Byng now Viscount Torrington, for his spirited exertions in taking possession of El Pensée, Spanish letter of marque, the performance of which service is thus noticed by his lordship:
“El Pensée was taken possession of in a very dark and tempestuous night, the Galatea being then under a close-reefed main-top-sail, and Lieutenant Campbell, whom we hoisted out in a boat from off the booms, was upwards of an hour before he got alongside the Spaniard. No sooner had he reached the prize, than his boat was stove. The weather continued so bad that we had no communication with him for ten days, during which time he had only six men with him to navigate the ship, and to keep upwards of 20 prisoners in subjection. While between us and the prize, the boat was upwards of half an hour out of our sight, and had the enemy made sail I should have been much at a loss what to do, every one believing that the boat was swamped. It was certainly the most anxious hour of my life.”
In another letter, written on the same subject, we find Lord Torrington expressing himself as follows:
“I never had a better officer than Campbell – both as a junior, and as my first lieutenant; he was always active, and ever ready for service. He boarded the Spanish letter of marque when the weather was so bad that, however I might have benefited by her capture, I do not think that I should have attempted to secure her that night if he had not volunteered. To have kept sight of her, it would have been impossible.”
Mr. Campbell continued in the Galatea until the peace of Amiens The following is a copy of a letter which was written in his favor to Earl St. Vincent, July 24, 1802:
“My Lord,– I was lately solicited by the friends of Lieutenant Donald Campbell, R.N. to apply to your Lordship in his behalf; but this I declined doing till some such certificate of his services as might be satisfactory to your Lordship and myself should be procured.
“I this morning received the certificate and letter which I now have the honor to enclose, and earnestly request your Lordship’s good offices in the young man’s favor. The chief object of his present application seems to be that of being appointed by your Lordship to the command of one of the Admiralty cutters, intended, as is generally reported, to be stationed along the coast of Scotland, for the suppression of smuggling.
“He is a connection of my family, and, as my every information leads me to believe, a very deserving officer. Should your Lordship’s other engagements interfere with the completion of his wishes, as to the particular object I have stated, it would be adding another favor to those you have already conferred on me, if your Lordship would include him in your list for
