Mar. 1793, to the Courageux of similar force, in which ship he assisted at the occupation of Toulon by the forces under Lord Hood[1], and had his left leg broken, besides receiving three severe contusions in the head, breast, and left foot, whilst engaging the batteries and towers near St. Fiorenzo[2].
Mr. Daniel at this latter period became first Lieutenant of the Courageux on the death of Mr. Shield, who fell in the action; and finding that his Captain was also seriously hurt by the poop-ladder being shot from under him, he neglected his own wounds in order to attend to the refitment of the ship, she having suffered very considerably in her hull, masts, sails, and rigging. This arduous duty he performed on crutches; and so great was his zeal for the service, that on one occasion he sat up all night, keeping only a quarter-master on deck with him, in order that the crew might be refreshed for their labour on the following day.
Previous to her return to Toulon, the Courageux struck on a reef of rocks near Cape Corse, unhung her rudder, and made upwards of seven feet water per hour. To add to her misfortunes, the carpenter and nearly all of his crew were most severely burnt by an accidental explosion of some powder-horns, whilst employed fixing the tiller, and before they had finished plugging the numerous shot-holes in her bends and other parts.
The Courageux being afterwards hove down at Toulon, her shattered state excited universal surprise, every one wondering how she could have been kept afloat. Her false keel was entirely gone, and not two inches of the main one remained under the fore-hatchway, amidships, and under the raizenmast; the lower part of the gripe was carried away, the bolts of the main-keel were driven upwards, the trunnels and plank of the garboard-streak started in several places, as also many higher up; one of the gudgeons of the rudder was broken, the dead wood so bent as to start the copper nails half way up the stern-posts, and for sixteen feet forward; the rudder exceedingly battered, and only two pintles remained serviceable. She was; however, repaired in time to quit that port previous to its falling into the hands of the republicans, her
