ships in the hands of the British, as a substantial reward for their brave and determined perseverance[1].
On the following day Lord Bridport despatched Captain Domett with his official account of the action to the Admiralty, where he arrived on the morning of the 27th.
The following is an extract from his Lordship’s public letter, which we introduce for the purpose of evincing the estimation in which that nobleman held the bearer’s professional conduct: “I beg also to be allowed to mark my approbation, in a particular manner, of Captain Domett’s conduct, serving under my flag, for his manly spirit, and for the assistance I received from his active and attentive mind.”
Our officer continued in the command of the Royal George for a considerable time after Lord Bridport struck his flag, amounting in the whole to a period of about seven years and a half; a greater length of time, perhaps, than ever fell to the lot of an individual successively to command a first rate. During this period the Royal George was considered as one of the best disciplined and most expert ships in the British Navy.
In the month of Nov. 1800, in consequence of the Royal George being ordered to receive the flag of Sir Hyde Parker, Captain Domett was removed into the Belleisle of 80 guns, one of the prizes taken off l’Orient; and on a promotion of Flag-Officers taking place, Jan. 1, 1801, he had the honour of being nominated to one of the vacant Colonelcies of the Marine corps.
In the succeeding month, the subject of this memoir was appointed Captain of the fleet to be employed in the Baltic, under the command of Sir Hyde Parker. He accordingly proceeded with that officer in the London, a second rate, to the Sound; and after the battle, which took place off Copen-
- ↑ The fleet under Lord Bridport consisted of fourteen sail of the line, six frigates, and three smaller vessels; in addition to which, three other British line-of-battle ships were in sight, and joined in the chace, but were at too great a distance to share in the action, which only ceased when under the fire of the French batteries. The total loss sustained on our side was 31 killed, and 115 wounded. The captured ships were le Tigre, le Formidable, and l’Alexandre, (formerly British,) which had been taken by a French squadron at the commencement of the war.
