tion, should it be found necessary to use force, in order to obtain possession of that island. We have already hinted, that the subject of this memoir served part of his time as midshipman under Sir Samuel Hood; and we have mentioned the above circumstance merely to shew that, in every situation, he has had the good fortune to obtain the favorable opinion of his superior officers.
The Success returned to England with the bearer of Sir Samuel Hood’s despatches announcing the peaceable surrender of Madeira; and we subsequently find her proceeding to a high northern latitude, for the purpose of affording protectection to the Greenland fishery. In Aug. 1808, having embarked the Turkish ambassador and his suite, together with Viscount Jocelyn, now Earl of Roden, Captain Ayscough took charge of the outward bound Mediterranean trade; and on his arrival at Malta he received a letter signed by the masters of the merchantmen, requesting him to accept their “sincere thanks for the great and unremitted attention he had paid to the fleet under his convoy, the safety of which was ensured by his judicious measures.”
The Success was next employed in conveying the Turkish ambassador from Malta to the coast of Albania; and she afterwards proceeded with part of his suite to the entrance of the Dardanelles, where she landed her passengers on the 28th November. In Mar. 1809, she brought two Austrian messengers, charged with important despatches, from Valette harbour to Portsmouth, making the voyage in twenty-three days. In the following month, she again sailed for the Mediterranean, with another valuable fleet under her escort.
On the 24th June 1809, Captain Ayscough joined the expedition proceeding against the islands of Ischia, Procida, &c. and understanding that a debarkation was to take place next day, he immediately volunteered to serve wherever his presence and exertions would be most useful. In consequence of this officer, he was directed by Rear-Admiral George Martin to land with the troops; and we know that (as was the case on the Helder expedition) his boat was either the first or second that touched the shore. A short time, how-
