At the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, the subject of this memoir commanded the Spitfire sloop, and captured several of the enemy’s privateers. On the 24th June in the same year, he was made post into the Hind, of 28 guns, stationed in the Channel.
Early in 1794, Captain Durham, being off the Start, was chaced by six French frigates, one of which approached so near to the Hind as to exchange a few shot, which killed two men and wounded some others. Captain Durham, before the rest could come up, got close in shore, upon which the Frenchmen tacked and stood over to their own coast. Our officer was soon after appointed to the Anson, a cutdown 64, mounting 46 guns, 24-pounders on the main-deck, long twelves and 42-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck and forecastle. In this ship he was employed for several years on the coasts of France and Ireland, principally under the orders of Sir John Borlase Warren.
In the summer of 1795, the Anson formed part of the armament sent against Quiberon, the proceedings of which will be found in our memoir of Viscount Exmouth[1]. On the 30th March, 1796, in company with la Pomone, Galatea, and Artois, she fell in with a fleet of seventy sail going for provisions for the French fleet in Brest, under the escort of five frigates, a ship of 22, and a brig of 20 guns. An engagement immediately ensued; but the enemy pushing through the Passage du Raz, the only ships taken were l’Etoile, of 30 guns, and four merchantmen.
On the 27th July, 1797, the Anson assisted at the destruc-
- ↑ See p. 219.
and children. The people who were on deck, to the number of 200 and upwards, were saved by going out on the top-sail yards, which remained above water after the ship reached the bottom. About 70 more were picked up by the boats from the other ships at the anchorage. Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt, the rest of the officers, and about 900 people, were drowned. Repeated attempts have since been made to weigh the Royal George, but in vain.
In the beginning of 1783, a monument was erected in the church-yard of Kingston, in the island of Portsea, to the memory of Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt, and his fellow sufferers. A large sum of money was also raised by subscription for the relief of the widows, &c. of those who perished.
