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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 159
he fell, as was supposed, mortally wounded, also Colonel Hum-
berstone* mortally, and three of the other military passengers,
desperately wounded." The gallant Pruen was also dangerously
wounded, " and," says Mill, "almost every man in the ship was
either killed or wounded." The prize was carried into Glieria,
but it was a dear-bought one to the enem3^ Their loss in killed
and wounded was described as immense ; one vessel was sunk,
and several were seriously damaged. Upon learning of this
violation of the treaty, a strong remonstrance was made by the
Bonjbay Government, and the surrender of the Peishwa's districts
was suspended ; but, upon an apology being made for the out-
rage, together with the surrender of the vessel, the terms of the
pacification were carried out.
The Court of Directors presented Lieutenant Pruen with a
valuable sword in token of their appreciation of the devoted
gallantry he had displayed, and the Bombay Government gave
pecuniary rewards to the survivors of the crew.f
* "He died," says Mill, "in a few days at Gheria, in the twenty-eighth year
of his age, and was lamented as an officer of the most exalted )Dromise, a man who
nourished his spirit with the contemplation of ancient heroes, and devoted his
hours to the study of the most abstruse sciences connected with his profession.
t The President and Select Committee at Bombay, in their letter to the Secret
Committee of the Court of Directors, give the fullowuig account of this action.
After stating that they had ordered General McLeod to succeed General Matthews
in the command of the amiy in the Bednore country, and had directed him,
Colonel Humberstone, and Major Shaw, to rejoin the troops, they refer to their
having received advices from Mr. Anderson, in a letter dated the 20th of
February, of the Mahratta Treaty having arrived from Poonah. They then
continue —
:
" The peace had been duly proclaimed at Bombay, and every necessary step
taken on our part, for the performance of the treaty. The ' Ranger' had sailed
on the 5tli of April with Colonels McLeod and Humberstone, Major Shaw, and
other otEcers, to join tlie army. Lieutenant Pruen, commander of the vessel,
having been previously apprized of the peace, and furnished with the same orders
as had been circulated to all the Marine, not to commit hostilities against the
Mahrattas : when, on the 18th of April, we were alarmed by an account that the
' Ranger' had been attacked by the Mahratta tleet on tlie 8th, three days after
leaving Bombay, and after a most desperate resistance of near five hours waa
obliged to submit to superior force and, with the whole convoy of boats, had been
carried into Gheria. We were under great anxiety and luiccrtanity for a
cousidei-able time, regarding the fate of Colonel McLeod, and the other officers,
which was not entirely removed till the 23rd of May, when the President received a
letter from him dated at Gheria the 5th of that month. In this letter tlie colonel
mentions he had made several unsuccessful attempts to convey advice of his
misfortune, and then relates some circumstances of the engagement, referring for
a more particular account to Lieutenant Pruen. The account Colonel McLeod
gives is, tliat on the morning of the 8th of April, they found themselves near tiio
Mahratta deet, belonging to Gheria, which, without speaking or ceremony,
attacked the ' Ranger' with great fury. Lieutenant Priun fought Ills vessel with
the greatest courage. Tlieir defence was desperate, and ceased not till they were
almost all killed or wounded. Major Shaw was shot dead, Colonel Humberstone
was shot through the lungs. Lieutenant Stuart of the lUUtli Regiment, was
almost cut to pieces on boarding. Lieutenant John Taylor of the Bombay troops
was shot through the body, Lieutenant Seton, of the Bombay Artillery, and
Lieutenant Pruen, commanderof the vessel, were wounded with swords on boarding.
In the beginning of the action Colonel McLeod received two wounds in his left
baud aud shouiUer, and a little before it was over a musket-sliot passed through