Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/360

 356 KINGSMILL. placed on the peace establishment, Captain Kingsmill retained his command for three years, at the expiration of which, he returned to the enjoyment of a quiet and honourable retirement. At the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, Mr. Kingsmill was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the white, and soon after appointed to the chief com mand on the lish station. Here he had occasion for the exertion of a l l the vigilance and activity which h e pos sessed; and the long list o f his captures i s sufficient proof that h e did not slumber a t his post. Scarce a month passed for a considerable time, without the capture o f some vessels o f consequence; but these successes were trivial compared with that which h e had the good fortune t o effect i n the month o f July 1796. A squadron o f four frigates had been fitted out a t Brest, with a l l imaginable care, for the express purpose o f committing depredations o n the British trade i n that quarter. These vessels were considered the best sailers i n the French navy; they were manned with picked men, and commanded b y officers o f the highest character i n their profession. Yet with a l l these advantages, they had scarcely made their appear ance, ere they were met, engaged, defeated, and captured. Passing over a variety o f minor successes, we come now t o a n event o f greater importance than any i n which i t had hitherto fallen t o the lot o f Admiral Kingsmill t o b e engaged. The French had long meditated the reduction o f Ireland; i n order t o effect which, they fitted out a formidable armament, consisting o f seventeen ships o f the line, with twenty-seven frigates and smaller vessels, having o n board a considerable number o f troops, which sailed from Brest i n the hope o f effecting a n immediate descent. It would be a needless waste of time to enter into a detail of the disasters which befel this ill-fated armament, the discomfiture o f which naturally produced a cessation from any similar attempt for several months. The duties o f Admiral Kingsmill did not, however, cease o r relax i n consequence o f this danger being averted; repeated cap