the Island of Hydra in the ship’s cutter, when a violent squall of wind overset the boat, and consigned him, with a merchant, the coxswain, and three of the crew, to a watery grave. A gentle spirit, a hold daring, an eager thirst after knowledge, and an ardent love of his profession, formed in this lamented youth a bright promise for the future man and officer. – All who knew him grieve for his so brief career! To his sorrowing family the recollection of his mild and manly virtues, and his warm affections, although soothing to their distress, redouble their severe affliction for his loss.
VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. (p. 654.) The Active was detached alone by Commodore Johnstone to the East Indies.
P. 656. The Galatea, in company with the Doris frigate, re-captured two large Portuguese Brazil ships.
VICE-ADMIRAL BALLARD, (p. 676.) This officer’s grandfather, a Dutch merchant, settled at Portsmouth, married a grand-daughter of the Rev. Francis Chandler, a bold, awakening, and popular preacher, and a man of great piety and learning, who lost a considerable property in houses by the great fire of 1666. His father, Samuel, went to sea at a very early age with Admiral Holmes, but afterwards became a merchant at Portsmouth, and married a Miss Flint of Epsom in Surrey, to which county he retired from business in 1784.
Mr. S. J. Ballard entered the naval service on board the Valiant, of 74 guns, commanded by the Hon. John Leveson Gower, Dec. 1, 1776; and in that ship was present at the capture of the Licorne and Pallas, French frigates, by the fleet under Admiral Keppel; and in the action with M. d’Orvilliers, off Brest, July 27, 1778[1], on which occasion the Valiant had 6 men killed and 26 wounded. In Oct. 1779, he was removed into the Shrewsbury, another third rate, commanded by Captain Mark Robinson, and soon after sailed, in company with the fleet under Sir G. B. Rodney, to the relief of Gibraltar.
On the passage thither, the Shrewsbury assisted at the capture of a Spanish convoy, and the defeat of Don Juan de Langara, Jan 8 and 16, 1780[2]. Returning to England with the prizes in the ensuing month, she also contributed to the capture of a French 64, and several merchant ships, by the squadron under Rear-Admiral Digby. We next find her proceeding to the West Indies, where she bore a part in no less than five actions with the French fleet commanded by Count de Grasse, viz., off Martinique, April 29, 1781; off the Chesapeake, Sept. 5th in the same year; and in Basseterre Road Jan. 25, 26, and 27, 1782. In the two former she sustained a loss of 20 men slain and 66 wounded; among the latter was Captain Robinson, who unfortunately lost a leg[3] .
- ↑ See note †, at p. 195.
- ↑ See note †, at p. 3, et seq.
- ↑ See p. 133. N.B. The Shrewsbury also assisted at the reduction of St. Eustatia.
