Appendix No 10

See page 269

Letter from Captain Phillimore to Sir William Congreve, Bart.

H. M. S. Eurotas, Falmouth, October 11, 1813.

Dear Sir,

I am afraid you will attribute blame to me for not having written to you about your guns, but the fact is, I have been unwilling to give an opinion, till I had an opportunity of trying them ; and the chasing, in a ship of this sort, looking out from a fleet, is so very frequent, and the attention requisite to a new ship's company occupies a great deal of time ; but I hope you believe I am ready and willing to give any information you may like to write for. On the (my) arrival in the Brest squadron, I invited Commodore Malcolm, and all the captains, to come on board : we tried them eight times, with full allowance of powder, and double-shotted, which they stood remarkably well ; indeed, every one of them went away pleased with the gun.

If well manned I could fight both sides with ease, and I cannot express too strongly how delighted I am with them in a gale of wind ; we had a very heavy gale coming in here, and I had to carry a heavy press of sail off Ushant the guns did not work in the least, and the ship did not seem to feel the smallest inconvenience from them. A few days before I left the fleet, Commodore Malcolm mentioned (in conversation to me) he should like them on the Queen Charlotte's main and middle decks. I write this in haste, being anxious to send many letters by this post.

Believe me, dear sir,

Yours faithfully,

(Signed) J. PHILLIMORE.

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