Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/357

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
340
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.

fortunately the new regulations were at that time a bar to his; promotion, as he had not served a sufficient time to qualify him for the rank of Commander.

At the commencement of 1808, Lieutenant Huskisson received an appointment to the Hyperion frigate, then just commissioned; and shortly afterwards he was ordered to repair on board the Melpomene 38, for a passage to Jamaica,, with Vice-Admiral B. S. Rowley, who gave him the command of the Fleur-de-la-Mer schooner, and sent him to cruise on the coast of St. Domingo, where he rescued a gentleman belonging to the former island from the grasp of Christophe, under whose displeasure he had fallen, and to which he would in all probability have been sacrificed; as was another person, an American, under similar circumstances. Lieutenant Huskisson subsequently visited Carthagena, on the Spanish Main, where, through his intercession, seven individuals were restored to liberty, who had accompanied General Miranda to that coast, and who had not seen day-light from the time they were made prisoners, shortly after his landing[1].

In May, 1809, Lieutenant Huskisson heard of his promotion, and appointment to the Pelorus, a fine 18-gun brig, stationed at the Leeward Islands. His commission as a Commander bears date Jan. 18, 1809.

In Oct. following Captain Huskisson assisted at the destruction of a French schooner privateer, in the bight of Point-à-Petre, “under circumstances of considerable difficulty,” and, as Sir Alexander Cochrane acquaints the Admiralty, “highly honorable to the parties employed.” The following is a copy of the official letter in which the performance of this service is detailed:–

H.M. sloop Hazard, of St. Mary’s, Guadaloupe, Oct. 17, 1809.
“Sir,– Cruising on my station blockading Point-à-Petre, Pelorus in company, at day-light this morning I observed a schooner, moored under the battery of St. Mary. I immediately determined on the capture or destruction of her. Both sloops stood in sufficiently close to silence the battery effectually, and cover our boats, which were despatched under the orders of Lieutenants Robertson and Flin, first of their respective sloops;