of his men slain or wounded. His only remaining mast falling soon after, and in its fall killing another Lieutenant and several of his people, he was never able to regain his station.
The total loss sustained by the Bellerophon on this memorable occasion was 49 killed, and 148 wounded. Our officer returned to England in the spring of 1800; and in addition to the gold medal, which was presented to him in common with the other Captains, who shared in the dangers and glories of the above battle, he received the flattering compliment of being appointed to the command of a new 74-gun ship, named after Earl Spencer, the nobleman under whose administration, as First Lord of the Admiralty, so many splendid victories had been achieved.
Towards the latter end of Jan. 1801, a French squadron, consisting of six sail of the line, two frigates, and a lugger, under the command of Rear Admiral Gantheaume, found means to escape out of Brest; a circumstance no sooner known, than Sir Robert Calder was detached in pursuit, with an adequate force, of which the Spencer formed a part. From the intelligence which he had received, Sir Robert was induced to shape his course for the West Indies; but on his arrival at Jamaica, he learnt that the enemy had entered the Mediterranean, whereupon he returned to England, and resumed his station in the Channel fleet.
Captain Darby was subsequently employed in the blockade of Cadiz, under the orders of Sir James Saumarez; and in the attempt made by that officer on a French squadron near Algeziras, July 6, 1801[1], the Spencer had 30 men killed and wounded.
In the month of Dec. following, Captain Darby and others were sent to Jamaica to watch the motions of an armament, which the consular government of France, taking advantage of the supension of hostilities occasioned by the treaty of Amiens, had sent to St. Domingo, to reduce the blacks in that island to submission.
In Sept. 1802, he returned to England with a broad pendant, as Commodore of a squadron sent home in consequence of the surrender of Toussaint to the French forces.
