course steered with his own, it appeared that their compasses differed two points and a half; occasioned, as was soon discovered, by the marines’ bright muskets being kept upon the main-deck of the Courageux, immediately under the binnacles.
In Dec. 1813, Commander St. Clair was directed by the Admiralty to carry on the port duties at Harwich, and at the same time a squadron of gun-brigs and cutters, with twenty sail of transports, were placed under his orders. Whilst thus employed, he superintended the embarkation of H.R.H. the Count d’Artois (now the ci-devant King of France), H.R.H. the hereditary Prince of Orange, the late Marquis of Londonderry (then Viscount Castlereagh), the present Viscount Goderich, and General Pozzo di Borgo: the two former personages being on their way to Holland, in consequence of the revolution in that country; and the others proceeding to the head-quarters of the allied sovereigns, at Chatillon. Some years afterwards, when at Paris, he received the following note, and much kind attention, from one of the Count’s gentlemen in waiting:
“Le Duc de Maillé a l’honneur de faire ses compliments à Monsieur le Capitaine St. Clair, et de l’informer que Monsieur ne revenant pas d’ici à quelques jours, Son altesse royale le verra avec plaisir à la premiere reception des ambassadeurs, qui aura lieu Mardi prochain.
“Aux Tuileries, ce 1er Aôut, 1820.”
Early in 1814, Commander St. Clair sailed for the north coast of Spain, where he was actively employed under the orders of Rear-Admiral Penrose; with whom he also served during the whole of the important operations in the Gironde river, subsequent to the occupation of Bourdeaux[1]. His gallant and zealous conduct at this period obtained him the highest commendation.
The Reynard was afterwards attached to the fleet assembled at Spithead, for the purpose of being reviewed by the Prince Regent and his illustrious visitors, the sovereigns of Russia and Prussia, in whose company, and that of many
