next day, the Eliza with her

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