Crescent frigate. His next appointment was to the Doris, of 38 guns; and in that ship, under the orders of Admiral Cornwallis, he was invested with the command of a squadron of frigates, to watch the motions of the French fleet in Brest harbour.
Zealous for the honor of the service, and anxious to perform some act that might add to his professional fame, Captain Brisbane, while thus occupied, took an opportunity of entering the port, and of rowing round the enemy’s fleet, to ascertain whether its destruction might be practicable. Conceiving it to be so, with that fertility of expedient by which he has always been distinguished, he formed a plan for burning the ships, which was accepted by the Admiral; but in consequence of some difficulties which arose, in the appointment of officers for carrying it into effect, the attempt was not made.
In the month of July, 1801, the boats of the Doris and other ships cut the French corvette la Chevrette out of Camaret Bay. The undaunted bravery of British seamen was perhaps never more firmly resisted by an enemy than on this occasion; but the heroic determination of the assailants overcame every resistance that could be opposed to them by superior force, and complete success crowned at length their gallant exertions. An account of this dashing exploit will be found in our next volume, under the head of Captain Keith Maxwell, who commanded the boats; but it is proper to remark in this place, that the plan of the enterprise, and the orders for its execution, emanated solely from the subject of this memoir.
The truce of Amiens having rendered Captain Brisbane’s services in the channel no longer necessary, he was appointed
obedience. A proclamation was issued, and only two hours were allowed for them to deliberate, whether they would accept the terms offered. Ten minutes before the expiration of the time granted, the mutineers finding that it was positively determined to sink the Tremendous, in case of refusal, hoisted the flag of submission on board that ship, which was immediately followed by all the others. The delegates were given up, many of them tried and executed, others severely flogged, and good order and discipline once more restored in the squadron.
Captain Stephens was afterwards advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral. He died at Great Ealing, in Middlesex, Dec. 25, 1819.
