St. Christopher’s[1]; as well as in the battles between Rodney and de Grasse, April 9 and 12, 1782; on which latter day she sustained a loss of 12 men killed and 23 wounded.
As there are many officers still alive who were eye witnesses of that glorious combat, they will recollect, in the latter part of the day, when the smoke cleared up a little, and there was a short interval of repose, what was the appearance of the Canada; – she had been almost entirely unrigged in the action, her fore and main top-sail-ties were shot away, and the yards lying on the caps; – with scarcely any canvas to set, but a fore-top-gallant-sail, sheeted home as well as the situation of the top-sail-yard would admit, she was going large; and, as if impelled by the spirit of her commander, she kept way with the French ships, hanging on the quarter of la Ville de Paris until Count de Grasse was intercepted by the rear division of the British fleet. Having then set as much sail as circumstances would permit, she went in pursuit of the flying enemy, and was among the ships whose fire gilded the horizon after the close of that ever memorable day.
On her arrival at Jamaica, the Canada was surveyed, and found to be in such a very rotten state, that Sir George B. Rodney determined upon sending her home in company with the prizes, and a large convoy under Rear-Admiral Graves. Previous to her departure from Port Royal, she was caulked between wind and water, and coppered higher up, to which Captain Cornwallis attributed her escape from the same melancholy fate that befel the Centaur, Ville de Paris, &c. &c.[2] The Canada was paid off soon after her return to England, on which occasion Mr. Gore followed his gallant captain into the Dragon 74. In Mar. 1783, he joined the Iphigenia frigate. Captain James Cornwallis, under whom he served in the West Indies till Oct. 1786.
His health being now much impaired by that climate, Mr. Gore was discharged into the Royal Charlotte yacht, the command of which vessel had been conferred upon the Hon. William Cornwallis, at the close of the American war. We
