on board the Nemesis 28, Captain Philip Somerville; and afterwards served with Sir Robert Barlow and Captain (now Sir John) Gore, in the Triumph 74, and Medusa frigate, the former ship employed in the blockade of Toulon, under Lord Nelson, and the latter forming part of the squadron commanded by Captain (now Sir Graham) Moore, at the capture of three Spanish galleons, and the destruction of their consort, Oct. 5, 1804[1]. He also was present at the detention of the Matilda 36, from Cadiz bound to Mexico, with despatches and a valuable cargo of quicksilver, on the 8th of the following month.
In 1805, Mr. Pechell visited the Cape Verd Islands, Calcutta, and St. Helena; the Medusa being that year employed in conveying the Marquis Cornwallis to Bengal, and bringing home the suite of the same lamented nobleman[2]. Soon after her return to England, he followed Sir John Gore into the Revenge 74, which ship was one of the squadron under Commodore Sir Samuel Hood, when la Gloire, l’Armide, la Minerve, and l’Indefatigable, French frigates of the largest class, were brought to action and captured by the Centaur, Monarch, and Mars[3]. We subsequently find her stationed off Cadiz, where she remained until the cessation of hostilities between England and Spain, when she returned home with the commissioners appointed by the supreme council of Seville to treat with the British cabinet[4].
Mr. Pechell next joined the Venus 32, Captain James Coutts Crawford, and was present at the surrender of Vigo to the Spanish patriots, in March 1809. During the subsequent siege of that place, by the French army under Marshal Ney, he landed with his captain, and served in the citadel until the enemy was defeated at the bridge of San Payo, and obliged to retreat towards Lugo[5]. His first commission, appointing him lieutenant of the Cassar 80, Captain William Granger, on the Lisbon station, bears date June 25, 1810.
