Brisbane,” says his Lordship, “have an ample claim to my gratitude; as the seamen under their management worked the guns with great judgment and alacrity; never was a higher spirit or greater perseverance exhibited; and I am happy to say, that no other contention was at any time known, than who should be most forward and indefatigable in promoting his Majesty’s service; for although the difficulties they had to struggle with, were many and various, the perfect harmony and good humour that universally prevailed throughout the siege overcame them all.”
In the month of June following, Lieutenant Brisbane, then on board the Britannia, a first rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Hotham, proposed a plan for destroying a French squadron which had been chased into Gourjon Bay, and was there protected by several strong batteries. His scheme was immediately adopted by Lord Hood, who ordered the Tarleton and another vessel to be fitted as fire-ships, and entrusted him with the command of the former; but on approaching the bay, our officer and his companion, Lieutenant R. W. Miller, found the enemy so well prepared, and so strongly posted, that the enterprise was abandoned as impracticable. Lord Hood, however, entertained so high an opinion of the merit of the plan, that he rewarded its projector by advancing him to the rank of Commander, in the same vessel to which he had already given him a temporary appointment.
Subsequent to the action with the French fleet, on the 14th March, 1795[1], Captain Brisbane was removed into the Mozelle sloop of war; and on the arrival of Sir John Jervis in the Mediterranean, in the ensuing autumn, he received orders to proceed to Gibraltar; from whence he was sent by Rear-Admiral Mann, to convoy two troop-ships to Barbadoes. On his passage thither he fell in with a Dutch squadron; and conceiving it to be of more importance to watch their motions, than to proceed on his original destination, he sent the transports forward, and followed the enemy, acting upon his own responsibility, till he found that they were going to the Cape of Good Hope. He then crowded sail, and gave the requisite information to Sir George Keith Elphinstone, the Commander-in-Chief on that station.
