knowledge of the victory of July 13th itself, can make one contemplate without emotion, the disparity of the English, whoso enterprising chief had resolved, with five 2-deckers, four of which were already crippled, and only one an 80-gun ship, to pursue the enemies’ united force, and, if possible, prevent a part of them from reaching Cadiz.
In consequence of this glorious success, and the high terms in which Captain Hood spoke of him, Lieutenant Lillicrap, upon whom the greater part of the active duty of refitting the Venerable must necessarily have devolved, was immediately made a Commander; but his commission did not reach him until after he returned to England, as will be seen by the following letter:–
“My dear Lillicrap,– Sir James Saumarez not having sent home your commission, I have obtained from the Admiralty this day a duplicate one, which, that it may he the more gratifying, as your name is not in the new list, I have taken up and enclosed. I have the more satisfaction in doing this, by knowing it was never more deservedly merited than in your conduct under my command; and it will he ever the greatest happiness of my life in hearing of your future welfare. I remain with much esteem, dear Lillicrap, yours very sincerely,
“To Captain J. Lillicrap, Plymouth.”
About this period. Captain Hood expressed an earnest desire to introduce his late first Lieutenant to Earl St. Vincent; and after doing so, he presented him at court, using the most handsome terms of commendation on each occasion.
On the 12th of April, 1804, Captain Lillicrap was appointed to the Vesuvius bomb, employed on the Boulogne station, under the orders of Sir W. Sidney Smith.
In Nov. 1805, that heroic officer meditated an attack upon the flotilla in Boulogne roads:– every thing was prepared, the bomb-vessels had taken their appointed stations, and Sir Sidney removed from his flag-ship to a sloop of war, in which, as she drew but little water, he meant to conduct the business in person; – the signal was made for the gun-brigs to lead in, and a volley of rockets already discharged, when, on a sudden, the wind shifted round to the N.W., and in a
