Corsica, he conducted a large vessel; with a cargo of shot and shells, from St. Fiorenzo to Calvi; and was occasionally employed in the batteries on shore. He also assisted at the capture of l‘Alcide, French 74, July 13, 1795, on which occasion the Victory bore the flag of Rear-Admiral Robert Mann, and sustained a loss of 20 men killed and wounded, besides much damage in her masts, yards, and rigging.
In December following, the Victory displayed the flag of the late Earl St. Vincent (then Sir John Jervis), by whom Mr. Clavell was appointed lieutenant of the Excellent 74, Captain (afterwards Lord) Collingwood, on the very day that he completed his probationary term, which appears to have been about five months after the glorious victory of February 14th, 1707[1].
During the ensuing summer, Lieutenant Clavell was frequently engaged with the Spanish gun-boats near Cadiz and Gibraltar; and his conduct on all occasions was so highly meritorious, that he won the lasting friendship of the worthy CoUingwood, who had known nothing of him previous to his joining the Excellent. This indeed may be inferred from the following extract of a letter written by that distinguished officer to Lord Nelson, when about to shift his flag into the Royal Sovereign, just before the battle of Trafalgar:
“I have bad a little distress about two Lieutenants being senior to my first, Clavell, who is indeed my right arm, and the spirit that puts every thing in motion; but I hope your Lordship will appoint them to this ship[2], their names are Palmer and Hewson; and then I will take my signal Lieutenant, whose name is Brice Gilliland.”
This request being complied with, Mr. Clavell became first lieutenant of the Royal Sovereign, and was promoted by Vice-Admiral Collingwood to the command of the Weazle brig, immediately after the memorable battle of October 21, 1805; on which day he received a severe wound in the head, the effects of which he has never got the better of.
The Weazle was first employed in watching the motions of the enemy at Carthagena, and afterwards sent to ascertain if
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part I. p. 21 et seq.
- ↑ The Dreadnought 98.
