In the memorable battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797, the Southampton was one of the repeating frigates to the centre division of Sir John Jervis’s fleet. She returned to England in the month of June following, and was soon after put out of commission.
Captain Macnamara’s next appointment was to the Cerberus, of 32 guns, on the Irish station, where he captured l’Echange French letter of marque, of 10 guns and 40 men.
On the 20th Oct. 1799, our officer being on a cruize off Ferrol, fell in with a fleet of Spanish merchantmen, escorted by five frigates and two armed brigs, which he immediately attacked, and nearly succeeded in boarding one of the frigates; but was obliged to relinquish the attempt in consequence of being very closely pressed by the rest. He however took possession of, and after removing her people, set fire to one of the merchant vessels, in the midst of the enemy’s squadron. The Cerberus on this occasion had her main-top-sail yard-arm carried away by the rigging of the ship she had endeavoured to board, and sustained some other trivial damages, but had not a man killed, and only 4 wounded. The gallantry of her commander, in seeking a contest with so superior a foe, excited general admiration; and the Lords of the Admiralty, as a token of their approbation, paid him the compliment of promoting his first Lieutenant to the rank of Commander.
In 1800, Captain Macnamara was sent to the Jamaica station, where he cruized with considerable success during the remainder of the war. After the peace of Amiens, he went several times to St. Domingo, to confer with the French General Le Clerc. The Cerberus was paid off at Chatham in Feb. 1803, after having been most actively employed, and almost constantly at sea during a period of five years and a half.
On the 6th April, 1803, Captain Macnamara being in Hyde Park with his Newfoundland dog, the latter began fighting with one belonging to a Colonel Montgomery, who alighted from his horse to separate them. High words ensued between their respective owners, which led to a duel the same evening at Chalk Farm. The parties were both wounded, the Colonel mortally. A verdict of manslaughter having
