the water rush down the hatchways, he was the first officer that gained the deck; and hearing the acting gunner, who had charge of the watch, call out “luff,” he instantly applied his breast to the tiller, managed, with the assistance of a rope from to windward, to put the helm hard up, and thus averted the general calamity that must have followed obedience to such an order. To the astonishment of every one, the vessel quickly paid round off on her broadside, and immediately afterwards righted.
On his arrival at Barbadoes, Mr. Reid received a commission from the Admiralty, dated Jan. 22, 1806, appointing him lieutenant of the Theseus 74, Captain George Hope, then on Channel service. He consequently returned home as passenger in the Pheasant sloop. Captain Robert Henderson. Some time afterwards, he was appointed, pro tempore; to the Brunswick, another third rate, his own ship having sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, whilst he was absent on leave. We next find him assisting at the debarkation of the British army, under Lord Cathcart, in the neighbourhood of Copenhagen, on which occasion he acted under the orders of Captain Lord Colville.
During the equipment of the Danish navy, Mr. Reid was the senior lieutenant on board the Brunswick, the sole charge of which ship ultimately devolved upon him, in consequence of her captain having fallen sick before the fleet sailed for England, and the first lieutenant being placed in command of the prize 74 that she fitted out and manned.
After conducting the Brunswick from Copenhagen to North Yarmouth and Portsmouth, with the assistance of only one other commissioned officer. Lieutenant Reid soon had the gratification of finding himself again under the command of his ever constant and invaluable friend, Captain (afterwards Sir George) Hope, with whom he removed from the Pompée 74 to the Victory first rate, early in the ensuing year (1808). In the beginning of 1809, he assisted in bringing home the remains of Sir John Moore’s army from Corunna; and from that period he served as flag-lieutenant to his distinguished patron, (who had previously been appointed first captain of
