and crew were transferred to the Leander, a worn out 50, then under orders for England.
Lieutenant Tayler’s next appointment was, Mar. 16, 1807, to the Maida 74, Captain Samuel Hood Linzee, who gave him the command of a party of seamen, landed to serve in the breaching battery before Copenhagen, during the operations that led to the surrender of the Danish navy; and afterwards encamped under the orders of Sir David Baird. On his return home from Zealand, he was specially employed, as first of the Maida, in dismantling the prizes, and clearing them of their valuable cargoes.
The Maida was paid off, at Portsmouth, Mar. 9, 1808; and in Aug. following, Lieutenant Tayler joined the Spencer 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral (now Sir Robert) Stopford, and employed in the blockade of l’Orient. While serving under that officer, he landed at Quimper and distributed placards relative to the occurrences in Portugal and Spain.
The Spencer being put out of commission, in consequence of her striking upon a rock near the Glenan islands. Lieutenant Tayler was soon afterwards appointed to the Heroine 32, Captain Hood Hanway Christian, which frigate had 2 men wounded in forcing the passage of the Scheldt, between Flushing and Cadsand, Aug. 11, 1809. Speaking of that service. Sir Richard J. Strachan says, “the gallant and seaman-like manner in which the squadron” commanded by Lord William Stuart “was conducted, and their steady and well-directed fire, excited in my breast the warmest sensations of admiration: the army witnessed their exertions with applause.” By this event, the navigation of the West Scheldt was opened as far as it could possibly be by the navy.
On her return from the Walcheren expedition, the Heroine was likewise laid up in ordinary, and Lieutenant Tayler remained without any other appointment from Nov. 1809, till June 12, 1810, when he joined the Goldfinch, a 10-gun brig, employed in arming and otherwise assisting the Spanish patriots. From that vessel he was removed to the Sapphire sloop, for a passage to Jamaica, on promotion. Proceeding thither, he visited Trinidad, La Guiara, and the city of Caraccas, in company with the since celebrated General Bolivar.
