whose post commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, Feb. 7, 1812. His next appointment was, Aug. 25, in the same year, to the Chatham 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral M. H. Scott, on the North Sea station; the command of which ship he retained till July, 1814.
Captain Maunsell has one brother in the church, and another in the army.
Agents.– Messrs. Chard.
CHRISTOPHER BELL, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1812.]
We first find this officer serving as a lieutenant of the Pique frigate, Captain Charles B. H. Ross; and commanding three of her boats at the capture of a Spanish brig, pierced for 12 guns, and the destruction of a 3-gun battery, in Cabaret bay, Porto Rico, Nov. 1, 1806[1].
His promotion to the rank of Commander took place April 1, 1808. The capture of le Barbier de Seville, French lugger privateer, of 16 guns and 60 men, by the Phipps schooner, under his command, is thus described in a letter from him to Vice-Admiral George Campbell, dated Nov. 16, 1810:–
“Having weighed and proceeded to sea in H.M. sloop under nny command, agreeably to your order, immediately the tide slacked last evening, I have the honor to acquaint you, that before 12 o’clock, we were alongside a French lugger privateer, which led us close under Calais, and so near in shore, that I was obliged, although firing grape-shot into her, to give up the chase.
“As we saw, while pursuing her, two other luggers lying to windward. I thought, by beating up in shore of them, we might escape their notice, until far enough to fetch them. About 5 A.M. we had the pleasure of getting close to one of them, when an action commenced. The enemy, for a quarter of an hour, kept up an incessant fire of musketry. As I perceived his determination was to run on shore, and we were then in 3½; fathoms water, the only prospect of capturing her was to lay her on board. This was done, and, under the fire of our broadside. Lieutenant Robert Tryon, assisted by Mr. Wright, master’s-mate, in a most gallant manner headed the party of boarders, when the enemy, in a few minutes, surrendered * * * *. This capture has been attended with the loss