proved to be la Conceptione, mounting 4 guns, from Genoa, bound to the island of Cyprus, with bale goods. The British, on this occasion, had 2 men killed and 8 wounded; among the latter was Lieutenant James Renwick, R.M., a most excellent and gallant officer, who received three musket-ball wounds, but happily neither of them proved mortal[1].
Captain Duncan continued in the Porcupine till Oct. 2, 1808, when he left her at Malta, and proceeded in the Spider brig to join the Mercury of 28 guns, at Messina, the Admiralty having appointed him, without application, to that frigate; a change by no means so gratifying to him as their Lordships doubtless intended. Writing to the Commander-in-chief on the subject of his removal, he says, “I am particularly sorry at the change of ships, as this is, in my opinion, inferior to the Porcupine in almost every respect, and is so old and so bad, that I am afraid she will soon be obliged to go home, which is, of all things, what I wish least.” Notwithstanding the Mercury was so old and defective, she was destined to perform greater services before her departure from the Mediterranean, than several of our crack frigates were during the whole war.
After serving very actively and efficaciously, as senior officer, on the coasts of Sicily, Calabria, and Naples, where he assisted in capturing a French ship, loaded with bale goods, from Tunis bound to Leghorn; and a settee with a cargo of cotton, from Barbary, bound to Marseilles; as well as in destroying several coasting traders; Captain Duncan conveyed Mr. (now Sir Charles) Stuart to Trieste, on his way to the Austrian court, then about to declare war against the French Emperor.
Having put that gentleman on board the Amphion frigate, and placed himself under the orders of Captain Hoste, the subject of this memoir resumed his former station in the Adriatic, where the Mercury’s boats, imitating those of the Porcupine, distinguished themselves by several gallant enterprises, judiciously planned by Captain Duncan,
- ↑ Lieutenant Francis Smith had previously distinguished himself in the Porcupine’s boats, particularly at the capture of la Safo, and of the polacre ship, cut out of Port d’Anzo. See Memoir of Captain George Price.
