must commit murder, and he then determined to do so on the captain, to which he thought he must have been instigated by the devil. He exculpated his shipmates, not one of whom, he said, had the slightest knowledge of his intention; and added, that he should die in peace if his intended victim would forgive him.
The necessity of being kept in a tranquil state, compelled Captain Linzee to resign his command; and he consequently returned home in the Sabrina sloop of war. His successor. Captain William Kent, died on board the Union, off the mouth of the Rhone, Aug. 29th, 1812.
DAVID MAPLETON, Esq.
[Commander.]
Was made a lieutenant on the 10th May, 1804. In 1806, he served as second of the Pallas frigate, Captain Lord Cochrane, by whom honorable mention is made of him in two official letters, addressed to Vice-Admiral Thornbrough, of which the following are copies:
“Sir,– The French trade having been kept in port of late, in a great measure by their knowledge of the exact situation of H.M. cruisers, constantly announced at the signal posts, it appeared to me to be some object, as there was nothing better in view, to endeavour to stop this practice. Accordingly the two posts at la Pointe de la Roche were demolished; next, that of Cahola; then two in l’Ance de Repos; one of which. Lieutenant Haswell, and Mr. Hillier the gunner, took in a neat style from upwards of one hundred militia.
“The marines and boats’ crews behaved exceedingly well; all the flags have been brought off, and the houses built by government burnt to the ground.
“Yesterday, too, the zeal of Lieutenant Norton, of the Frisk cutter, and Lieutenant Gregory, of the Contest gun-brig, induced them to volunteer to flank the battery on Point d’Equillon, while we should attack it by land in the rear; but it was carried at once; and one of fifty men, who were stationed to the three thirty-six-pounders, was made prisoner, the rest escaped. The battery is laid in ruins, the guns are spiked, carriages burnt, barrack and magazine blown up, and all the shells thrown into the sea. The signal post of l’Equillon, together with the house, shared the fate of the gun carriages; the convoy got into a river beyond our reach.
