enemy’s vessels, and among others the Mercury, an American packet, from Philadelphia; on board of which was Mr. Henry Laurens, formerly President of the Congress, bound on an embassy to France, Spain, and Holland. The despatches found in the possession of this Envoy, determined the British ministry to issue an immediate declaration of war against the latter power, and to commit their bearer as a state prisoner to the Tower.
In 1781, the Vestal, then commanded by the Hon. G. C. Berkeley, accompanied Vice-Admiral Darby to the relief of Gibraltar[1], where she particularly distinguished herself against the enemy’s gun-boats, two of which she destroyed under the guns of the fortress of Ceuta.
Some time after the performance of this service, Captain Berkeley, accompanied by the whole of his officers and crew, removed into the Recovery of 32 guns, which ship formed part of the squadron under Vice-Admiral Barrington, at the capture of a French convoy, from Brest bound to the East Indies, in April 1782. She was also with Lord Howe, at the relief of Gibraltar, towards the close of the same year[2].
The Recovery being paid off at the peace in 1783, Mr. Monkton remained on half pay till March 1784, when he was appointed first Lieutenant of the Ardent 64, stationed as a guard-ship at Portsmouth, where she remained for a period of four years; during which no incident occurred worthy of particular notice.
During the Spanish armament, we find Lieutenant Monkton serving on board the Windsor Castle, a second rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sawyer. His next appointment was to be first Lieutenant of the Niger frigate, commanded by his friend the Hon. Captain Berkeley, who had for a considerable time filled the office of Surveyor General of the Ordnance, and recently been honored with a commision of the highest importance, as President of a board of engineer officers, for the purpose of enquiring into the abuses and frauds committed against government in the West Indies; a service he performed with honor to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of his Majesty’s ministers.
On the 10th March, 1793, Mr. Monkton commissioned the
- ↑ See vol. 1, p. 4, and note ‡, at p. 33.
- ↑ See vol. 1, p. 17.
