under the orders of Lord Gambier, on the Irish station. Whilst equipping that vessel at Portsmouth, he had the honor of an interview with the immortal Nelson, who seized his hand, and expressed himself as follows:
“Captain Maurice, I am very happy to see you, and I lament that I did not arrive in the West Indies time enough to save you; but don’t let that make you uneasy, for I assure you there is no person who entertains a higher sense of your gallantry in the defence of the rock than myself: I am sorry their Lordships have not given you post-rank; however, you are placed under my orders, by my own particular request, and I will do every thing in my power to serve you.”
At the time of this interview, Nelson was about to resume the command of the Mediterranean fleet, but unfortunately the Savage could not be manned in time to accompany him, and her commander’s prospects of promotion were consequently blighted; the intelligence of his lordship’s glorious death having reached England whilst Captain Maurice was still at Portsmouth, strenuously but vainly endeavouring to render his sloop effective.
From Dec. 1805, until June, 1807, the Savage was chiefly employed convoying the trade from the different ports in St. George’s Channel to the Downs; and Captain Maurice had the good fortune never to lose a single vessel committed to his charge, during the whole of that period. We next find him escorting a fleet of merchantmen from Cork to the West Indies, and subsequently cruising under the orders of Rear-Admiral Dacres, on the Jamaica station, where he captured the Don Quixote, Spanish brig privateer, of 8 guns and 99 men, Dec. 1807.
In July, 1808, Captain Maurice joined the flag of Sir Alexander Cochrane, at Barbadoes; and the Admiralty having strongly recommended him to that officer for promotion, he was appointed Governor of Mariegalante, on the 1st Oct. following. His post commission bears date Jan. 18, 1809.
The command of a frigate would have been much more acceptable to Captain Maurice than this appointment; but as Sir Alexander paid him many compliments on his defence of the Diamond Rock, and there was a probability of Mariegalante being attacked, he lost no time in assuming the government
