The gallant Admiral had, before that action, undertaken an enterprise that none but the most gallant officer and the bravest seamen could have attempted. He had failed through an accident by the falling of the wind; for I venture to say, if that had not failed him, Sir James would have captured the French squadron. The promptness with which he refitted, the spirit with which he attacked a superior force after his recent disaster, and the masterly conduct of the action, I do not think were ever surpassed.”
A short interval of peace restored the Rear-Admiral once more to the arms of his family, and the society of his friends; nor did the war that speedily ensued deprive them long of his presence; for as the proximity of his native island to the French coast rendered it liable to an attack, he was, after serving for a short period at the Nore, appointed to the command at Guernsey, which he retained until his promotion to the rank of Vice-Admiral, when he was nominated second in command of the Channel Fleet, under Earl St. Vincent. His Lordship being absent on Admiralty leave, Sir James was employed in watching the enemy’s fleet in Brest, until the month of August following; when, upon the appointment of Lord Gardner to the chief command of the Channel Fleet, he resumed his former station. In the month of March 1808, Sir James was appointed to the command of a strong squadron sent to the Baltic for the protection of the Swedish dominions, on which station he continued upwards of four years.
Previous to his departure for England, Sir James received a most superb sword, which was delivered to him by Baron Essen, Aide-de-camp to the Crown Prince (Bernadotte), accompanied by a flattering letter from his Royal Highness, expressive of the sense which the Swedish Government entertained of his services. The whole of the hilt is elegantly set with brilliants, of exquisite workmanship, and of great value. On the 24th June, 1813, his present Majesty, then Prince Regent, was pleased, in compliance with the request of the late King of Sweden, to invest Sir James with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Swedish Military Order of the Sword, conferred upon him by that Monarch, as a distinguished testimony of his royal regard and esteem.
