the 1st July, the crew of the Kingfisher, partaking of the same diabolical spirit which had already disseminated itself through a large portion of our navy, gave the first proofs of its having extended to the ships under the orders of Earl St. Vincent. Captain Maitland lost no time in adopting the most decisive measures for its suppression. Assisted by his officers and marines, he immediately rushed, sword in hand, amongst the mutineers, several of whom were killed and wounded in the affray, and the rest reduced to obedience, himself and his supporters, though greatly inferior in point of numbers, escaping unhurt. The Commander-in-Chief was so well pleased with his conduct on this alarming occasion, that he immediately posted him into the San Nicholas, one of the Spanish prizes at that period lying in the Tagus; and, it is said, was afterwards in the habit of recommending “Doctor Maitland’s recipe,” in the event of mutiny, to the rest of his fleet.
In consequence, we believe, of the handsome manner in which Earl St. Vincent represented the foregoing affair to the Board of Admiralty, Captain Maitland’s post commission was confirmed by their Lordships on the 11th of the following month. He returned to England in the San Nicholas, and paid her off at Plymouth towards the latter end of the same year.
From 1800 to 1803, our officer commanded the Glenmore frigate, on Channel service. On the renewal of hostilities, he commissioned the Boadicea, of 38 guns, in which ship, being on his return from Ferrol, he fell in with the Duguay-Trouin, a French 74, and la Guerriere frigate, of 38 guns. Judging from their appearance, that they were armed en flute, and being aware that all the French ships returning from St. Domingo to Europe were in a very sickly state, he chased them for nearly 24 hours, and at length succeeded in bringing the former to close action; but very prudently hauled off on finding her to be fully manned and armed. Previous to his doing so, however, he had brought down the enemy’s fore-top-sail-yard, and sent several shot between wind and water, which, according to the testimony of an Englishman, then a prisoner on board the 74, but who was afterwards liberated, compelled her to keep the pumps incessantly going during the ensuing
