tagu, Philip Patton, and John Holloway, on the Downs station. In 1805 he was appointed in succession to the Aurora, Thames, and Santa Margaritta frigates; but did not join the two latter, there being an unexpected delay in launching the Thames, and the generosity of his disposition preventing him from using his commission for the other, when he found that it would be unpleasant to the feelings of the gallant officer then in command of her, were he obliged to remove into a ship of the line, as at that time intended by the Admiralty[1].
Captain Loring appears not to have been a loser by his forbearance on this occasion, as he was soon after appointed to the Niobe of 40 guns; in which fine frigate he was despatched to reconnoitre the enemy’s ports. On his arrival off l’Orient, March 28, 1806, he observed three large French frigates and a corvette, standing out to sea; and, notwithstanding their great superiorlty,he immediately made sail in pursuit, succeeded in coining up with the sternmost during the night, which fortunately was very dark with drizzling rain, and silently took possession of her by running close alongside and dropping two boats from the quarters full of men. The success of this undertaking depended upon the promptitude of the boarding officer, Lieutenant Barrington Reynolds, who in the most skilful and resolute manner secured her without being observed by the remainder of the squadron. The prize proved to be le Nearque of 16 guns and 97 men, victualled and stored for five months. This transaction was thus noticed by Earl St. Vincent, in a letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, dated on the 5th of the following month:
“Sir,– I have great pleasure in forwarding to you for the information of the Admiralty, the very modest relation of a neat action performed by Captain Loring of the Niobe, who has just joined with the corvette his prize, and as the Crescent has many defects, which require looking into, I have directed Captain Carthew to receive the prisoners on board that ship, and to proceed with the prise to Plymouth Sound. I am, &c. &c.
“To William Marsden, Esq.”
On the 20th Oct. 1810, Captain Loring captured l’Hirondelle French privateer, of 4 guns and 30 men; and in the
