station, where she captured the Prince Murat, French ship privateer, of 18 six-pounders and 127 men.
On the 1st May, 1806, Captain Broke fell in with le Pandour, a national brig of 18 guns and 114 men, which, after a run of 160 miles, was arrested in her flight by the squadron under Rear-Admiral Stirling, and conducted to Plymouth by the Druid. Captain Broke also took some smaller vessels; and about the same time pursued a large frigate into the Passage du Raz, near Brest. His next appointment was, in June 1806, to the Shannon, rated at 38 guns; in which ship he established his fame as a British commander in the first rank of naval renown.
In April 1807, Captain Broke was sent, with the Meleager of 32 guns under his orders, to protect the whale fishery in the Greenland seas. On the 7th May, he fell in with the ice; and after pushing through it with much perseverance and difficulty, made the southern part of Spitsbergen on the 17th June. Thence the two frigates proceeded to Magdalena harbour, lying in the 80th degree of north latitude, and nearer to the pole than any ships of war had ever reached before, excepting those under the late Lord Mulgrave.
After making a correct survey of the bay and harbour of Magdalena, Captain Broke stood to the northward till his progress was prevented by the ice, in 80° 6' N.; he then directed his course to the westward; and after speaking several whalers, made the coast of Greenland on the 23d July. During the ensuing autumn the Shannon and Meleager cruised off Shetland, from whence the former returned to North Yarmouth at the latter end of September.
Towards the close of the same year, Captain Broke accompanied the expedition sent against Madeira, in consequence of the Portuguese Government having declared war against Great Britain. Possession of that island being obtained by a mere display of force, he was ordered by Sir Samuel Hood to convoy the transports back to England, where he arrived on the 7th Feb. 1808. In November following he joined company with Captain Seymour, of the Amethyst, about an hour after that officer had captured the Thetis French frigate, several of whose crew were received, and the prize herself, being wholly dismasted, taken in tow by the Shannon. On
