Montagu, who fell in the battle of June 1, 1794[1]. On her being put out of commission at the latter end of 1795, Mr. Irby joined the London, a second rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Colpoys, with whom he continued till 1797, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Circe of 28 guns, in which frigate and the Apollo he served, under the present Vice-Admiral Halkett, until the latter was wrecked on the Haak Sands, near the Texel, Jan. 7, 1799[2]. His next appointment was to the Glenmore of 36 guns, on the Irish station.
In 1800, Lieutenant Irby was made a Commander, into the Volcano bomb, and attached to the squadron sent under Vice-Admiral Dickson, to support Lord Whitworth in his demands on the Danish court at Copenhagen[3]. In the following year he was appointed to the Jalouse of 18 guns, employed on the North Sea station. His post commission bears date April 14, 1802.
From this period Captain Irby remained on half pay till 1805, when he obtained an appointment to the Sea Fencibles on the coast of Essex. Towards the close of 1807 he was appointed to the Amelia, a 38-gun frigate, fitting for Channel service; and on the 24th Feb. 1809, we find him assisting in the destruction of part of a French squadron, near the powerful batteries of Sable d’Olonne, by a detachment from Lord Gambier’s fleet, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Stopford. The Amelia on this occasion had her bowsprit shot through, and was much cut up in her rigging; but although hulled in several places, did not lose a man. Her commander’s conduct may be inferred from the following letter:
- ↑ See Vol. I. note * at p. 41* et seq. and p. 663*.
- ↑ Captain Halkett received the thanks of the Admiralty and the freedom of Hull for the conduct of his ship during the mutiny of 1797. The Circe, as we have already stated in our memoir of that officer, was one of the repeaters to Admiral Duncan’s fleet in the memorable battle off Camperdown. See Vol. I. p. 574.
- ↑ See Vol. I. note at p. 349.
