M‘Bride, and served as Midshipman with Admiral Cosby, on the Mediterranean station[1]. In 1790, we find him doing the duty of Signal-Midshipman on board the Queen Charlotte, bearing the flag of Earl Howe, from whom he received his first commission. On the memorable 1st June, 1794, he was senior Lieutenant of the Invincible, 74, and during the action went with a message from Captain Pakenham to Earl Howe; after the delivery of which he received orders from his Lordship to take possession of le Juste, a French 84-gun ship, whose fire had recently been silenced[2].
On the return of the victorious fleet to Spithead, Lieutenant Blackwood was promoted to the rank of Commander, in the the Megaera fire-vessel. His post commission bears date June 2, 1795; and from that period until July 1796, we find him in the Nonsuch, of 64 guns, stationed as a floating battery at Hull. His next appointment was to the Brilliant, a small frigate, in which, after compelling a Spanish vessel of superior force to seek refuge under the batteries of Teneriffe, he sustained an action with two French ships of war each mounting 44 guns, and by a series of masterly manoeuvres, succeeded in effecting his escape[3].
Soon after this event, Captain Blackwood removed into the Penelope, a new frigate, of 36 guns, forming part of a squadron under the orders of Lord Nelson, on the Mediterranean station. In that ship, which for discipline, sailing, and manoeuvring, was the admiration of every officer who there witnessed her, he was employed in the blockade of Malta and watching le Guillaume Tell, of 86 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Decres, who had escaped from the battle of the Nile, and taken shelter in Valette harbour. Under cover of a dark night, March 30, 1800, the French ship ventured out; but was soon descried by Captain Blackwood, who im-
- ↑ See note *, at p. 502.
- ↑ See p. 119.
- ↑ The Brilliant was at the Nore during the mutiny in 1797, and four of her best seamen were severely flogged by order of the delegates for speaking disrespectfully of them. She was one of the ships ordered by the chief ringleader, Parker, to moor across the Thames, in order to obstruct the navigation of that river. See p. 160, et seq. In the following year, we find her at Newfoundland, under the orders of Vice-Admiral Waldegrave, now Lord Radstock.
