bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Mitchell, whom he accompanied up the Zuyder-Zee, in the Babet of 20 guns[1]. At the termination of the expedition against Holland, he was appointed to the Stag cutter, which vessel formed part of the squadron sent under Captain Henry Inman, of the Andromeda, to attempt the destruction of four French frigates, at Dunkirk, in the summer of 1800[2]. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place, while serving with Sir Andrew Mitchell, in the Windsor Castle, April 26, 1802; and his advancement to post rank, while commanding the Prospero bomb, at Portsmouth, May 8, 1804.
In the month of May, 1806, Captain Humphreys was appointed to the Leander of 50 guns, at Halifax; but removed shortly after his arrival there into the Leopard, of similar force, a more efficient ship, which had been sent from England to receive the flag of the Hon. George Cranfield Berkeley, commander-in-chief on the American station.
From the circumstance of Vice-Admiral Berkeley living principally on shore, the Leopard was employed as a private ship, in common with the rest of the squadron; and thus it was that Captain Humphreys had to perform a very unpleasant duty, the nature of which will be seen by the following official documents:
“By the Hon. G. C. Berkeley, Vice-Admiral of the White,
Commander-in-Chief, &c. &c. &c.
“Whereas many seamen, subjects of his Britannic Majesty, and serving in his ships and vessels, as per margin[3], while at anchor in the Chesapeake, deserted and entered on board the United States’ frigate, called the Chesapeake, and openly paraded the streets of Norfolk, in sight of their officers, under the American flag[4], protected by the magistrates of the town and the recruiting officer belonging to the above-mentioned American frigate, which magistrates and naval officer refused giving them up, although demanded by his Britannic Majesty’s Consul, as well as the Captains of the ships from which the said men had deserted.
- ↑ See Vol. I. note at p. 415 et seq.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 290.
- ↑ Bellona, Belleisle, and Triumph 74’s; Chicester store-ship, Halifax sloop, and Zenobia cutter.
- ↑ See Captain Lord James Townshend.
