Some time after that memorable event, Mr. Leslie removed to the Foudroyant 80, bearing the flag of Lord Nelson, by whom he was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Success frigate, in Nov. 1799: this appointment, however, was not confirmed by the Admiralty until Oct. 1800; previous to which he had assisted at the capture of le Généreux, a French 74, proceeding to the relief of Malta[1].
Lieutenant Leslie was subsequently appointed to the Haerlem troop-ship, and Camilla of 20 guns. In 1806, he served as second of la Chiffonne frigate, Captain John Wainwright, on the Mediterranean station, where he was often employed in cutting out the enemy’s vessels; and on one occasion had 2 men killed and 3 wounded, in a boat under his immediate command.
La Chiffonne was next sent to the East Indies, on which station Lieutenant Leslie, then first of that ship, had several opportunities of distinguishing himself, as will be seen by the following copies of Captain Wainwright’s official and private letters to Rear-Admiral Drury, dated off Ras-al-Khyma, Nov. 14, 1809:–
“Sir,– I have the honor to acquaint your Excellency, that by the exertions of the troops and squadron, under the respective commands of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and myself, Ras-al-Khyma, the principal town of the pirates who have so long infested the Persian Gulf, has been completely destroyed, together with all the vessels in the port, amounting to upwards of fifty (about thirty of them very large dows), and every species of naval stores.
“The ships arrived off the place in the afternoon of the 11th instant, but in consequence of the shallowness of the water, they were not able to approach the town within 4 miles, with the exception of the small cruisers and two of the transports; these anchored about 2 miles from it. On the same evening, the Minerva, an English ship, prize to the pirates, was burnt within twice her length of the shore.
“On the following day, the town was cannonaded for three hours by the small cruisers and gun-boats, with considerable effect; and a little before day-break on the 13th, a feint was made on the northern end of the place with two gun-boats, under the command of Lieutenant Leslie, and a detachment of native troops. The main attack commenced on the southern end, about half an hour afterwards, consistently with an arrangement made by the Lieutenant-Colonel. The troops were soon landed, and, gallantly
