event that reflects immortal honor on all concerned, and for which the squadron received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament[1].
Our officer retained the command of the Pallas until April 4, 1798, on which day she broke her best bower anchor during a heavy gale of wind in Plymouth Sound, and drove on shore under Mount Batten. The storm was so violent, attended with a tremendous sea, that no assistance could possibly be afforded to her, and it was for a considerable time doubtful whether any of the crew could be saved. The ship however, fortunately swung round and heeled over to the shore, by which means her people were sheltered from the breaking of the sea, and enabled to reach the land on the ebb-tide, excepting one man who was killed by the fall of the masts. The greater part of her stores and materials were also preserved, but the vessel herself was completely wrecked.
Captain Curzon’s next appointment was in the month of Feb. 1799, to the Indefatigable, of 46 guns[2], in which ship he accompanied the expedition against Ferrol, in the autumn of 1800[3]; and on the 23d Oct. following, captured the Venus French frigate of 32 guns and 200 men, from Rochefort, bound to Senegal. About the same period he also intercepted several large privateers. In December 1800, our officer was superseded at sea, being nominated to the command of the Montagu, 74; but that ship having sailed for Lisbon and the West Indies with an acting Captain before he could arrive in England to join her, he was appointed to the Audacious, of the same force, at Plymouth, which vessel he fitted out; but, when nearly ready for sea, found his health so much impaired as to be under the necessity of retiring for a while from active service.
From this period Captain Curzon’s health continued in a very precarious state until the year 1807, when being sufficiently recovered to resume the duties of his profession, he
- ↑ See p. 354.
- ↑ On this occasion Captain Curzon succeeded Sir Edward Pellew, (now Viscount Exmouth,) who had been appointed to a ship of the line. The Indefatigable was built as a 64 in 1784, and cut down to a frigate in 1794.
- ↑ See note at p. 220.
