On the 9th Dec. in the same year, the squadron made another attempt to get clear of the Channel; but after encountering weather of the most dreadfully tempestuous description for a period of seven weeks, was again obliged to return to port.
A third effort was more successful; Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh Christian, and Captain Bowen, in the Thunderer 74, accompanied by the Invincible, a third rate, Grampus of 54 guns, and four smaller vessels of war, with such of the transports and merchantmen as were ready, sailed from Spithead on the 20th March, and arrived at Barbadoes after a passage of 32 days. On the 22d April, they left Carlisle Bay, in company with Sir John Laforey, who, on his arrival at Martinique, resigned the command at the Leeward Islands to Sir Hugh Christian, by whom preparations were immediately made for the reduction of St. Lucia[1].
After the conquest of that island, and the restoration of tranquillity in Grenada, St. Vincent’s, &c.[2], Sir Hugh Christian, having been superseded by Rear-Admiral Harvey, returned to England in the Beaulieu frigate, and the Thunderer proceeded with Sir Hyde Parker to the Jamaica station, from whence Captain Bowen returned home in the Leviathan 74, towards the close of 1797.
His next appointment was, in 1798, to the Argo of 44 guns; in which ship he assisted at the reduction of Minorca, by the forces under the orders of General Stuart and Commodore Duckworth[3], and recaptured the Peterell sloop of war, whose officers and crew had been most shamefully plundered and ill-used by the Spaniards who had captured them.
On the 6th Feb., 1799, the Argo being on a cruise, in company with the Leviathan, discovered two large frigates at anchor, near a fortified tower on the south point of Alcudia Bay. Immediately the enemy perceived the British ships, they cut their cables and made sail. Chase was instantly given, under all the canvas their pursuers could bear. It blowing at this time a strong gale, the Leviathan unfortunate-
- ↑ See Vol. I. note † at p. 134, and further particulars under the head of Captain G. F. Ryves, in the present volume.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 505.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 762.
