April, 1803, to the Plantagenet 74, in which ship, successively commanded by Captains Graham Eden Hamond, the Hon. Michael De Courcy, Francis Pender, and William Bradley, he continued for a period of about five years, principally with the inshore squadron off Brest. Under the former officer, he assisted at the capture of le Courier de Terre Neuve, French privateer, of 16 guns and 54 men; and l’Atalante, of 22 guns and 120 men.
In May, 1808, Lieutenant Denman was appointed first of the Polyphemus 64, fitting out for the flag of Vice-Admiral Bartholomew S. Rowley, with whom he soon afterwards proceeded to the Jamaica station. In June, 1809, we find him commanding the night guard-boats of the squadron employed in the blockade of St. Domingo, under the orders of Captain William Pryce Cumby; and on the 1st July, he was entrusted by that officer with the charge of the seamen destined, if necessary, to assist in storming the city, then closely invested by an Anglo-Spanish military force. His services during the siege were thus publicly acknowledged by the British officers in command:–
“Sir,– I have the satisfaction to announce to you the surrender of the French garrison in the city of St. Domingo, by which event the whole of the former possessions of the Spaniards in this island are happily restored to that nation * * * *. I trust I may be permitted to bear testimony to the vigilance and alacrity of those officers and men who were employed in the night guard-boats, by whose united exertions the enemy’s accustomed supply by sea was entirely cut off, and the surrender of the city greatly accelerated. * * *.
“Of the conduct of Lieutenant Denman, of this ship, and the detachment of seamen landed from the squadron, under his command, Major-General Carmichael is pleased to speak in high terms; and I have no doubt he will make a gratifying representation to you on this subject. * * * *.
“To Vice-Admiral Rowley,
&c. &c. &c.
