mediately on his return to Europe he was nominated to the distinguished station of First Captain in the Grand Fleet, where he continued to serve during the whole of the period that Lord Bridport held the chief command; hoisting his flag at times during his Lordship’s absence; and the arrangements made by him for the discipline, health, and support of the fleet, did him the greatest credit, and gave general satisfaction. On the 27th June, 1799, Lord Bridport struck his flag, and Rear-Admiral Pole put to sea in the Royal George, accompanied by a fire-ship, three bombs, and several smaller vessels. On the 1st July, he joined Rear-Admiral Berkeley’s squadron off the Isle of Rhé, and the next day proceeded to attack five Spanish line-of-battle ships, which had taken shelter under the protection of the batteries on that island, and a floating mortar battery moored in the passage between a shoal and the Isle of Oleron. The squadron having anchored in Basque Road, the bombs took their stations under cover of the frigates commanded by Captain, now Sir Richard G. Keats, and opened their fire upon the enemy’s ships, which was continued with great briskness for three hours, but with no effect, the Spaniards being at too great a distance. The batteries from the Isle of Aix, during this time, kept up an incessant cannonade. The wind dying away, and the enemy having brought forward several gun-
wind shifted to the westward, and blew a violent gale, which dispersed the fleet; many of the ships put into Torbay, others into Portland, and some returned to Portsmouth. Several of the merchantmen and transports foundered, and many lives were lost.
Early in the following month, another attempt was made to get clear of the Channel; but the fleet was again separated in a dreadful storm, which continued with unabated fury for several weeks. Some of the vessels taking shelter in the Cove of Cork, were enabled to sail from thence on the 25th Feb. 1796, under the protection of Captain, now Admiral, George Bowen, of the Canada 74; but Sir Hugh Christian did not sail with the ships he had collected at Spithead until the 20th of the following month. Rear-Admiral Pole, who had been obliged, in consequence of the damage sustained by the Colossus, to remove his flag into the Carnatic, another ship of the same force, sailed for his original destination on the 12th April, and arrived at the Leeward Islands in the course of the ensuing month. He returned to England with Sir Hugh C. Christian (who had been superseded by Rear-Admiral Harvey) in the Beaulieu frigate, towards the latter end of the same year.
