has recently sailed to assume the chief command on the coast of Africa, with his broad pendant in the Sybille frigate. His brother, Henry T. Browne Collier, obtained post rank Dec. 26, 1822.
Agents.– Messrs. Goode and Clarke.
GEORGE MILLER BLIGH, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1808.]
This officer entered the service in 1794, as a midshipman on board the Alexander of 74 guns, commanded by his father, the late Admiral Sir Richard Rodney Bligh, G.C.B,, and was m that ship when she was captured by a French squadron under Mons. Neuilly, on the 6th Nov. following.
The heroic defence of the Alexander has never been surpassed in our naval annals. Her gallant commander’s official account of that desperate conflict will be given under the head of Commander James Godench: the sufferings endured by her officers and crew, during their imprisonment, have been described at p. 702 of our second volume.
After a captivity of six months’ duration, Mr. George M. Bligh fortunately effected his escape from Brest, and returned to England in an American ship, on board of which was Lady Anne Fitzroy (sister to the Duke of Wellington), who had been taken in a packet when coming home from Lisbon. We subsequently find him serving in the Brunswick 74[1], Agincourt 64, Quebec 32, and Endymion 40; from which latter frigate he was promoted, immediately after passing his examination, in 1801.
During the remainder of the French revolutionary war, Mr. Bligh served as a Lieutenant of the Brunswick, then commanded by Captain George Hopewell Stephens; and at the renewal of hostilities he had the gratification of being appointed to the flag-ship of Lord Nelson, whose high opinion of, and good will towards him, will be seen by the following copies of letters addressed to his highly-respected father:
