inn to take refreshments. Whilst he was thus employed, the boatmen suspecting something wrong from his extreme anxiety to cross the Channel, communicated their suspicions to the Collector of the Customs, who, taking some of the civil power to his aid, placed himself near the boat, and on his Lordship coming down to embark, seized his person, and conveyed him back. On searching his pockets, they found the identical letter written by M. Bompard, together with a considerable sum of money, a brace of pistols, and a dagger. His Lordship refusing to answer any questions, they hurried him into a post-chaise, and proceeded to the office of the Secretary of State, in London. A Privy Council was immediately summoned, an investigation took place, and on Lord Camelford saying all his intentions were known to Captain Manby, the latter was waited on by Lord Grenville, and received an order from the Duke of Portland to attend the following morning at the Treasury, where he underwent a long examination before the Privy Council assembled for that purpose; and by his answers, set every thing in its proper light. His Lordship was forthwith liberated, but soon afterwards received an official message from the Board of Admiralty, acquainting him that he was not to have the Charon. Hurt and mortified at this intelligence, as he had made great preparations for assuming the command of that ship, his Lordship wrote to desire his name might be erased from the list of Commanders, which the Board instantly complied with; at the same time giving post rank to Captain Manby, and appointing Captain Mackellar to succeed him in the Charon[1]. Towards the latter end of the same year, Captain Manby was appointed to le Bourdelois of 24 guns; in which ship, during a long cruise off the Western islands, he captured a valuable French schooner from Guadaloupe, laden with coffee. Le Bourdelois was afterwards employed in the blockade of Flushing; but from her lowness in the water, and great length, she proved so perpetually wet, that her crew got sick, and rendered it highly necessary to remove her from that service.
- ↑ Lord Camelford was one of Captain Manby’s messmates in the Discovery. The barony became extinct by his demise in 1804. See Vol. I note at p. 716.
