tify the sense I have of that zealous alacrity which was so conspicuously displayed by the Captains, Officers, and ships’ companies, in carrying forward the various duties of the siege, and on every occasion where an opportunity presented itself. For the active and unremitting support and assistance which I personally received, I request you to accept my warmest thanks.
&c. &c. &c.
“Captain Moubray,
“H.M.S. Montagu.”
REAR-ADMIRAL WALKER, (p. 849.) Immediately after his promotion to the rank of Commander, he went as a volunteer with his late Captain, the Hon. A. K. Legge, and his old messmates of the Niger, in the Latona. At Christmas in the same year, he was appointed to act as Captain of the Gibraltar, an 80-gun ship, under orders for the Mediterranean; but just as he was setting out to join her, intelligence arrived at the Admiralty that the French fleet had put to sea in great force, which rendered it necessary to strengthen the grand fleet; and the Gibraltar was consequently attached to it, an older officer being at the same time nominated to command her. Captain Walker was, however, noted for the first vacant sloop of war, and soon after appointed to the Terror bomb. In the month of June following, he was ordered to assume the temporary command of the Trusty 50, and to escort five sail of East Indiamen to a certain latitude, “where after having seen them in safety,” he was to return to Spithead. For two or three days after he reached the prescribed latitude, the wind continuing at S.W., he did not consider his charge “in safety,” and consequently the spirit of his orders not completed. He therefore thought it his duty to continue with the Indiamen till the wind became more favorable, immediately after which he parted company and proceeded towards England. The next day he spoke a Dane from Cadiz, who acquainted him that about forty sail of English merchant vessels had been lying there some time for want of convoy, and under heavy demurrage. This information being shortly after confirmed by a Swede, also from that port, Captain Walker conceiving his ship could not be more beneficially employed than in protecting the commerce of his country, took upon himself to touch at Cadiz, and take charge of all the British vessels lying there, amounting to thirty-three sail of merchantmen and three transports, the whole of which he conducted in perfect safety to England. Two memorials of the Spanish merchants residing in London, presented in favor of Captain Walker, stated “the value of this fleet to amount to upwards of a million sterling, which but for his active exertions would have been left in great danger, at a most critical time, when the Spaniards were negociating a peace with France.”
During the Trusty’s stay at Cadiz, five of her officers were arrested by orders from the Governor, for carrying money off to the ship on account of the merchants; and the Spanish government having made strong representations on the subject to the British ministry, it was deemed right to
