her escape. The Kangaroo at this time had 44 officers and men absent in prizes, 6 unable to attend their quarters, and 4 employed below guarding her numerous prisoners; of the remainder, only 6 men were wounded.
Captain Brace was advanced to post-rank, April 22, 1800; and in the following year, commanded the Neptune, a second rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Gambier, with whom he afterwards served in the Isis of 50 guns, on the Newfoundland station. His next appointment was in 1803, to be Flag-Captain to his old commander and friend, the late Hon. Sir William Cornwallis, in the Dreadnought of 98 guns, on Channel service. We subsequently find him commanding in succession the Camilla, a 20-gun ship; the Castor and Iris frigates, rated at 32 guns; and la Virginie, mounting 46 guns, with a complement of 281 men[1].
La Virginie was employed on the Irish station about four years and a half; during which period Captain Brace captured the Guelderland, a Dutch frigate of 36 guns and 280 men, including 23 passengers; and two Spanish privateers, each mounting 14 guns. He also re-captured three British West Indiamen, and several other merchant vessels.
The Guelderland was taken on the western coast of Ireland, May 19, 1808, after a gallant defence of an hour and a half, in a night action, during which she had all her masts shot away by the board, 25 men killed, and 40 severely wounded. La Virginie had only 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Vice-Admiral Whitshed, when transmitting Captain Brace’s report of the action to the Secretary of the Admiralty, expressed himself as follows:
“The gallantry and officer-like manner in which this service has been performed, is as strongly exemplified in the modest terms in which it is related, as by the result; and affords an additional proof amongst many, of what may be effected by that order and discipline which I have observed to be so well maintained on board la Virginie.”
La Virginie was paid off in March 1810; and Captain Brace remained without any other appointment till about October following, when he was appointed to the St. Alban’s of 64 guns. In that ship he was employed on the Cadiz sta-
- ↑ The Castor was stationed as a temporary guard-ship at Liverpool; the other three were employed as cruisers.
