a ketch recently taken at St. Pier d’Arena[1], armed with three 18-pounders, and employed in the blockade of Leghorn. A short time previous to this appointment he had been transferred with the Commodore’s broad pendant, and most of his brother officers, from the worn out Agamemnon to the Captain of 74 guns[2].
During the remainder of the year 1796, Mr. Noble was employed on a variety of important services as flag Lieutenant to the enterprising Nelson, in the Captain and la Minerve, particularly at the capture of Porto Ferrajo, and the island of Capraja, the evacuation of Corsica, and the capture of the Santa Sabina, a Spanish frigate of 40 guns, commanded by a descendant of King James II[3].
On the latter occasion Lieutenant Noble received several bad wounds from splinters. A repetition of Nelson’s own words will in themselves afford the praise best adapted to his general conduct. Writing an account of the action to Sir John Jervis, he says, – “You will observe, Sir, I am sure, with regret, amongst the wounded, Lieutenant James Noble, who quitted the Captain to serve with me, and whose merit, and repeated wounds received in fighting the enemies of our country, entitle him to every reward which a grateful nation can bestow.”
On the memorable 14 Feb. 1797, the subject of this memoir was one of the officers who, under the heroic Nelson, boarded and carried two Spanish ships of the line, one of which was a first rate, mounting 112 guns! The particulars of this almost incredible exploit have already been given in our memoir of Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Berry[4]. To that account we shall now add some extracts from the Captain’s logbook, which in the plainest and most unadorned, though not on that account less interesting style, sets forth not only the
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 519.
- ↑ When the Agamemnon was docked in Oct. 1796, she had not a mast, yard, or sail fit for service. Her hull had been for a long time secured and kept together by cables passed under her bottom.
- ↑ See Vol. I., p. 520; and Vol. II. part I. note at p. 153.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 774 et seq.
