Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/129

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118
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.

were literally drunk, and the rest in a state of great excitement: these men not only abused their officers for striking the colours and allowing the British to come on board, but even threatened to force the hatchways, and recover possession of the upper decks; nor did they cease firing for nearly an hour after the latter had been given up to Lieutenant Willoughby, who with his people, about 30 in number, were all that time exposed to the shot of the Isis and Polyphemus, the two ships immediately opposed to that end of the Danish line. Even after all firing had ceased on both sides, and during the whole of the ensuing night. Lieutenant Willoughby’s situation was by no means pleasant, as the Danes continued extremely riotous, and often menaced the destruction of the ship, which there was much reason to fear they would carry into execution: for although Lieutenant Willoughby had managed to lock up the magazine, he could not spare men to guard it, nor indeed would his whole party have been sufficient to do so effectually, against such overpowering numbers as were then assembled on the lower-deck. He was therefore obliged to content himself with guarding the hatchways until he received assistance on the morning after the battle.

From Copenhagen the Russel proceeded up the Baltic, where Lieutenant Willoughby had the misfortune to lose his commission under the following circumstances.

Having incurred the displeasure of Captain Cuming, whose general character is well known, that officer deprived him of the charge of a watch, ordered him to do the duty of signal Lieutenant, and forbade him ever to quit the poop, on any occasion whatever, during day-time, without first acquainting the officer of the deck that he was about to do so, and for what purpose. This degrading order, mortifying as it must have been to a young man of high spirit, Lieutenant Willoughby most punctually obeyed ; but, unfortunately, the wardroom dinner was one day announced ready just as Captain Cuming had entered into conversation with the gentleman to whom he must necessarily report his intention of going below, and to whom he imprudently repeated a wish, often expressed by every one of his messmates, but