Sir Christopher Cole's School - 04

Built 1862
Marazion 17th March 2009
Captain Francis Cole

Captain Sir Christopher Cole - Part 2



In 1800, Lord Hugh Seymour was removed from the Leeward Islands to Jamaica, and with the consent

of Sir John T. Duckworth, who had succeeded him on the former station,

he despatched the GALGO from Port Royal to relieve the SURINAM;

but his wish to have Captain Cole under his orders again was frustrated by the unhappy fate of the GALGO,

which vessel foundered with the greater part of her crew, during a heavy squall, on the 9th October 1800.

Some time after this sad event, Captain Cole had the misfortune to be deprived of his noble friend,

who fell a sacrifice to the yellow fever, and died sincerely regretted by all who were acquainted with his claims to respect and admiration.

Lord Hugh Seymour died 11th September 1801, in the 46th year of his age.

He was attacked by the fatal fever of the West Indies.

Deeply as he felt the loss of such a friend, still Captain Cole had the gratification of finding that

he had gained the favourable opinion of Sir John T Duckworth,

by his conspicuous zeal and alacrity on every occasion of public service,

and which was shortly proved by that officer promoting him into his flag-ship, the LEVIATHAN of 74 guns,

and afterwards appointing him to the command of the SOUTHAMPTON frigate.
His post commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, 20th April 1802.

SOUTHAMPTON was ordered home, and paid off in the month of September following.

Captain Cole's next appointment was, in June 1804, to the CULLODEN 74, fitting for the flag of his old friend and commander,

Sir Edward Pellew, with whom he proceeded to the East India station,

where he captured L'EMILION, French corvette, of 18 guns and 150 men, 25th September 1806.

This vessel had formerly been the TRINCOMALEE, British sloop of war.

He also assisted at the capture and destruction of about thirty sail of Dutch shipping, including a national frigate

and several armed vessels, in Batavia Roads, on the 27th November 1806.

Captain Cole then commanded the DORIS, a new frigate, built at Bombay, and with the PSYCHE, Captain Edgcumbe,

under his orders, escorting Colonel Malcolm, Ambassador to the Persian court, to Abashir, in the Gulf of Persia,

and remaining there for the protection of the embassy.

1808-9 Captain Cole was principally employed cruising in the Straits of Malacca, and the China seas.

Upon the arrival of intelligence respecting the change of political affairs in Spain, he was despatched by Rear-Admiral Drury,

who had succeeded to the command in India, with the PSYCHE again under his orders,

to communicate with and endeavour to conciliate the government of the Phillipine islands.

Having completely succeeded in this mission, and received information from a valuable prize

(the JAPAN, a ship from Batavia) that two French frigates had proceeded to China,

and were likely to remain there some time, he took upon himself the responsibility of proceeding thither in quest of them.

Finding, on his arrival at Macao, that the enemy had not made their appearance in that quarter,

he endeavoured to return through the sea of China, against the foul-weather monsoon. His endeavours, however,

proved ineffectual, the ships being forced into the Mindoro Sea and Pacific Ocean.

A scarcity of provisions, added to the severe weather and fatigue encountered by the crews of the DORIS and PSYCHE,

now produced an attack of scurvy and dysentery,

by which the former frigate lost 40 men before she anchored in Malacca Roads,

and on her arrival there no less than 80 others were confined to their hammocks through sickness.

The PSYCHE suffered in a nearly equal degree. During the latter part of the passage there remained

but one Lieutenant, the gunner, and 56 men, who were able to keep watch on board the DORIS,

and assist her commander in the arduous duties he had to perform.

In 1810, Captain Cole was removed, at his own request, into the CAROLINE of 36 guns. He soon received orders to take the PIEDMONTAISE frigate, BARACOUTA brig, and MANDARIN transport under his command, and proceed with them to the assistance of the garrison of Amboyna, which island had recently been taken by the British.

Having received on board a considerable sum in specie, large supplies of provisions, and 100 European troops,

the squadron left Madras on the 10th May, and arrived at Prince of Wales's Island (Pulo-Penang) on the 30th of the same month.

Whilst there, he signified to the government his intention to attempt the reduction of the Banda islands on his way to Amboyna,

and was furnished with 20 artillery-men, commanded by a Lieutenant of that corps, 2 field-pieces, and twenty scaling-ladders,

to assist him in the undertaking.

After a passage of six weeks, against the S E monsoon, through the Straits of Malacca,

the intricate navigation on the N E side of Borneo, and the Sooloo Sea, the squadron passed through Pitt's Straits,

and entered the Java Sea on the 23d July.

On the 7th of the following month, Captain Cole communicated with the island of Goram,

for the purpose of obtaining information and procuring guides.

During the whole of this long passage, the ships' companies had been daily

exercised in the use of the pike, sword, and small arms, and in mounting the scaling ladders placed against the masts,

preparatory to any attempt at escalade.

The expertness with which they handled their weapons, and the emulation displayed by them when imitating the storming of a fortress,

added to their excellent health and high spirits, convinced Captain Cole that, however deficient in numbers,

no men could have been found better calculated to ensure success to any hazardous enterprise.

The result of that in which he was then about to embark, against a strong, and generally supposed impregnable fortification.

After making every arrangement for the security of this valuable possession,

and appointing Captain Foote Lieutenant-Governor of Banda Neira and its dependencies,

Captain Cole delivered the charge of the islands to that officer, and returned to Madras in the CAROLINE.

..... continued in Part 3 .....



Raymond Forward