We should here observe, that Mr. Ussher was ill of the measles, and at sick-quarters, when intelligence arrived of the republican fleet being at sea towards the close of 1793; notwithstanding which, on hearing that Lord Howe was about to sail in pursuit of the enemy, he quitted his bed, procured a horse, and rode across the country from Dartmouth to Brixham, where he arrived just in time to get on board his ship before she left Torbay.
In the spring of 1795, Mr. Ussher followed Captain Pakenham into le Juste, which ship he had assisted in taking possession of, immediately after her surrender[1]. We subsequently find him serving under the late Sir Hugh C. Christian, K.B., in the Prince George 98, Glory second rate, and Thunderer 74. The disasters experienced by the fleet under that officer’s command, in Nov. and Dec. 1795, have been noticed at p. 296 et seq. of this volume: the midshipman alluded to in the note respecting Sir Ralph Abercromby, was Mr. Thomas Ussher.
At that period our young officer was entrusted with the charge of all the chronometers, and he consequently quitted the Thunderer when Sir Hugh Christian removed into the Astrea.
On arriving within a day’s sail of Barbadoes, the dead-reckoning being upwards of 200 miles ahead of the timekeepers and lunar observations, Sir Hugh was advised by the Captain of the Astrea not to run during the night; but instead of attending to that officer’s recommendation, he sent for Mr. Ussher, examined his calculations, and being convinced of their correctness, continued under the same sail until seven o’clock next morning, when the land was made within five
- ↑ See Vol. I., Part II., p. 643. N.B. Le Juste was saved from destruction by the presence of mind and promptitude of Lieutenant Blackwood, whose first measure was to secure the magazine, towards which he discovered the French captain crawling, although desperately wounded, with a lighted match in his hand, determined to involve all on board in one general ruin. This circumstance was not made known to us until after the publication of our first volume.
except as many wads and shot-plugs as they could spare; and then desired them to “go and tow Captain Molloy into the line!”
