Wallace, with whom he removed into his old ship the Romney, on that officer being appointed Commander-in-Chief at Newfoundland.
Towards the latter end of 1796, a French squadron under the orders of M. de Richery invested that settlement, and destroyed property to a considerable amount. The enemy’s armament consisted oef seven sail of the line and three frigates, on board of which were embarked 2,000 troops. The ships under Sir James Wallace were at this period detached on various services; neither would they, if collected, have been of sufficient force to prevent the depredations committed by the invaders. Sir James, however, resolved upon making a vigorous defence, and by his judicious arrangements, aided by the bravery and vigilance of Captain Sotheron and the other officers of his small squadron, consisting of the Romney, two frigates, and two sloops, completely baffled the designs of the enemy, who, after a fruitless attempt to obtain possession of the colony, returned to Europe.
Captain Sotheron’s next appointment was to the Latona frigate, on the Newfoundland station, where he continued during the two following years. Subsequent to his return to England, he was actively employed in the North Sea, and occasionally commanded a light squadron off the coast of Holland, the operations of which will be detailed under the heads of Captains Mackenzie and Slade, in our next volume. In the autumn of 1799, the Latona formed part of the expedition sent against the Helder; and after the surrender of that fortress went with Vice-Admiral Mitchell to attack the Batavian ships of war lying at anchor in the Vlieter channel, but which surrendered without making any resistance, in consequence of the spirit of disaffection manifested by their crews[1]. For his services on this occasion, Captain Sotheron, in common with the other officers of the fleet, received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament.
Our officer continued in the North Sea during the remainder of the war, and was fortunate enough to capture several of the enemy’s armed vessels. In the spring of 1802, he was sent abroad with despatches; and some time after
