fours, with a complement of 48 officers, men, and boys. This vessel was subsequently named the Crafty, there being already a Renard in the British navy.
In Oct. 1806, Lieutenant Spencer was sent by Sir Alexander J. Ball to negociate with the Dey of Algiers for the ransom of some Maltese who had been captured and enslaved prior to their island falling into the possession of the English. The Dey, at first, declined to accept the terms offered by the British governor; but on Lieutenant Spencer taking his leave of him, and expressing regret at the unsuccessful termination of his mission, he answered with much warmth, “to convince you how much I wish to be friendly with your countrymen, I will give you the slaves; – go, and send me a frigate immediately to carry my ambassador to Constantinople.” On the following morning, Lieutenant Spencer had the pleasure of receiving on board the Crafty, 30 men, and 2 ladies with their servants, who had been upwards of fifteen years in slavery. On his return to Valette, the government of Malta presented him with a piece of plate, value 100 guineas; and at a subsequent period, he was requested to accept another, value 40 guineas, as an acknowledgment of his exertions in protecting the trade of the island. While thus employed, he drove on shore and totally destroyed a Cisalpine privateer of 4 guns, which had come out from Syracuse to attack some merchant vessels under his convoy.
In the night of Jan. 2, 1807, the Eagle 74, Captain Charles Rowley, having broke from her moorings in Valette harbour, brought up immediately astern of, and so close to the Crafty, that it was expected every moment she would cause her destruction. The schooner was then lying in the fair way of the harbour and her commander on shore. At day-light, observing the imminent danger of his vessel, and the sea running so tremendously high that neither of her boats could attempt to land. Lieutenant Spencer managed to attract the attention of his people, divested himself of his coat and boots, dived through the surf, and swam on board. He then got a spring well secured on the cable, cut, and ran to a safer anchorage. The danger attending this manoeuvre appeared so
