About the commencement of 1809, several changes took place in the squadron at Rio Janeiro, which do not appear to have been sanctioned by the Admiralty. Amongst others was the removal of Captain Schomberg from the Foudrpyant to the President; Captain Adam Mackenzie of that frigate having been appointed to succeed Captain James Walker, in the Bedford 74. At the expiration of several months, the latter officer returned to Brazil by order of the Board, and Captain Mackenzie being likewise directed to rejoin his proper ship, Captain Schomberg had the mortification to find himself unexpectedly deprived of command; his friend, Sir W. Sidney Smith, having previously been relieved by Rear-Admiral De Courcy. He was consequently obliged to return home, as a passenger, in the Elizabeth, of 74 guns, commanded by the Hon. Henry Curzon, with whom he arrived at Spithead, in April 1810.
Captain Schomberg’s next appointment was, about July, 1810, to the Astraea, a contract-built frigate, rated at 36 guns, and fitting for the Cape of Good Hope, to which station he proceeded in company with the Scipion 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Stopford, by whom he was detached, with the Phoebe frigate under his orders, to reinforce the squadron employed off Mauritius, where he continued for some time as senior officer during the absence of Captain Philip Beaver, who had gone to India, for the purpose of collecting treasure. Captain Schomberg’s hard fought action with a French squadron, near Madagascar, is thus described in his official letter, dated May 21, 1811:
“Sir, I had the honor of communicating to you, from off Round Island, my determination to quit that station, in order to follow the three enemy’s frigates with troops on board, which had appeared off Mauritius on the 7th instant, and also my reasons for supposing they would push for a near point, perhaps Tamatave.
“I have now the satisfaction to report to you, that the enemy were discovered on the morning of the 20th instant, far to windward, and well in with the land, near Foul Point, Madagascar. The signal to chase was promptly obeyed by H. M. ships Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse sloop. The weather was most vexatiously variable during the whole of the day, which, combined with the efforts of the enemy to keep to windward, rendered it impossible to close them till nearly 4 o’clock, when the Astraea being about a mile a-head and to windward, they wore together, kept away, and evinced a disposition to bring us to action. The enemy then com-
