for sea. The crew of this vessel had gone below for shelter; and so complete was the surprise, that they were secured under hatches, the cables cut, sail made, and the vessel brought safe out past all the forts, without the least alarm being given. We subsequently find him serving on shore with the army under Sir Charles Grey, at the reduction of Guadaloupe.
In Oct. 1794, the Avenger being then paid off at Portsmouth, Lieutenant Harper received an appointment to the Defence 74, Captain Thomas Wells, which ship formed part of the fleet under Vice-Admiral Hotham, and was one of the first that got into action, July 13, 1795[1]. Her loss on that occasion was one killed and six wounded.
The Defence was afterwards stationed off Cadiz, where we find Lieutenant Harper engaged in all the various boat services that took place in the summer of 1797. He also bore a part at the glorious battle of the Nile, on which occasion the Defence was commanded by Captain John Peyton, and sustained a loss of 15 men killed and wounded. Previous to that ever memorable conflict, many of her crew had died of fever, occasioned by alternate exposure to the sun and dews, for several successive days and nights, while watering at Syracuse. Among those severely attacked, and whose recovery the medical men long despaired of, was Mr. Harper, then second lieutenant, who had volunteered to superintend the performance of that extremely fatiguing duty. It is worthy of remark, that the first lieutenant of the Defence was only five days senior to him in rank: the one was made commander immediately after the brilliant victory in Aboukir bay; but the other did not obtain promotion until nearly twelve years subsequent thereto.
In Jan. 1800, Lieutenant Harper removed to the Glory 98, Captain Thomas Wells, from which ship he was paid off, at Chatham, in April 1802. He afterwards served as flag-lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Barthomolew S. Rowley, who placed him in command of the Admiral Mitchell cutter, and
