minutes of the time computed by Mr. Ussher. On approaching Carlisle bay, the expedition under Sir John Laforey was seen under weigh!
Previous to the commencement of active operations against St. Lucia, Mr. Ussher, then only in the fifth year of his probationary term, was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Minotaur 74; and during the siege of that island we find him commanding a party of seamen, attached to the army under Sir Ralph Abercromby; whose acknowledgment of the services performed by the navy will be found in our memoir of Admiral George Bowen: an extract to the same effect, taken from Sir Hugh Christian’s despatches, is given at p. 140 of Vol. II. Part I.
After the reduction of St. Lucia, Mr. Ussher was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Pelican brig, in which vessel he was serving when she engaged and beat off the Médée, French frigate, mounting 40 guns, with a complement of 300 men[1].
On the day subsequent to that brilliant action, Mr. Ussher was taken prisoner in the army-victualler which had been recaptured by the Pelican; but we shortly afterwards find him regaining his liberty, and, in the following year, assisting at the destruction of le Trompeur, French privateer brig, of 16 guns and 160 men and boys. This latter service was performed by the Pelican, off Cape Nichola Mole, Sept. 17, 1797: the enemy came down with great confidence to attack the British sloop, and maintained a warm action from 8-45 until 9-20 A.M., when he made sail and endeavoured to get away; but Lieutenant Thomas White, acting commander of the Pelican, lost no time in repairing his running rigging, which had been very much cut, and succeeded in again getting alongside of his opponent about a quarter before one o’clock, when the combat was renewed with much spirit on both sides, the French captain fighting his brig with the most determined bravery, and constantly exposing himself by standing on the hammocks, directing and exhorting his crew.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 728 et seq. N.B. Mr. James has since admitted that the Médée was armed and manned as above stated – also that she had 33 men killed and wounded. See his first vol., 2d edit., pp. 511 and 512.
