“Ah! youngster, what’s the matter? what’s the matter? – I say, Hood, what does he keep his hands behind him for?” exclaimed the King, on seeing Mr. Ayscough place himself in that posture; and having discovered the cause by walking round him, he desired his august consort to come and look also. The royal pair then joined in a hearty laugh, after which his Majesty said, “Well, but tell me, tell me, youngster, what you have been doing?” – “Making a pudding, please your Majesty.” – “Well then,” continued the King “go below and finish it; and when it is done, let me know.” Mr. Ayscough did as he was commanded; the sovereign of Great Britain, and most of the royal family, went down to the Midshipmen’s birth, partook of the homely pudding with their usual affability, and good humouredly declared it to be excellent!!
Mr. Ayscough received his first commission in 1793, and subsequently served on board the Monarch, Romney 50 (as senior Lieutenant), and Queen Charlotte; the two former ships successively bearing the flag of his friend and patron Sir James Wallace, on the Newfoundland station[1]; the latter a first-rate, commanded by the late Sir Andrew Snape Douglas[2], with whom he continued until his promotion to the rank of Commander, in 1797.
In the summer of 1799, we find Captain Ayscough commanding the Blanche frigate, armed en flute, and accompanying the expedition under Vice-Admiral Mitchell and Sir Ralph Abercromby, to Holland, where he served as a volunteer at the time of debarkation near the Helder, and continued with the fleet until the surrender of the Texel squadron[3]. Returning from thence, with a convoy under his protection, he had the misfortune to be wrecked, through the ignorance or misconduct of his pilot, as will be seen by the following extracts from his official narrative:
- ↑ Sir James Wallace died in Gloucester Place, Portman Square, Mar. 6, 1803.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 54.
- ↑ See Vol. I. note at pp. 414–417.
