Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p2.djvu/18

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442
VICE-ADMIRALS OF THE WHITE.

to escort H.S.H. the Princess Caroline of Brunswick to this country[1].

About the month of May, 1797, Captain Legge was appointed to the Cambrian, of 40 guns, in which ship he was employed on the French coast, where he captured several large privateers; and in occasional attendance on their late Majesties, at Weymouth, until the close of the war. Soon after the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, he obtained the command of the Repulse, a new 74, attached to the Western squadron. Early in 1805, he captured a valuable Spanish merchantman off Ferrol; and in the same year, was present in the action between Sir Robert Calder and the combined squadrons of France and Spain[2]. On this occasion the Repulse had 4 men wounded, and received considerable damage in her spars and rigging.

Captain Legge was afterwards ordered to the Mediterranean; and in 1807, accompanied Sir John T. Duckworth to the Dardanelles, where the Repulse had 10 men killed, and 14 wounded[3].

We next find our officer employed in the expedition to the Scheldt, an account of which will be found under the head of Sir Richard Strachan. Whilst at Flushing, a severe attack of the Walcheren fever obliged him to resign the command of his ship, and return to England, where he arrived about the latter end of 1809.

On the 31st July in the following year, Captain Legge was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral, but does not appear to have hoisted his flag until the Spring of 1811, when he was appointed to the command at Cadiz, and proceeded thither in the Revenge, of 74 guns. Previous to his departure from that station, the constitutional magistracy of the city expressed their gratitude for his co-operation in the defence of that island, in the following warm and handsome terms:

Cadiz, Sept. 18, 1812.

“Excellent Sir,– The bravery and enthusiasm with which the illustrious seamen of the naval forces under your Excellency’s command, have contributed towards the defence of Cadiz, and their hearty union with the Spanish naval force, in all the fatigues and dangers during the siege of this island by the enemy’s troops, excite in such a manner the gratitude of the