bearing the flag of Sir George B. Rodney; and a few days afterwards witnessed two partial actions between that officer and M. de Guichen, whose shyness alone prevented a general battle[1].
In July following, Mr. Daniel received an appointment to act as a Lieutenant on board the Magnificent 74, which ship was soon after ordered to convoy a valuable fleet from Jamaica to England, where she arrived in a sinking state, after a tempestuous passage of thirteen weeks, during which she was obliged to be frequently fathered, and her crew became so completely exhausted as to fall down at the pumps[2].
Having passed his examination at the Navy Office, Mr. Daniel was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Jan. 22, 1781; but he does not appear to have been employed on any service worthy of notice during the remainder of the American war, In Mar. 1783, he obtained an appointment to the Iphigenia frigate, commanded by Captain James Cornwallis; which ship, after conveying Lord Northington to his Vice-royalty in Ireland, was sent to the Jamaica station, and employed principally on the Spanish Main for a period of three years. She was paid off at Sheerness in Oct. 1786[3].
During the Dutch armament, in 1787, Lieutenant Daniel was employed in raising men for the fleet at a rendezvous in London; after which he remained on half-pay till 1790, when he served for a short time on board the Illustrious 74, commanded by Sir C. M. Pole. His next appointment was in
- ↑ See Vol. I, note at p. 104 et seq.
- ↑ The Thunderer and Stirling Castle, of 74 guns each, part of the squadron sent to escort the Magnificent and her charge through the Gulf of Florida, were totally lost, and several of the other ships much damaged. The disastrous effects of the hurricane by which they suffered, were also felt throughout the Leeward Islands, as we have already mentioned in our memoir of Admiral John Holloway. See Vol. I, p. 105.
- ↑ Whilst Lord Northington was on board the Iphigenia he fell on the sky-light over the gun-room, and it being uncovered, he would in all probability have sustained considerable injury, had not Lieutenant Daniel fortunately caught hold of his coat, and held him fast till others carne to his assistance. For this service his Lordship made him a public offer of any sinecure situation that he might find vacant on his arrival at Dublin, but which was declined by Lieutenant Daniel, as he considered he had done no more than his duty on that occasion.
