return home in consequence of a severe attack of yellow fever; and in April, 1809, he was appointed, at the recommendation of Sir James Saumarez, to the Curlew sloop, fitted with 10 long 18-pounders, for the purpose of protecting the trade to and from Malmo and Gottenburgh through the Sound. During the season that he was thus employed, his boats captured seven Danish vessels laden with provisions for Norway. The Curlew being found defective, was paid off in the course of the same year.
Captain Tancock’s next appointment was, about June, 1810, to the Mercury troop-ship; the command of which he retained till the close of 1811, when he was removed to the Griffon brig, at Chatham. He there received his post commission dated Feb. 1, 1812. This enviable step of rank he obtained through the friendly interference of Sir James Saumarez, who, with his characteristic kindness, had recently laid a statement of the captain’s services before the admiralty, and earnestly solicited his promotion.
On the 27th Aug. 1812, Captain Tancock was appointed to the Bann corvette; but when nearly ready for sea he was turned over with his crew to the Conway 24; in which ship he accompanied a large fleet of merchantmen to a certain latitude, and was afterwards employed as senior officer on the Madeira station; from whence he returned to Plymouth early in May, 1815.
The Conway was next ordered to cruise across the entrance of the British Channel, for the purpose of intercepting Napoleon Buonaparte in his expected flight from France to America. In Feb. 1816, having, in the interim, been paid off and re-commissioned for foreign service, she sailed for the East Indies with government money; and on her arrival at Madras, Captain Tancock found himself appointed by his friend, Commodore Sayer, to the Iphigenia frigate, of which ship he took the command, at Trincomalee, in the month of Sept. following. From Jan. to June, 1817, he was employed in superintending the equipment of the Melville, a new 74, at Bombay; and in loading that ship with the teak frame of another third-rate. The Melville arrived at Plymouth, in company with the Iphigenia, Dec. 14, 1817.
