the Leeward Islands, in 1805. Unfortunately for those belonging to her, she was sent to compleat her water and provisions, at Tetuan and Gibraltar, a short time previous to the battle of Trafalgar, and thereby prevented from sharing in that most glorious combat[1]. We have already stated that she bore a conspicuous share in Sir John T. Duckworth’s action, off St. Domingo, Feb. 6, 1806, on which occasion her loss amounted to 18 killed and 50 wounded[2].
Mr. Douglas was advanced to the rank of lieutenant, and appointed to the Horatio, a new 38-gun frigate, Aug. 8, 1807. In her, he visited Quebec, and afterwards served on the Halifax and West India stations.
On the 10th Feb. 1809, the Horatio fought a very gallant action with la Junon French frigate, the capture of which is noticed at p. 147 of Vol. II. Part I. For his conduct on that occasion. Lieutenant Douglas, who, to use the words of Lord Mulgrave, then at the head of the Admiralty, “so nobly supplied the place of his disabled captain” was promoted as soon as he had completed the time prescribed by his Majesty’s Order in Council. His commission as a Commander consequently bears date, Aug. 8, 1809.
On the 18th July, 1810, Captain Douglas was appointed to the Brune troop-ship, and he continued to command her until his promotion to post rank, Feb. 28, 1812. His next appointment was, April 28, 1814, to the Levant, mounting eighteen 32-pounder carronades and 2 long nines, with an established complement of 135 officers, men, and boys. The heroic defence made by that ship and her consort, the Cyane, of twenty-two 32-pounder carronades, eight 18-pounder ditto, 2 long sixes, and 185 officers, men, and boys, (10 of the latter supernumeraries), against the Constitution, an American forty-four, mounting 32 long 24-pounders and twenty-two 32-pounder carronades, with 472 persons on board, only three of whom were boys, is deserving of particular notice.
On the 20th Feb. 1815, at 1 P.M., the island of Madeira bearing W.S.W., distant 60 leagues, the Constitution,
