Captain Carden’s next appointment, which took place immediately after his arrival in England, was to command the Sea Fencibles quartered on the borders of the Frith of Forth, where he continued until appointed to the Moselle brig in Dec. 1804. Previous to his quitting North Britain, he was presented with the freedom of the united boroughs of Burntisland, Kirkaldy, Kinghorn, and Dysart. His postcommission bears date Jan. 22, 1806; but he does not appear to have given up the command of the Moselle until the month of March following. A letter from Captain George Mundy, bearing testimony to his attentive and able conduct while engaged in the blockade of Cadiz, will be found at p. 336 of this volume.
In Jan. 1809, we find Captain Carden commanding the Ville de Paris, a first-rate, and assisting at the embarkation of the unfortunate army which had entered Spain under Sir John Moore. Speaking of this service, his friend, Rear-Admiral Rainer, continues his letter in the following terms:–
“ * * * * Sir David Baird will join me in this[1], as well as in the estimation of your services at Corunna. The services of the navy upon this occasion, have been depressed by the misfortunes of the period, including the state of the weather, which caused the fleet to disperse, and was destructive of all order; and they have been obscured by political misrepresentations. The fact was this, that with the boats of the men of war and transports only, and under the disadvantage of a gale of wind, and night operations, we embarked the whole army, amounting, if my memory be correct; to 24,000 men, in about 36 hours. In all this, you performed, as upon other occasions, a zealous and important part. Believe me ever, my dear Carden, most truly yours,
Captain Carden was afterwards appointed in succession to the Ocean 98, Mars 74, and Macedonian frigate. His capture, by an American man of war, is thus described by him in a letter to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated at sea, Oct. 28, 1812:–
“Sir,– It is with the deepest regret I have to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that H.M. late ship Macedonian, was captured on the 25th instant, by the U.S. ship United States, Commodore Decatur, commander: the detail is as follows:
