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Mr. Barrie’s conduct as first Lieutenant of le Bourdelois, in the action between that ship and a small French squadron, near Barbadoes, Jan. 28, 1801, on which occasion he received a wound, “but disdained to quit the deck,” was warmly applauded by Captain Manby, who recommended him to the notice of the Admiralty “as an officer highly worthy of advancement.”

We are not aware of the exact period at which he obtained promotion to the rank of Commander, or of the manner in which he was employed previous to the winter of 1804, when he commanded the Brilliant, a small frigate stationed in the Channel. His post commission bears date April 29, 1802.

Captain Barrie’s next appointment was, about May, 1806, to the Pomone of 38 guns, in which ship he gave repeated proofs of his zeal and ability. The following is a copy of his official letter to Sir Richard J. Strachan, relative to the capture and destruction of seventeen French vessels from Nantz, bound to Brest, on the 5th June, 1807:

“Sir,– I have the honor to acquaint you, that yesterday, when working up to windward, in order to gain the station you had pointed out to me by signal, at about 7^h 30' A.M. three vessels were reported from the masthead, bearing N.E., and we soon made them out to be armed brigs. As the distance of the squadron rendered it impossible for me to communicate this circumstance to you, I took upon myself to give chase to these brigs, conceiving it my duty to do so, as I thought I could cut them off before they could get into the Sables d’Ollone. As we approached the shore, a convoy was observed under escort of the brigs, one of which we got within random shot of about 9 o’clock, when the breeze unfortunately

first gale of wind. The French prize-master was wounded by a cutlass, the only blood spilt on the occasion. Gaining information from the Adventure, that on the same day she was taken by the Mouche, of Bourdeaux, the privateer likewise captured a valuable copper-bottomed ship bound to Barbadoes; and as both vessels had orders to proceed to Santa Cruz, I considered it my duty to push thither; and by plying hard with my sweeps all the 9th, I arrived off that port on the morning of the 10th, when 1 had the pleasing satisfaction of rescuing the above-mentioned British ship from the hands of the enemy. She proved to be the Aurora of London. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)“T. Manby.”

“To Captain Bradby, H.M.S. Andromeda.”