the royal navy as midshipman on board the Prevoyante frigate, Captain (now Sir John Poo) Beresford, under whom, and his successors, Captains Charles Wemyss and J. Seater, he continued, on the Halifax, Channel, and Downs stations, until paid off in 1800. During this period he witnessed the capture of several privateers and many merchantmen, the cutting out of la Desirée French frigate from Dunkirk roads[1], (on which occasion he was employed in a boat sent to pick up the crews of the fire-vessels, which had been prepared for the destruction of the enemy’s squadron), and the detention of the Danish frigate Freya and convoy near Ostend<ref>See Vol. I. Part II. p. 830.</ref>.
On the Prevoyante being put out of commission, Mr. Little joined the Leyden 64, Captain (afterwards Vice-Admiral) Bedford, employed in the blockade of Goree Island, coast of Holland, from which officer he received the following handsome testimonial:
“These are to certify whom it may concern, that Mr. John Little served as master’s mate of H.M. ship Leyden, under my command, from the 26th September, 1800, to the 15th August, 1801, when I gave him the command of one of the boats to be employed against the Boulougne flotilla, in which he was wounded, and all the crew (fifteen in number) either killed or wounded (except three), and yet he succeeded in making good his retreat; and on my representation of his gallant and judicious conduct on that and other occasions, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and at my particular request appointed lieutenant of the Leyden, in which capacity he conducted himself on all occasions as an able seaman and good officer.
On the particular occasion alluded to by Captain Bedford, this officer served under the immediate orders of the heroic Nelson, and succeeded in boarding and carrying a French gun-brig; but in consequence of her being secured by a chain to the shore, and the very severe fire of grape and musquetry kept up by the batteries and troops, he was obliged reluc-
