and surrendered by capitulation. On this service, two seamen belonging to the Arethusa, who were acting with the troops on shore, were killed; and 7 seamen killed, and 5 wounded, on board the Mermaid, by the bursting of one of her main-deck guns. We next find our officer employed at the conquest at Trinidad, and destruction of a Spanish squadron, by the forces under Sir Ralph Abercromby and Rear-Admiral H. Harvey, in Feb. 1797[1], on which occasion he superintended the debarkation of the army.
On the 10th Aug. following, the Arethusa being on her passage from the West Indies, with a detained neutral in tow, discovered three sail to windward, one of which, the Gaieté, a French corvette of 20 long 8-pounders and 186 men, had the temerity to bear down and commence an action, which she maintained for half an hour; when being much cut up in her sails and rigging, and unassisted by her consorts, she struck her colours. The enemy had 2 men killed and 8 wounded. The Arethusa 1 killed and 3 wounded.
On the 24th July, 1799, H.R.H. the late Duke of Kent embarked on board the Arethusa at Portsmouth, and proceeded in her to Halifax. During the remainder of the war she was employed in occasional cruizes, and captured several of the enemy’s privateers. In the spring of 1801, she escorted an East India fleet from St. Helena to England; and early in the following year brought Brigadier-General Clinton and suite home from Madeira, at which island Captain Wolley had been presented with the thanks of the British Factory, for the protection he had at different times during the war afforded to their interests. A sword was at the same time voted to him, as a mark of the respect entertained by that body for his professional character.
From this period, we find no particular mention of our officer until Aug. 1, 1811, on which day he was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral. His commission as Vice-Admiral bears date Aug. 12, 1819. He married, April 7, 1804, Miss Francklyn, of Lansdowne Crescent, Bath.
Residence.– Clifton, Somersetshire.
