Unfortunately for the subject of this memoir, the same liberality in rewarding merit which has been subsequently evinced, was not displayed at that period; and, notwithstandthe expectations raised by the subjoined reply of Lord Howe to an application in his favor from the Earl of Tankerville, he appears not to have been advanced to the rank of Post-Captain till June 24, in the following year:–
“My Lord,– I can now have the satisfaction of being able to assure your Lordship, that your wishes in favor of Lieutenant Donnelly will be accomplished. His meritorious conduct in the direction of the Montagu on the fall of her late commander, has not needed any interference of mine for obtaining the promotion he will gain.
“Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,
(Signed)“Howe[1].”
During the remainder of the war, he commanded in succession the Pegasus and Maidstone frigates; the former employed in the North Sea, the latter principally on the Jamaica station. In the Pegasus, carrying 28 long 9-pounders, and 120 men, he fell in with two Dutch brigs of war, the Echo and De Gier, of 20 Dutch 12’s and 140 men each; and after an arduous chase, during which his ship struck on East Friezeland, drove them both on shore to the eastward of the Texel. This circumstance is alluded to in a letter which he received from his Commander-in-Chief, the heroic Duncan, a few days subsequent to the discomfiture of the Batavian fleet off Camperdown, and which we feel happy in being able to present to our readers:–
- ↑ At the general promotion that followed Earl Howe’s victory, Mr. Donnelly, and all the other First Lieutenants of his Lordship’s fleet, were made Commanders, and took rank according to their seniority as Lieutenants.
- ↑ Captain, now Sir William Johnstone Hope, was at that period, as already mentioned at p. 511, labouring under the effects of a violent injury he had sustained about twelve months before.
