Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/351

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JUMPER. 347 and confusion resulted from several cartridges blowing up on board the Weymouth. The enemy attempted to escape; but Captain Jumper, having succeeded in ex tinguishing the fire, pursued her, and brought her again to close action; her bowsprit, however, carrying away the Weymouth's mainmast, she finally escaped; thus depriving Captain Jumper of the reward his gallantry merited, and would, but for that accident, undoubtedly have obtained. After a continued series of brilliant accomplishments, he was appointed to the Lenox, which served under Sir George Rooke in the expedition against Cadiz ; in the attack against which he bore a greater part than any other naval commander; completely executing the arduous services entrusted to him with the most spirited address. The brilliant success which crowned the expedition under Sir George Rooke, two years afterwards, is well known; and in every operation the bravery of Captain Jumper was singularly conspicuous. After being most eminently instrumental in the reduction of Gibraltar, he signalised himself no less remarkably at the battle off Malaga, having engaged and driven three of the enemy's ships out of the line. He was dangerously wounded in this encounter, but was not thereby prevented from continuing in service; nor does it appear that he even quitted his ship on that account. It is a singular circumstance, that after the accession of Queen Anne, during a service of many years continuance, he never changed his ship. Soon after his return to England, he received the honour of knighthood, as a public and highly-merited mark of the royal approba tion of his conduct. The extreme caution of the enemy, after the battle off Malaga, inducing them to leave the English undisputed masters of the Mediterranean, Sir William had subsequently little opportunity of signalising himself. While wait ing at Lisbon, in January 1705-6, to convoy the fleet to England, he dispatched to Gibraltar one of the vessels under his command with a supply of money, for want of which the garrison was almost in a state of mutiny. And though this anecdote may appear, perhaps too trivial for