convoying a fleet of East Indiamen from St. Helena to England, at the commencement of the French revolutionary war; and paid off in Sept. 1793. We next find him serving on board the Defence 74, under the command of Captain (now Lord) Gambier, and bearing a part in the glorious battle of June 1, 1794[1]. On that memorable day, Mr. Dillon was stunned by a splinter striking him in the head; but although he lay for some time senseless, under the bodies of two men who were slain at the same moment, he does not appear to have sustained any serious injury. His quarters, we should observe, were the three foremost lower-deck guns; and they suffered more than any others on that deck, one gun being quite disabled, and 14 men killed and wounded.
In the ensuing winter, Mr. Dillon followed Captain Gambier into the Prince George 98, then fitting at Chatham, and afterwards attached to the Channel fleet, under Lord Bridport. Of that ship he was the senior midshipman at the capture of three sail of the line, near l’Orient, June 23, 1795[2], but unfortunately he had not then served a sufficient time to qualify him for promotion.
In Aug. following, the Prince George was ordered to be fitted for the flag of Rear-Admiral Christian; with whom, being warmly recommended to that officer, Mr. Dillon successively removed into the Glory 98, and Thunderer 74. On the 16th Nov. 1796, Rear-Admiral Christian and Sir Ralph Abercromby sailed from St. Helen’s, with a large naval and military force under their orders, destined against the enemy’s West India colonies; but when abreast of Torbay they encountered a violent S.W. gale, which dispersed the fleet and drove many of the transports on shore. In consequence of this disaster, and having lost her rudder, the Prince George put back to Spithead (towed by the Colossus 74), where the Rear-Admiral’s flag was shifted to the Glory; and the utmost efforts were made to repair the damages sustained by the rest of the squadron.
On the 9th Dec. Rear-Admiral Christian again sailed, with
