favourable opinion of Sir John T Duckworth, by his conspicuous zeal and alacrity on every occasion of public service, and which was shortly proved by that officer promoting him into his flagship, the Leviathan of 74 guns, and afterwards appointing him to the command of the Southampton frigate. His post commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, April 20, 1802.
A cessation of hostilities having now taken place in Europe, the Southampton was soon after ordered home, and paid off in the month of September following. Captain Cole’s next appointment was, in June 1804, to the Culloden 74, fitting for the flag of his old friend and commander, Sir Edward Pellew, with whom he proceeded to the East India station, where he captured l’Emilien, French corvette, of 18 guns and 150 men, Sept. 25, 1806. This vessel had formerly been the Trincomalee, British sloop of war. He also assisted at the capture and destruction of about thirty sail of Dutch shipping, including a national frigate and several armed vessels, in Batavia Roads, on the 27th Nov. in the same year[1].
We next find Captain Cole commanding the Doris, a new frigate, built at Bombay, and with the Psyche, Captain Edgcunibe, under his orders, escorting Colonel Malcolm, Ambassador to the Persian court, to Abashir, in the Gulf of Persia, and remaining at that place for the protection of the embassy. On his return from thence he received the thanks of the Governor-General in council, accompanied by a present of 500l. for his services on that occasion.
During the years 1808 and 1809, Captain Cole was principally employed cruising in the Straits of Malacca, and the China seas. Upon the arrival of intelligence respecting the change of political affairs in Spain, he was despatched by Rear-Admiral Drury, who had succeeded to the command in India, with the Psyche again under his orders, to communicate with and endeavour to conciliate the government of the Phillipine islands. Having completely succeeded in this mission, and received information from a valuable prize (the Japan ship from Batavia) that two French frigates had pro-
