after which he joined his friend Captain Kingsmill in the Duke of 90 guns[1].
In 1793 Mr. Littlehales was appointed first Lieutenant of the Rose frigate, at the particular request of her gallant commander, the late Captain Edward Riou[2], with whom he proceeded to the West Indies, in company with the expedition under Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey. On that station he saw and assisted at much service both on shore and afloat, particularly at the siege of Martinique; during which he served in one of the batteries on Point Carriere, and assisted at the storming of Fort Louis, against which they had been erected[3].
Soon after this dashing exploit, Lieutenant Littlehales removed with Captain Riou into the Beaulieu of 40 guns; which ship having lost 7 officers and a proportionate number of men by the yellow fever in less than three months, was sent to Halifax in order to get rid of that dreadful malady. After heaving down and refitting there, she cruised for some time with considerable success on the coast of Vir-
- ↑ In 1784, Mr. Littlehales, then belonging to the Salisbury of 50 guns, stationed at Newfoundland, was placed under a Lieutenant in the Laurens, a brig of between 70 and 80 tons, with a crew of only 12 men, employed, we believe, as a tender to the flag-ship. Whilst lying to, during a heavy gale of wind, on her return from the coast of Labrador to St. John’s, a tremendous sea struck and laid this little vessel on her beam ends, thereby obliging our officer and his companions to get on her weather broadside, where they continued for some time in the most imminent peril, expecting every moment either to be washed off or go to the bottom with their brig. Fortunately, however, they succeeded in cutting away the laniards of her lower rigging, and the masts going soon after, she righted sufficiently to allow them to replace the ballast which had shifted. After enduring very great privations, in consequence of their slender stock of provisions, and being driven by the fury of the storm above 100 leagues from the land, they were at length, by a fortunate shift of wind, and the aid of some sails belonging to their only boat, the loss of which and every other buoyant article, had left them no other alternative but to share their vessel’s fate, enabled to regain the island, and with the assistance of boats from the shore, to reach the bay of Bulls in safety.
- ↑ The same officer who commanded and saved the Guardian in 1789. He fell in the battle of Copenhagen, April 2, 1801. He was a most clearheaded, skilful, and brave officer.
- ↑ See Vol. I. note at p. 859.
