Captain Wilson had orders to return to Malta after his cruise.
He therefore carried his own despatches away from England--from Malta the despatches had to be forwarded to Toulon to the Admiral, and then the Admiral had to send to England to the Admiralty, whose reply had to come out again.

All this, with the delays arising from vessels not sailing immediately, occupied an interval of between five and six months--during which time there was no alteration in the officers and crew of his Majesty's sloop Harpy.
There had, however, been one alteration; the gunner, Mr Linus, who had charge of the first cutter in the night action in which our hero was separated from his ship, carelessly loading his musket, had found himself minus his right hand, which, upon the musket going off as he rammed down, had gone off too.

He was invalided and sent home during Jack's absence, and another had been appointed, whose name was Tallboys.

Mr Tallboys was a stout dumpy man, with red face, and still redder hands; he had red hair and red whiskers, and he had read a great deal--for Mr Tallboys considered that the gunner was the most important personage in the ship.

He had once been a captain's clerk, and having distinguished himself very much in cutting-out service, had applied for and received his warrant as a gunner.