to apply to Captain Duncan, then commanding the Porcupine in Palermo bay, to convey his Highness to Cadiz. Captain Duncan was sent for by Sir W___ D___ , and the wishes of the duke, backed by those of the minister, communicated to him in presence of his Highness. Captain Duncan would have wished that the minister had consulted with him privately; but as he did not do so, he took upon himself to refuse. He saw at once that a Frenchman was not the person to go to Spain at that moment. It was in vain that Sir W___ and the duke tried to bring him to their way of thinking; the first by pointing out to him the responsibility he would incur, the latter by flattering him with the idea that he would have the honor of conveying a Prince of Bourbon to head an army about to restore that family to the throne of France. At length, somewhat irritated, the duke said he was surprised at so young a man[1] standing out against their opinions, and added, “If an officer in our marine had refused to do what a minister ordered him, he would have been broke for it.” The cool answer was, “Please your Highness, it is perhaps our misfortune that our marine has not yet attained to the perfection yours had: but our commander-in-chief is not under any minister. I am young, it is true; but I am to do what he would do if he were here: and I am sure he would never consent to your going to Spain.” They then asked him to convey the duke to the fleet; he replied he would take till next day to consider of it. Next morning he wrote a letter to Sir W___ D___ , saying that he thought the duke going to the fleet would leave the Admiral no alternative but that of sending him on; and it would therefore be better to write to Vice-Admiral Thornbrough, and let him know what his Highness’s wishes were, and that the Halcyon brig would sail at 12 o’clock for the fleet, but could not wait longer, even for his despatches. Captain Duncan prevented further remonstrance with himself, by going to sea in the Porcupine. A day or two after a ship of war arrived at Palermo, took the duke on board, conveyed him to Cadiz, where he was not permitted to land, and Lord Collingwood returned him forthwith to Palermo.
- ↑ Captain Duncan was then little more than 22 years of age.
