Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/443

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418
addenda to flag-officers.

under Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, off Belleisle, he assisted at the capture of part of a French convoy from Bourdeaux, laden with wine and naval stores. On the 4th July following, the Vice-Admiral sent him an order to act as captain of the Brunswick 74, which appointment was confirmed on the 23d of the same month. This command he held until Oct. 1795.

Captain Gosselin’s next appointments were, April 22, 1796, to the Diamond 38; and July 25th, to the Syren 32; both on the St. Marcou station. In Mar. 1798, he was employed in convoying to the Leeward islands and Jamaica, a large fleet of merchantmen, the masters of which presented him with a valuable sword. On the 20th Aug. 1799, he was present at the surrender of Surinam to the naval and military forces under Lord Hugh Seymour and Lieutenant-General Trigge; after which he escorted another fleet to England. During the summer of 1800, he was in attendance upon King George III. at Weymouth. In Feb. 1801, he again took charge of the outward-bound West India trade; and on the 23d Oct. following, removed into the Melampus 36, at Jamaica; from whence he returned home, and was paid off, in June, 1802.

On the 2d Feb. 1804, Captain Gosselin was appointed to the Ville de Paris 110, bearing the flag of Admiral Cornwallis, then commander-in-chief of the Channel fleet, in which ship he remained until Sept. following, when he was removed to the Latona 38, and entrusted with the command of the in-shore squadron off Brest. For his services while thus employed, he received the thanks of Admirals Cornwallis, Lord Gardner, and Sir Charles Cotton. On the 4th Feb. 1806, he assumed the command of the Audacious 74.

Among the captures made by Captain Gosselin, in the Syren and Latona, were several French and Spanish privateers. One of the latter was the Amphion, of twelve guns and seventy men.

On the 19th May, 1806, the Audacious, then forming part of a squadron under Sir Richard ;. Strachan, sailed from Plymouth in pursuit of six French line-of-battle ships; and on