Previous to the renewal of hostilities, Mr. Hickey was offered an appointment, as senior lieutenant, to the Britannia of 100 guns, which he accepted, on being told by Captain Markham, then a Lord of the Admiralty, that, in the event of a war, it would certainly ensure his promotion. The Britannia was at that time intended for Captain James Vashon, (Sir Erasmus Gower’s successor in the Neptune); but, by a subsequent arrangement, Mr. Hickey’s expectations were again defeated.
The Britannia had not been commissioned above 6 or 7 weeks, when the Earl of Northesk arrived, and took the command of her, bringing with him an old follower, senior in rank to Mr. Hickey. His lordship expressed himself highly pleased with the forward stale of the ship; informed the hitherto executive officer, that he was much esteemed at the Admiralty; and told him that he should be happy (if he would remain as second lieutenant) to do all in his power to serve him, as soon as the first was provided for. This was very natural on the part of the Earl, but by no means palatable to Mr Hickey, who shortly afterwards joined the Fisgard frigate, at the particular request of her captain. Lord Mark Kerr, one of his earliest shipmates and friends[1]. We next find him in the Isis 50, bearing the flag of Sir Erasmus Gower, on the Newfoundland station, where he continued until his promotion to the rank of commander, Jan. 22, 1806.
In April, 1807, Captain Hickey was appointed to the Atalante sloop, building at Bermuda; and previous to her being launched, he appears to have held the acting command, for short periods, of the Squirrel 24, and l’Observateur brig, both on the Halifax station.
lu July, 1812, the Atalante captured a ship of 359 tons, from Civita Vecchia, bound to Salem, laden with wines, brandy, silks, and sundries. In Dec. following, she took the Tulip, American letter of marque; and in May, 1813, we find her towing into Halifax harbour five other prizes, laden
