GRAVES. 277 French frigate, and another French ship of war, with. whom he had a most desperate engagement. On the termination of the American war, the services. of Captain Graves being no longer wanted, he of course retired for a time from his profession. In October 1800, he was appointed to command the Cumberland, of seventy four guns, and joined the Western squadron under Earl St. Vincent. On the promotion which took place on the 1st of January, 1801, our hero was raised to the rank of rear-admiral of the white; and in March he hoisted his flag on board the Polyphemus, of sixty-four guns, with orders to put himself under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, destined for the Baltic. He soon after shifted his flag into the Defiance, of seventy-four guns, in which ship, on the 2nd of April, he had the honour to be second in command to Lord Nelson, in the attack on the Danish line off Copenhagen. As the Defiance was in the hottest of the engagement, her loss in killed and wounded was very considerable. The whole fleet bore testimony to the skill and bravery of the rear-admiral on this memorable day; and Lord Nelson, in his public letter to the com mander-in-chief, makes use of the following expression:- “It is my duty to state to you the high and distinguished merit and gallantry of Rear-Admiral Graves.” The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted to our hero for his services on the 2nd of April, and soon afterwards his majesty was pleased to confer on him the most honourable Order of the Bath. The ceremony of investiture took place on board the St. George, in Kioge Bay, near the scene of action, and Lord Nelson, by par ticular command of his majesty, represented the sovereign on the occasion. We cannot probably close our account of this meritorious officer, with more appropriate language, than by subjoining the speech, which was made by Lord Nelson, on the above mentioned occasion:— “Sir Thomas Graves,” said the gallant hero of the Nile, “having fulfilled the commands of his majesty, in investing you with the ensigns of the most honourable
