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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 293
The naval historian, after commenting at length on Captain
Warrington's conduct, which he stigmatizes as it justly deserves,
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adds: "The Governor-General of India, the Lieutenant-Cio-
vernor of Java, and the different heads of departments through-
out the British dominions in the East, also the King's Navy,
and the King's Army, serving there, have all been unanimous in
bestowing the tribute of praise upon tlie noble behaviour of
Lieutenant Boyce."
It was indeed a terrible alternative that was placed before him,
when the demand came from over the water that he was to
strike his flag or be sunk there and then; the tiuie for consider-
ation afforded him was but short, but it was long enough for
the gallant ofiicer, who did not hesitate a moment as to the
course he should pursue. Urged by a sense of the duty he
owed to the flag of his country, a duty paramount to all con-
siderations based on the absolute certainty of defeat, perhaps of
annihilation, from the guns of a ship three times his size, and
nnder whose fire his little craft hiy almost defenceless, the
Commander of the 'Nautilus' replied to the insolent demand of
the American by an equally haughty refusal. After the require-
ments of honour and duty had been satisfied, Boyce hauled
down his flag, himself severely, and his first-lieutenant mortally,
wounded, and his only other officer—for at this time the 'Nau-
tilus ' was as shorthanded in officers as in European seamen
a prisoner on board the ' Peacock.' The dL'tcrmination of
Captain Warrington to have " a brush with the brig," was shown
by the remark of the purser, who, as well as the other officers
was doubtless aware of the intentions of his captain. Though
a Court of Inquiry, held on the conduct of Captain Warrington
by the officers of his own Service, acquitted him of all blame,
and American papers vied with each other in extolling the
"hero," whose capture of the little brig conferred considerable
"glory" on the Yankee Navy, yet his unseemly haste to shed
blood, when it could be done with conjparative impunity, will
ever brand his name with ignominy among brave and right
thinking men of both countries. The Governor-General of
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India in Council said of him: "He contemplates Captain
Warrington's proceeding as destitute of any possible extenua-
tion ;" and (Jommodore Hayes, who, on his return from .lava,
had resumed his office of Master-Attendant at Calcutta, described
Captain Warrington in his despatch, as " the ruffian who has
alike dishonoured himself and disgraced the Columbian Eagle."
It would appear that the Captain and officers of the ' Peacock,'
in seeking to enhance the " glory" of their victory over the
' Nautilus,' magnified her size according to the invariable
custom of American officers in describing the British ships they
captured, which were, indeed, in every instance of inferior
force. In 1833, however, the same ' Peacock' visited Aden