ceeded down the Mediterranean in pursuit of the French fleet from Toulon[1], Captain Capel was left with five frigates and two bombs to cover Sardinia, Sicily, and the route to Egypt, from any troops that might be sent to land in those places. For some time previous to the battle of Trafalgar, the Phoebe was employed under the directions of Sir Henry Blackwood, watching the combined fleets in Cadiz harbour; and after that memorable event, Captain Capel, by his extraordinary exertions, saved one of the prizes, the Swiftsure of 74 guns; and, together with Captain Malcolm, of the Donegal, subsequently brought out the Bahama, a ship of the same force.
In December following, Captain Capel sat as a Member of the Court Martial assembled at Portsmouth, to try Sir Robert Calder, for his conduct after the action with Villeneuve on the 22d of the preceding July. At the latter end of 1806, he assumed the command of the Endymion frigate, on the Mediterranean station; and in the succeeding year, accompanied the expedition to the Dardanelles, and conveyed the British Ambassador to and from Constantinople[2]. During the operations carried on between Feb. 19, and March 3, the Endymion received two shot, each weighing upwards of 700 pounds, and had 3 men killed and 10 wounded. Sir John Duckworth, in his letter to Lord Collingwood, dated March 6th, makes particular mention of Captain Capel’s " zealous attention and assiduity" during the time he was placed in the stream of the Bosphorus, for the purpose of ascertaining when the squadron could stem the current, and for a watchful observation of the movements of the Turks, as well as to facilitate communication with the Porte.
Our officer continued to command the Endymion until the summer of 1810, and was then appointed to the Elizabeth of 74 guns. About the month of July 1811, he removed into the Barham; and at the latter end of that year, to the Hogue of the same force. In the latter he was employed in North America during the whole period of the war with the United States; and for a considerable portion thereof, was senior officer upon the northern part of the coast, where the ships
- ↑ See Vol. I, note at p. 589, et seq.
- ↑ See Vol. I. pp. 316, et seq.; 799, et seq.; and 808, et seq.
