terest about, but thia officer seems to be a child of the service, as every body speaks highly of him, consequently we all owe attention to such merit, and you may depend upon my endeavours to serve him. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To the Right Hon. Lord Keith, &c. &c.”
In 1804, the subject of this memoir was appointed to command Sir John T. Duckworth’s flag-ship; and he appears to have also acted for some time as flag-captain to that officer’s successor, the late Vice-Admiral Dacres; by whom, we believe, he was successively appointed to the Reynard and Goelan sloops, Malabar 50, and Success frigate. His post commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, April 18, 1806.[1] At the close of 1806, Captain Ayscough convoyed a large fleet of merchantmen to England; and after refitting his frigate, he was employed blockading Havre, until Nov. 1807, when his friend Sir Samuel Hood, who was at that period appointed to command an armament destined against Madeira, did him the honor to apply for the Success to be placed under his orders; intending to assign her a conspicuous sta-
- ↑ On the 20th Nov. 1806, Captain Ayscough despatched his barge and another boat in pursuit of a small felucca, which he observed running into Hidden Port, near Cumberland harbour, Cuba. The officers employed on this occasion were Lieutenants William Duke and Charles Spence, acting Lieutenant Dowel O’Reilly, and Mr. William Rand Hughes, Master’s-mate. On their approach, they found that the crew of the felucca, about 50 in number, had landed with their small-arms, and their only long gun; lashed the vessel to some trees, and posted themselves on a hill close to the beach, from which eminence they soon began to fire down on the boats, with grape and musketry, in a most determined manner. Lieutenant Duke was killed the first volley; but Lieutenant Spence and his brave companions maintained a warm action for one hour and twenty minutes, during which several of the enemy were observed to fall, and 7 of the British, including Mr. O’Reilly, were wounded. The barge being by this time shot through in many places, and the enemy’s position too commanding to be attempted by escalade with any probability of success. Lieutenant Spence very prudently resolved to content himself with carrying off the felucca; which he accomplished without any further loss, although the enemy did all in their power to sink her, and so nearly succeeded in effecting their purpose, that she went down astern of the Success, very soon after her capture. She proved to be le Vengeur Frenoli privateer, belonging to St. Domingo.
