John Brisbane, of the Flora frigate, who had hove in sight on the second day of the chase; but unfortunately the Boston effected her escape[1].
After a close confinement of several months at Boston, Mr. Monke and his fellow prisoners were exchanged, and reinstated in their former stations on board the Fox, which ship returned to England in Feb. 1778.
We next find the subject of this memoir serving in the Courageux 74, and acting as aid-de-camp to Captain Lord Mulgrave, in the action off Ushant, between Keppel and d’Orvilliers[2], on which occasion that ship had 6 killed and 13 wounded[3].
The operations of the Channel fleet, to which the Courageux was attached until the autumn of 1780, were unproductive of any striking events, owing partly to the cautious conduct of Keppel’s successors, and partly to the reserve of the enemy.
In Sept. 1780, being strongly recommended by Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Monke was appointed to act as Lieutenant of the Harpy fire-vessel, in which he continued until Nov. 1781, when he received a commission for the Warrior 74, Captain Sir James Wallace, under whom he served as fourth of that ship, in Rodney’s battles with de Grasse, April 9 and 12, 1782; on which days her total loss amounted to 5 killed and 21 wounded. He also assisted at the capture of two French
- ↑ See Nav. Chron. Vol. xxxii, pp. 276–279.
- ↑ See Royal Nav. Biog. Vol. I, p. 15.
- ↑ On board the Courageux was a man who worked for the officers as a tailor, and, as he was a civil steady person, he received many murks of their approbation; notwithstanding which he fell into a state of despondency, being firmly persuaded that he should lose his life whenever the fleets engaged. Lord Mulgrave. observing the melancholy dejection of his spirits, endeavoured by argument and ridicule, but in vain, to drive the idea from his mind. On the day of the above action, July 27, 1778, this poor fellow was ordered to assist in the cockpit, as a place of the greatest security; but, impelled by irresistible curiosity to see what was going on, he vanished up the main-hatchway, and in an instant he was mortally wounded.
