Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/136

164 fortune to capture a fleet of fifteen Spanish merchantment and their convoy, a sixty-four gun ship and four frigates. The admiral had scarcely regulated the distribution of the prizes, when, on 16th January, off Cape St Vincent, he came in sight of a Spanish squadron of eleven ships of the line, commanded by Don Juan Langara, The English admiral immediately bore down with his whole force, and captain Duncan, although his ship was one of the worst sailers in the fleet, had the honour, as it had been his ambition, to get first into action. His gallant impetuosity having been observed by his no less daring commander, the captain was warned of the danger of rushing unsupported into a position where he would be exposed to the fire of three of the enemy's largest ships. "Just what I want, (he coolly replied,) I wish to be among them"—and the Monarch dashing on, was in an instant alongside of a Spanish ship of much larger dimensions, while two others of the same rate and magnitude lay within musket shot to leeward of him. In this perilous position—one, however, in which every true British sailor glories to be placed—the Monarch had to contend against fearful odds; but then Duncan knew that allowance was to be made for the difference between British and Spanish skill and bravery, and he calculated rightly, for though the Spaniards defended themselves with great gallantry, the two ships to leeward soon perceived that there was more safety in flight than in maintaining the contest, and they accordingly made off with all the sail they could carry, leaving their companion, who had no opportunity of escape, to make the best defence in his power. Duncan had now comparatively easy work; and directing all his fire against his antagonist, he had the satisfaction, in less than half an hour, of seeing the St Augustin of 70 guns, strike her colours to the Monarch. This engagement afforded little opportunity for a display of scientific tactics; it was, in seamen's language, a fair stund-up fight, gained by the party who had the stoutest heart and the strongest arm. But it distinguished captain Duncan as a man of the most dauntless intrepidity, and of judgment competent to form a correct estimate of his own strength, as compared with that of his adversaries. After beating the St Augustin, captain Duncan pushed forward into the heart of the battle, and, by a well-directed fire against several of the enemy's ships, contributed greatly to the victory which was that day achieved over the Spanish flag. The St Augustin proved a worthless prize. So much had she been shattered by the Monarch's tremendous fire, that it became necessary to take her in tow; but, taking water rapidly, her captors were under the necessity of abandoning her, in consequence of which she was repossessed by her original crew, and carried into a Spanish port.

On captain Duncan's return to England in the same year, he quitted the Monarch, and, in 1782, was appointed to the Blenheim, of 90 guns. With this ship he joined the main or channel fleet, under lord Howe. He shortly afterwards accompanied his lordship to Gibraltar, and bore a distinguished part in the engagement which took place in October, off the mouth of the straits, with the combined fleets of France and Spain, on which occasion he led the larboard division of the centre, or Commander-in-chief's squadron. Here he again signalized himself by the skill and bravery with which he fought his ship.

After returning to England he enjoyed a respite for a few years from the dangers and anxieties of active warfare. Having removed to the Edgar, 74, a Portsmouth guard-ship, he employed his time usefully to his country, and agreeably to himself, though he would have preferred the wider sphere of usefulness which a command on the seas would have afforded him, in giving instructions in the science of naval warfare to a number of young gentlemen, several of whom subsequently distinguished themselves in their profession.