winter of 1794 having set in early, and proved uncommonly severe.
Lieutenant Love’s next appointment was to the Helena sloop, Captain (now Sir John) Talbot, which vessel, when proceeding to America, encountered the same tempestuous weather which proved so fatal to the fleet under Rear-Admiral Christian, in Nov. 1795[1]; in consequence thereof she was obliged to return to Plymouth, after throwing overboard all her guns, and every thing on the main deck.
In April 1796, Lieutenant Love was appointed to the Formidable 98, Captain the Hon. George C. Berkeley; and during the mutiny at Spithead we find him left commanding officer on board that ship. Previous to its termination, the Intrepid 64, then recently commissioned, and under sailing orders, came out of harbour, anchored near the Formidable, and soon evinced the usual symptoms of disaffection. Observing her crew reeve yard-ropes, &c. instead of weighing anchor, when they had been paid their two months wages in advance. Lieutenant Love sent an officer and a few trusty men to remonstrate with them, and soon had the satisfaction of finding that this measure, adopted with the concurrence of their captain (the present Sir William Hargood), had produced the desired effect.
In June, 1797, the Formidable and six other ships of the line were ordered to join Admiral Duncan, in the North Sea. On this occasion. Lieutenant Love observed that the Caesar 80 was very tardy in her movements; and the same men whom he had before sent to the Intrepid, were immediately despatched to reason with her crew, which proved equally successful.
The Formidable was subsequently fitted for the reception of Admiral Duncan, and she sailed through the Downs to join him on the very day that he gained his most brilliant victory off Camperdown. On her return to Portsmouth she was selected for the flag of Sir Charles Thompson, by one of whose followers Lieutenant Love was superseded
