Captain Malcolm’s next appointment was, Sept. 24, 1806, to the Narcissus frigate; and on the 30th Jan. following, we find him receiving a severe wound in the head whilst leading his boats to the attack of a French convoy lying in Conquet bay, near Brest, under the protection of several heavy batteries, two armed brigs, and a cutter. In this gallant but unsuccessful enterprise the boats had 7 men killed and 15 wounded.
On the 18th Aug. in the same year, Captain Malcolm captured the Cantela, a Spanish schooner, pierced for 12 guns; and in the ensuing month he drove three of the enemy’s rowboats on shore, near Oporto. He also assisted at the reduction of the Saintes, in April, 1809. The following are extracts from the public letters of Sir George Beckwith and Major-General Maitland on that occasion:
“The French squadron, consisting of three sail of the line and two frigates, from l’Orient, having taken shelter in the Saintes, in the vicinity of Guadaloupe, where they were blockaded by Sir Alexander Cochrane with a superior force, I detached a corps, of between 2000 and 3000 men, under the command of Major-General Maitland, to co-operate with the navy in the reduction of those islands, and to destroy or capture the ships of the enemy, or to force them to sea. I have the satisfaction to report to your lordship[1], for his Majesty’s information, that after three days of great toil and most active service, the forts were reduced, and the troops surrendered prisoners of war. The French ships of the line pushed to sea early in the night of the 14th; on the 16th the Admiral was within four miles of them; and, I trust, will be enabled to bring them to close action[2].
“The navy have most cordially supported us. Captain Beaver, of H.M.S. Acasta, has increased that character which I know his conduct at Bay Robert, Martinique, in your presence gained him. * * * * Captain Carthew of the Gloire, and Captain Malcolm of the Narcissus, also merit the warmest acknowledgment.”
Captain Malcolm was soon after appointed to the Rhin, an 18-pounder frigate, employed in the British Channel, where he captured four French privateers, carrying in the whole 58 guns and 310 men. On the 31st Jan. 1812, he escaped
- ↑ Viscount Castlereagh.
- ↑ One of the French ships was captured by Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Fahie. See Vol. I. p. 717. The others effected their escape.
