shipman on board the Juno frigate, Captain James Montagu, in the action between Sir Edward Hughes and M. de Suffrein, off Cuddalore, June 20, 1783[1].
On his return from the East Indies, in 1785, Mr. Nesham joined the Druid of 32 guns, in which ship he continued until qualified for, the rank of Lieutenant, when he was sent to a college in France, where he had the gratification of saving an honest man from the fury of a blood-thirsty mob.
The person alluded to was Mons. Planter, a government agent, in charge of a large corn depot at Vernon-sur-Seine, whom the revolutionists were hurrying through the streets à la lanterne. Thoughtless of his own danger, Mr. Nesham rushed among the sanguinary multitude, and throwing his arms round their prisoner, declared that if they destroyed one innocent man they should the other. The extraordinary generosity of this heroic action was not lost on the surrounding spectators; and those very people, who but for him would have exulted in the destruction of their victim, now carried M. Planter and his deliverer before the municipality, from whom Mr. Nesham received the freedom of the town. A national sword, dedicated to such purposes, was also presented to him, and a civic crown placed on his head, at Paris.
Mr. Nesham returned from France, and joined the Salisbury, a 60-gun ship, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Milbanke, and commanded by the present Viscount Exmouth, in 1790. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant at the latter end of the same year.
In 1791 and 1792, we find him serving on board the Drake sloop of war and Niger frigate, in the British Channel; and subsequently in the Adamant of 50 guns, on the West India, Newfoundland, Lisbon, and North Sea stations. He was first Lieutenant of the latter ship during the mutiny in Admiral Duncan’s fleet, and in the battle off Camperdown, Oct. 11, 1797[2]. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place in Jan. 1798; and on that occasion he was appointed to la Suffisante sloop of war, in which vessel he continued, on Channel service, till posted, April 29, 1802.
- ↑ See Vol. I, note at p. 425.
- ↑ See Vol. I, pp. 160, 160.
