to induce them to allow him to sail in company with a convoy having on board troops, stores, &c. for placing Minorca in a state of defence, the whole of which he captured, with the assistance of Nelson’s look-out ships, which he got within signal distance of the day after leaving that place with despatches confirming his Lordship’s apprehensions.
Captain D’Urban returned to England with the flag of Rear-Admiral George Campbell, in Jan. 1805; but sailed again for the Mediterranean, conveying thither the late Sir Thomas Louis, in the month of March following.
During the defence of Naples by the Anglo-Russian army, to which Captain D’Urban was attached, we find him employed at the request of the Russian commander-in-chief to examine the passes, &c. between that city and Rome. On the evacuation of Naples he was sent up the Adriatic to cooperate with the Russian fleet, under Vice-Admiral Siniavin, in checking the progress of the French forces on the coast of Dalmatia and the adjacent isles. From thence he proceeded to the Spanish coast, where he continued till the defects of his frigate required her to be sent home and put out of commission.
Having thus given an outline of Captain D’Urban’s valuable services, it remains only for us to state that there is perhaps no individual who possesses so much local knowledge of the Mediterranean as he obtained during upwards of twelve years spent on that station, or who is so intimately acquainted with the manners, customs, and prejudices of the different nations on both its shores as himself. It was on this account that Nelson and his successor, Collingwood, as also other superior officers employed him frequently as a negociator on matters of so secret a nature that it would be impolitic even now to make them public, particularly one mission relating to the Venetian Government. Although his services have not been of that brilliant cast with those of many whose exploits we have recorded, yet they have nevertheless proved in many instances highly beneficial to his country, and as such gained him the thanks and esteem of all the Admirals he ever served under, although, at the same time they deprived him of cruises, the advantages of which were reaped by the mere sailor, who is now enjoying his golden harvest,
