removed to the Victory; in which ship he returned to England as Master’s Mate, towards the close of 1794.
On his arrival at Portsmouth, Mr. Wolfe was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in the Phaeton frigate, commanded by the Hon. Robert Stopford, with whom he continued about two years and nine months[1]. In Sept. 1797, he was made a Commander, and appointed to the Sally armed ship, on the North Sea station.
Soon after this promotion, Captain Wolfe being on a cruise off the Yorkshire coast, in a very thick fog, suddenly found himself close to a French ship, which afterwards proved to be le Republicain of 36 guns and 360 men. The Sally, originally a collier, mounted 14 old fashioned carronades (24-pounders), and had a complement of 45 men. On the fog beginning to disperse, the enemy, then within pistol-shot, was observed lowering a boat to take possession of his expected prize, whose starboard guns, loaded with two rounds of grape-shot, were instantaneously discharged into the French frigate, and with such effect as to bring down her jib and spanker, which afforded Captain Wolfe an opportunity of putting about and effecting his escape: the confusion on board le Republicain, occasioned by this unexpected salute, being so great, that by the time she had wore and come to the wind on the other tack, the Sally was at least a mile on her weather bow. Captain Wolfe’s conduct on this occasion was highly approved by the Admiralty.
The Sally was afterwards employed affording protection to the Baltic and Hamburgh trade; and in the course of the two following years, captured several Dutch vessels, two of which were Greenlandmen[2].
- ↑ The Phaeton was one of the squadron that escorted the Princess Caroline of Brunswick from Cuxhaven to England, in April 1795. She afterwards resumed her station in the Channel; and among other services, destroyed l’Echoué of 28 guns; captured la Bonne Citoyenne of 20 guns; three large privateers, and a number of merchant vessels; and assisted at the capture of two French frigates, one mounting 36, the other 30 guns. She also formed part of the squadron under Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, during his masterly retreat; an account of which will be found in Vol. I. note *, at p. 354.
- ↑ The Cruiser, Captain Charles Wollaston, was in company at this latter capture.
