On the 11th April, 1794, Commodore Linzee was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral; and when, in consequence of his promotion, he hoisted his flag on board the Windsor Castle of 98 guns, Mr. Downman went with him into that ship, as second Lieutenant. He returned to England with Lord Hood in the Victory, a first rate, at the latter end of the same year.
In the ensuing spring, that distinguished nobleman, as we have stated in our memoir of Admiral Sir John Knight[1], had prepared to resume his command in the Mediterranean, when most unexpectedly, on the 2d May, he was ordered to strike his flag. The Victory, however, immediately proceeded to that station, as a private ship, and in December following received the flag of Sir John Jervis, under whom Lieutenant Downman served in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797[2]; a few months after which he was promoted to the rank of Commander in the Speedy brig of 14 four-pounders and 80 men.
During the time Captain Downman commanded the Speedy, he took and destroyed several of the enemy’s privateers, and fought a very gallant action with a vessel of far superior force. The following is a copy of his official letter, addressed to Earl St. Vincent, on this occasion:
- ↑ See Vol. I, p. 159.
- ↑ See id. p. 21, et seq.
casion consisted of one 4, two 8, and thirteen 24-pounders, from which the enemy fired hot shot; together with six heavy mortars. The loss sustained by the British amounted to 16 men killed and 39 wounded. An account of the subsequent operations against the French in Corsica, and the final reduction of that island, will be found in our first volume, at p. 249, et seq.
