MACBRIDE. 395 hailed, they made no answer, but in a few minutes boarded her on both sides, and took possession of the vessel with out the loss of a single man, two only being wounded. Mr. Macbride shot the lieutenant of the privateer through the head with a musket, as he was pointing a gun into the boat: exclusive of this officer, only one man was killed, and five wounded, belonging to the enemy. This bold enterprise was achieved within half a gun-shot of a fort on the east of the harbour; but it did not fire at them. When the prisoners were secured, the captors cut the cables and sailed out of the road. In April 1762, he was promoted to be commander of the Grampus fire-ship; and afterwards removed into the Crusier sloop. In June 1765, he was appointed captain of the Renown, of thirty guns. In the following year he commanded the Jason, of thirty two guns, in which he was ordered to the Falkland islands. Returning in 1768, he was appointed to the Seaford. He was afterwards removed to the Southampton, of thirty-two guns. In 1775, we find him captain of the Orpheus, a frigate of the same force. At the commencement of the dispute with the North American colonies, in 1777, he was appointed to the Bienfaisant, of sixty-four guns. In 1778, he served under the orders of admiral Keppel, in the encounter with the French fleet off Ushant, but does not appear to have been materially engaged. At the close of the year 1779, he was ordered to Gibraltar, with admiral Rodney, for the relief of that fortress. The fleet, while on i t s passage, fortunately fell i n with a Spanish squadron and convoy near Cape Finisterre, and o n the 8th o f January, 1780, captain Macbride captured the Guipus coana, o f sixty-four guns, the commanding ship o f their convoy; a l l the other vessels o f war and merchantmen, a t the same time becoming prizes t o the different ships. Soon after this success a n action took place between Don Juan d e Langara and the British fleet, when captain Macbride eminently distinguished himself b y his skill and valour, a s well i n the action a s i n the contrivance t o secure
