On her arrival at Barbadoes, the Alfred joined the expedition then about to sail against St. Lucia: and after assisting at the reduction of that island[1], she proceeded to Jamaica, capturing, on her way thither, la Renommée French frigate, of 44 guns and 320 men. The high opinion then entertained of Lieutenant Richards by his Captain, is thus expressed in a letter from the latter to Commodore Duckworth, dated Port Royal, July 19, 1796:
“Sir,– Having, as senior officer at this port, given an order for the purchase of la Renommée frigate, prize to H.M. ship under my command, I have thought proper to appoint my first Lieutenant, Mr. John Richards, as acting Captain in her for the present: and I cannot, in justice to that gentleman, omit recommending him to your notice, as I have always found him a worthy, attentive, good officer. His conduct while on board the corvette la Favorite, captured by the Alfred on the 5th March last, was such as to enable Captain Bowen, of H.M.S. Canada, whom he fell in with on his passage to Barbadoes, to recommend him to the attention of the Admiralty. I have likewise strenuously recommended him to their Lordships on this secondary business; and have to hope, as la Renommée constitutes an appointment for a Post-Captain, that you will have the goodness to appoint Lieutenant Richards to the vacant rank of Commander. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“Thomas Drury.”
In his letter to the Admiralty, reporting the capture of la Renommée, Captain Drury says:
“In justice to the officers and company of H.M. ship under my command, particularly my first Lieutenant, Mr. John Richards, I cannot help expressing my entire approbation of their steady behaviour, which I am confident would have been very conspicuous had she been a ship of equal force.”
Notwithstanding the above strong recommendation, Lieutenant Richards was ordered by Commodore Duckworth to resume his former station on board the Alfred, in which ship he continued, under the command of Captain Drury, and that officer’s successor, the late Rear-Admiral Totty, until Aug. 27, 1798, acting as Captain of her during the absence of the former officer, in June, 1796; assisting at the reduction of Trinidad, in Feb. 1797; and again commauding her, whilst
