Gardner into his flag ship, the Queen, a second rate, then on the West India station, but soon afterwards attached to the Channel fleet under the orders of Earl Howe.
Early in 1794, the French fitted out a powerful fleet, manned with the flower of their marine, and commanded by an officer of acknowledged bravery and long experience. On board the Admiral’s ship were two Commissioners, delegated by the National Convention to animate by their presence the operations of the armament, and inspire the seamen with a more than ordinary portion of hostility against the British nation; but the intentions of the enemy, in spite of all their measures, and the bravery, bordering on desperation, with which they fought, were, happily for the safety of England, averted by the splendid victory gained by Earl Howe on the memorable 1st of June. The conduct of the Queen on that never to be forgotten occasion, and in the preceding battle of May 29, is thus described by a contemporary writer:
“Of the twelve or fourteen ships that had the good fortune to be engaged (May 29), the Queen, Royal George, and Royal Sovereign, were those only whose casualties were of serious consequence[1]. Such were the exertions on board the first-named ship of the three, that, before dark, new sails were bent fore and aft; a main-top-sail-yard had been got up for a fore-yard, a fore-top-gallant-mast for a mizen-top-mast, and a fore-top-gallant-yard for a mizen-top-sail-yard; and the Queen was reported again ready for service.” See James’s Nav. Hist. Part I. Vol. I. p. 201.
“The Queen, in bearing down to engage, (June 1,) having suffered considerably in her sails and rigging, was unable to get abreast of her proper opponent, the Northumberland; who, with her fore and main tacks down, was running fast a-head. She therefore closed with the seventh French ship, the Scipion. This ship also made sail a-head, and then ran to leeward; but the Queen kept close upon her starboard quarter, and annoyed her much. The Scipion, having had her colours twice shot away, re-hoisted them at the mizen-top-gallant-mast-head. At three quarters past ten, her mizen-mast came by the board. At eleven, the Queen’s mainmast went over the lee-side, springing, in its fall, the mizen-mast, and carrying away the fore part of the poop, and the barricade of the quarterdeck. In another quarter of an hour, the main-mast of the Scipion came down; and, almost immediately afterwards, her fore-mast. By this time the Queen had fallen round off; and the Scipion’s crew, having been driven from their quarters with great slaughter, came upon deck, and waved submission with their hats. But the Queen was in too disabled a state to take possession- ↑ Queen, mizen-top-mast and fore-yard shot away; main-mast, bowsprit, and foretop-mast shot through, 22 men killed, and 27 wounded.
