Bramme, who was severely wounded at the time, hailed the launch, to ascertain the name of the English ship and captain that had sent her; and on receiving the information, he paid a handsome compliment to the gallant commander of the Ardent; adding, that he should make a point of acquainting the Prince of Denmark with the circumstance. The launch returned with this message, having picked up twenty-three of the Danneborg's crew. Capt. Bertie's services this day procured him a second time the thanks of parliament. Early on the following morning, April 3, Lord Nelson, and his captain, Sir Thomas Hardy, went on board the Ardent, to thank Capt. Bertie, his officers, and people, for their conduct and exertions. On the 4th, having received directions to join Sir Hyde Parker in Copenhagen Roads, Capt. Bertie went on board the London, taking with him one of the Danish captains (the other three having been killed, or severely wounded), and the lieutenants of the four ships which had struck to the Ardent, together with their swords, which, from the bravery of their late owners, Capt. Bertie much wished to return. Sir Hyde not opposing this generous request, Capt. Bertie had the happiness, in restoring the swords to his prisoners, to express his admiration of the able and gallant manner in which they had been used.

On April 9, Capt Bertie was appointed, by Sir Hyde Parker, to the Bellona, and on the 16th, he sailed in quest of the Swedish fleet, which was descried at anchor in Carlscrona on the 19th no attempt was made on them. Capt. Bertie continued in active ser vice on different stations till the peace of Amiens, when the Bellona was paid off on July 6, 1802. On the renewal of hostilities in the month of May 1803, Capt. Bertie immediately made an offer of his services to the Admiralty; but was not called upon till November 3, when he was appointed to the Courageux; and early in December, he was ordered to receive the flag of Adm. Dacres, and to take o:it a large convoy, of 170 sail, to the West Indies. On Janu ary 4, 1804, he left St. Helens. A most tremendous gale, which began on the 15th, and continued until the 28th, having rendered his ship a perfect wreck, and reduced the convoy to 42 sail, many of the rest being separated, and some lost, Adm. Dacres ordered Capt. Bertie to bear up for Plymouth, where he arrived on Febru ary 1. When the Courageux had undergone repairs, and was again nearly ready for sea, unfortunately some family distress obliged Capt. Bertie to resign the command of her; and he remained without a ship till December 21, 1805. He was then appointed to the St. George; and till April 28, 1808, he was employed in cruizing off the different ports in the Channel.

On April 28, 1808, Capt. Bertie was made a rear-admiral of the blue squadron, and sent to the Baltic, on which station he continued till December 1809, when he returned to England. On February 19, 1810, Adm. Bertie struck his flag, on account of the bad state of his health. On July 31 he was made a rear-admiral of the white. On August 1, 1811, he was made a rear-admiral of the red. On June 24, 1813, he received the royal licence, and permission to accept and wear the insignia of a knight_commander of the royal military Order of the Sword, which the King of Sweden conferred upon him, and at the same time he received from the Prince Regent the honour of knighthood. On December 4, in the same year, he was made a vice-admiral, and died in 1825. BERTIE, Adm. Sir Albemarle, Bart. K. C. B. was born Ja

nuary

nuary 20, 1755; and in 1778 we find him serving as first lieutenant of the Fox, a 28-gun frigate, one of the repeaters to Adm. Keppel's fleet, in the action with that of France. He obtained post rank March 21, 1782, in the Crocodile of 24 guns, stationed in the Channel. At the time of the Spanish armament he was appointed to the Latona frigate, and about the year 1792, to the Edgar of 74 guns, in which latter ship he assisted at the capture of Le General Dumourier, a French priv. and her prize, the St. Jago, having on board upwards of two millions of dollars, besides some valuable packages, to the amount of between two and three hundred thousand pounds sterling.

Capt. Bertie afterwards removed into the Thunderer of 74 guns, and was present at the defeat of the French fleet by Earl Howe, June 1, 1794. In 1795 we find him serving under Sir John Borlase Warren, on an expedition to the coast of France. He subsequently commanded the Renown of 74 guns, Windsor Castle, a second-rate, and Malta of 80 guns. On April 23, 1804, he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, and attained the rank of vice-admiral April 28, 1808. He was created a baronet December 9, 1812, became a full admiral June 4, 1814, and was nominated a K. C. B. January 2, 1815. He died at Donnington Priory, Berks, on February 23, 1825, in the 70th year of his age.

BETTESWORTH, Capt. See LEEWARD ISLAND STATION, February 8, 1805.

BICKERTON, Adm. Sir Richard, was the son of the late Rear-Adm. Sir Richard Bickerton. He entered on board the Medway in the year 1774; afterwards he was removed to the Enterprise frigate of 28 guns. In December 1777, he was made lieutenant. In 1778 he was made a commander. Sir George Rodney made him post-captain on February 8, 1781, in the Gibraltar of 80 guns. Afterwards he commanded the Russel and the Terrible, both seventy-fours. He was appointed after that to the Brune frigate. In 1787 he was appointed to the Sybil frigate. In 1793 he had the command of the Ruby of 64 guns, and in 1794 the Ramillies of 74 guns. In 1797 he was appointed to the Terrible, and was made rear-admiral of the blue on February 14, 1799. On April 23, 1604, he was made rear-admiral of the red, and hoisted his flag on board the Royal Sovereign. In the spring of 1805 was appointed to the board of Admiralty, where he remained until the early part of 1812, when he succeeded Sir Roger Curtis as commander-in-chief at Portsmouth. November 9, 1805, he was made vice of the white; October 25, 1809, vice of the red; in 1810, treasurer of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich; July 31, admiral of the blue; June 4, 1814, admiral of the white; January 1815, knight commander of the most honourable military Order of the Bath, and May 27, 1825, admiral of the red.

BINGHAM, Capt. A. B. See SOUTH AMERICAN STATION, May 16, 1811.

BISSELL, Capt. See JAMAICA STATION, July 11, August 17, October 14, 1803.

BLACKWOOD, Vice-Adm. Hon. Sir Henry, was born De cember 28, 1770; entered the naval service under the protection of the late Adm. M'Bride, and was a midshipman with Adm. Cosby. In 1790 he was signal midshipman on board the Queen Charlotte with Earl Howe, from whom he received his first commission. He was senior lieutenant of the Invincible, 74, on the memorable

1st of June 1794 and during the action, was the bearer of a message from Capt. Pakenham to Earl Howe, from whom he received orders to take possession of Le Juste, a French 84-gun ship, whose fire had recently been silenced. Ón their return to Spithead he was promoted to the rank of commander in the Megæra fire-vessel. On June 2, 1795, he was posted in the Nonsuch of 52 guns, stationed as a floating battery at Hull, where he remained until July 1796. He was subsequently appointed to the Brilliant, of 28 guns, in which he compelled a Spanish vessel of superior force to seek refuge under the batteries at Teneriffe, and then sustained an action with two French ships of war, of 44 guns each, from whom, by a series of masterly manœuvres, he effected his escape. Shortly af terward he removed into the Penelope, of 36 guns, and joined the squadron under Lord Nelson in the Mediterranean. In that ship, on March 30, 1800, he chased, and came up with, the French ship Le Guillaume Tell, of 86 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Adm. Decrés, and so disabled her, that the Lion and Foudroyant, ships of the line, were enabled to come, and bring her to close action, which continued for several hours before she struck. The Penelope towed the prize into Syracuse, and returned to the blockade of Malta until its surrender, September 5, 1800.

On January 7, 1801, Capt. Blackwood received the royal permission to accept and wear the insignia of a commander of the Sicilian Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, and afterward served with distinction under Lord Keith, against the French in Egypt. He returned to England in March 1802. At the breaking out of hostilities again with France, he was appointed to the Euryalus, of 36 guns; and in that ship, on the coast of Ireland, under the late Lord Gardner, at Boulogne, under Lord Keith, and also off Cadiz, under Lord Viscount Nelson, on the never-to-be-forgotten glorious 21st of October 1805, he again distinguished himself by his great activity and ability. After the action, he went with a flag of truce from Vice-Adm. Collingwood to the governor of Cadiz, proposing to deliver up the wounded prisoners to the care of their own hospitals, on his sending boats for their conveyance, and giving receipts for their numbers, which was received with becoming gratitude by the governor. He soon after returned to England, and acted as trainbearer to the chief mourner at the public funeral of his late noble friend, Lord Nelson.

In the early part of 1806 Capt. Blackwood was appointed to the Ajax, of 80 guns, and accompanied Sir J. T. Duckworth on the expedition against Constantinople. On the night of February 14, 1807, the squadron being at anchor off the Dardanelles, the Ajax took fire, and blew up; of the crew 370 were saved, the others, unfortunately, perished. During the subsequent operations of the squadron, Capt. Blackwood served as a volunteer in the Royal George, bearing the flag of Sir J. T. Duckworth, and rendered very essential services to the fleet. Towards the end of the year he was appointed to the Warspite, a new third-rate, fitting at Chatham; and in the summer of 1810 commanded the in-shore squadron off Toulon, consisting of the Warspite, Ajax, and Conqueror, (seventy-fours), Euryalus (frigate), and Sheerwater (bg.). On July 20, by his gallant and skilful conduct, he prevented a detachment of the enemy's fleet, consisting of six sail of the line and four frigates, from cutting off and capturing the Euryalus and Sheerwater, for which he received the thanks of Sir Charles Cotton, the com

mander

mander-in-chief on that station. After his return from the Mediterranean, in the early part of 1813, he captured three American letters of marque, and several valuable merchantmen. In May 1814, he was appointed captain of the fleet at Spithead under H. R. H. the Duke of Clarence, who hoisted his flag in the Impregnable, 98, on the occasion of the allied sovereigns' visit to this country. On June 4 he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, and shortly after to the dignity of a baronet of Great Britain. In August 1819, he was nominated a K. C. B. and appointed commander-in-chief in the East Indies. On January 7, 1820, he sailed in the Leander, of 50 guns, and returned to England December 11, 1822: he attained the rank of vice-admiral May 27, 1825. See MEDITERRANEAN STATION, March 30, 1800, and TRA

FALGAR.

BLANCHE, encounter between and a French squadron. The Blanche, 36, Z. Mudge, was captured July 22, 1805, by a French squadron, after a brave resistance of one hour. The squadron consisted of La Topaze, of 44 guns, 340 men, 10 officers, and 60 privates; Le Departement des Landes, of 20 guns, 200 men, 6 officers, and 30 privates; La Torche, of 28 guns, 190 men, 3 officers, and 20 privates; and Le Faune, of 16 guns, 120 men, and 3 officers. Capt. Mudge had only 215 men, 30 being in prizes, and 8 left on board one of the frigates at Jamaica. Notwithstanding this great disparity of force, he heroically determined to sell the ship as dearly as possible. At eleven the action commenced, within pistolshot, and became warm and steady, the French commodore's ship and the Blanche never without hail of each other, running large under easy sail, Le Departement des Landes on the starboard quarter, and the two corvettes close astern. At forty-five minutes past eleven the Blanche became ungovernable, and was a perfect wreck, seven guns dismounted, the crew reduced to 190 men, and the rest falling fast. The captain called a council of officers for their opinion, who deemed it only sacrificing the lives of the remainder of as brave a crew as ever fought to hold out longer, therefore, at twelve, he ordered the colours to be struck. At six the Blanche sunk; she had 8 killed and 13 wounded.

BLIGH, Adm. R. Rodney, descended from an ancient and respectable family in Cornwall, was born in the year 1737. In 1750 he commenced his naval career under his godfather, the late Lord Rodney. In 1757 he received a lieutenant's commission. He was at the taking of Martinique; and in 1762 appointed a commander in the Virgin sloop of war, in which ship he captured several of the enemy's privateers. In 1777 he was made a post-captain, with which rank he served during the whole of the American war. At the commencement of the war in 1793 he was appointed to the Excellent, 74; from which, in 1794, he was removed to the Alexander, of the same force. In this ship he fought the desperate action with a French squadron on November 6, in the same year, which is recorded in our events of that period. Fourteen days before the capture of the Alexander he had been appointed rear-admiral of the blue; in April 1804, he was made admiral of the blue; in May 1808, admiral of the white; and in December 1813, admiral of the red. He died April 30, 1821, at Belle Vue, near SouthampSee HOME STATION, November 6, 1794.

ton.

BLIGH, Capt. W. See CAMPERDOWN and COPENHAGEN. LIGH, Capt. J. See JAMAICA STATION, Sept. 8, 1803.

BLYTH,

BLYTH, Capt. was born February 23, 1783, at Portsea. He was sailing-master on board the Barfleur in the glorious victory of April 12, gained by Adm. Rodney; he served on board the Bellerophon on June 1, 1794; and in the action fought by Adm. Cornwallis on June 17, 1795. On September 5, 1811, Lieut. Blyth was made commander; on August 15, 1812, he was appointed to the Boxer. On September 6, 1813, he engaged the United States brig Enterprise, and after an action of 45 minutes, having ordered his flag to be nailed to the mast, he lost his life and his ship, nobly fighting against a superior force. See SOUTH AMERICAN STATION, September 5, 1813.

BLOYE, Capt. See ST. SEBASTIAN.

BOLTON, Capt. W. See COPENHAGEN and CURAÇOA.

BOORDER, Capt. See HOME STATION, August 11, 1799. BOULOGNE. On August 3, 1801, Lord Nelson sailed from the Downs, with a squadron of gun-vessels and bombs, and next morning attacked 24 of the enemy's armed vessels moored off Boulogne. In the course of the day three flats and a brig were sunk, and six driven on shore. In a few days after, the enemy having again moored their flotilla off Boulogne, in the night of the 15th, Lord Nelson directed an attack to be made by the armed boats of the squadron, which were formed into four divisions; but from the darkness of the night, and the operation of the tides, the attack failed. Capt. E. T. Parker, with the second division, boarded the commodore; but that vessel being strongly netted up to the lower yards, he and most of his crew were beaten down into their boats, killed or wounded. Could all the boats have made the attack at the same moment, the enterprise, it is confidently supposed, would have succeeeded; notwithstanding which, a number of vessels were taken possession of; but, from their being on shore, or moored in chains, our brave sailors were compelled to abandon them. Capt. Parker died at Deal on the 27th, of his wounds, and many other valuable officers were killed or wounded in this unfortunate attempt: total killed and wounded 172. The thanks of Earl St. Vincent and Lord Nelson were afterwards given to the officers and men employed in this expedition.

Adm. Lord Keith having for some time directed his attention to ascertaining the most effectual mode of annoying the enemy's flotillas at their anchorages in front of their ports, under protection of their land batteries, at length made an experiment with the following explosion vessels, &c.: Capts. Macleod, of the Sulphur; Jackson, of the Autumn; Edwards, of the Fury; Collard, of the Railleur; Searle, of the Helder, defence ship; Lieuts. Stewart, of the Monarch; Lowry, of the Leopard; Payne, of the Immortalité; Templer, of the Sulphur; midshipman, Mr. Bartholomew, of the Inflexible. Captains, Winthrop, of the Ardent, and Owen, of the Immortalité, most zealously and usefully superintended the operations from the southward, and the Hon. Capt. Blackwood, of the Euryalus, from the northward. The armed launches, and other boats of the squadron, were appointed to accompany and protect them. About 150 of the flotilla were on the outside of the pier. The operation commenced at a quarter past nine o'clock in the evening of October 2, 1804, and terminated at a quarter past four in the morning, during which time several vessels, prepared for the purpose, were exploded amongst, or very close to, the flotilla; but

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on