from the impending danger under his convoy, made no effort to obstruct him, although there can be no doubt that they were aware of the rupture which had taken place, one of their frigates having been chased into that port a day or two before by the Narcissus.
On the 8th July, 1803, Captain Donnelly, being off Sardinia, fell in with, and after a pursuit of twenty-two hours, captured l’Alcion, a French corvette, of 16 guns and 96 men, returning from Alexandria, where she had been on a particular mission. He was subsequently entrusted by Lord Nelson with the command of a squadron of frigates employed in watching the port of Toulon; and so high an opinion did that immortal hero entertain of his abilities, both as an officer and a seaman, that he placed his own relative, the present Captain W. B. Suckling, and several other young gentlemen in whose welfare he felt an interest, under his immediate care[1].
In July 1804, Captain Donnelly, sent the boats of his squadron to destroy about a dozen of the enemy’s settees lying at la Vandour, in Hiéres Bay, which service was gallantly executed under a tremendous fire of great guns and musketry, as well from the vessels as from a battery, and the houses of the town, close to which they were hauled in, and well secured by hawsers from their keels to the shore.
To those officers who can boast of having served under the immediate command of Lord Nelson, the introduction of the following letter may appear superfluous. To others, however, it will serve as a specimen of the familiar manner in which he always communicated his orders and ideas to those on whose “ability and zeal” he could “rely.” We select it from among many others, which have been placed in our hands by the friends of the various gentlemen to whom they were addressed:
- ↑ Among the gentlemen on the quarter-deck of the Narcissus at that period, were the sons of Lord Duncan, Sir Hyde Parker, Admiral Holloway, and Sir Thomas Troubridge. In writing to the latter distinguished officer, March 17, 1804, Lord Nelson says, “Your son cannot be any where so well placed as with Donnelly.” See Clarke and M‘Arthur’s Life of Nelson, 4to edit. Vol. II, p. 360.
