Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/183

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1813.
171

der the immediate eye of Nelson, at the battle of Copenhagen, April 2, 1801[1].

In our memoir of Sir Thomas Foley, we have incorrectly stated, that the Elephant was put out of commission soon after her return from the Baltic. On the contrary, she formed part of a squadron of observation on the Jamaica station, during the peace of Amiens; and was employed in the blockade of St. Domingo, from the renewal of hostilities until the evacuation of Cape François[2]. On the 30th June, 1803, being then under the command of Captain George Dundas, she assisted at the capture of la Creole French frigate; and on the 25th of the following month, sustained some slight damage in her hull, bowsprit, sails, and rigging, while vainly endeavouring to prevent the escape of the 74 which was afterwards encountered by Captain John Maitland in the Boadicea[3].

Mr. Lyford, who had become first lieutenant of the Elephant previous to her coming home from the Baltic, was promoted to the command of the Mondovi brig, May 8, 1804; and appointed to the Proselyte 24, fitting as a mortar-vessel for the Baltic station, Feb. 26 1808.

On the 10th Oct. following, the Proselyte was stationed as a floating light off the island of Anholt, where she continued until destroyed by the ice, Jan. 5, 1809. The following is a copy of Captain Lyford’s official letter on that occasion:–

“Sir,– It is with extreme regret I have to inform you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of the loss of H.M. ship Proselyte, late under my command. She was surrounded with ice on the night of the 4th instant, and, at day-light next morning, I observed that the surface of the water was completely frozen, so as to render it utterly impossible to cut her out: at the same time I found that the whole body of ice was setting us fast towards the reef, without the least probability of our clearing it. At 2 P.M. the ship took the ground, and from the immense pressure of the ice, on the larboard side, she immediately fell over on the starboard beam. I expected every moment she would upset, and in this doubtful state we remained until 4-30, A.M. when we perceived that the ice was stationary. The wind now increased to a gale, the ship