Mulgrave, Mr. Gore conducted himself with great bravery and activity; and when the destruction of the French ships and arsenal was ordered, we find him engaged in that arduous service, on which occasion he was much burnt by the premature explosion of the Vulcan fire-vessel.
During the siege of Bastia, our officer assisted in various services and operations on shore; and soon after its surrender, May 22, 1794[1], was made a Commander into la Fleche, of 14 guns, In the course of the same year, he succeeded Captain Shield in the Windsor Castle, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Linzee, in which ship he was present in the skirmishes with the French fleet, March 14, and July 13, 1795[2]. On the former occasion the Windsor Castle had 6 men killed and 31 wounded.
After these trivial affairs Captain Gore, who had been confirmed in his post rank, Nov. 12, in the preceding year, was appointed to one of the prizes, le Censeur, of 74 guns, (jury-rigged) and ordered to England in company with the homeward bound trade. On the 7th Oct., the convoy fell in with a French squadron, consisting of six ships of the line, besides frigates, about 83 leagues from Cape St. Vincent. Captain Taylor, the senior officer, made the signal for the merchant vessels to disperse, and formed the line with the men-of-war under his command; but, just as the van ship of the enemy had reached within gun-shot, le Censeur in wearing, unfortunately rolled away her fore-top-mast, and the other British ships, namely, the Fortitude and Bedford, of 74 guns each, one frigate, and a fire-vessel[3], being so situated as to be unable to support her effectually, the enemy’s fire was chiefly directed against that ship, and Captain Gore, after a most gallant defence against their very superior force, his vessel being much disabled, and her ammunition nearly expended, was compelled to surrender. About fifteen of the merchantmen were also captured. The French squadron was commanded by Admiral Richerry.
Captain Gore, having regained his liberty, was, in the summer of 1796, appointed to the Triton, of 32 guns, and in that
- ↑ See p. 251.
- ↑ See pp. 340 and 254.
- ↑ The Argo 44, and Juno frigate, had previously parted company. See p. 486.
