Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/501

  ward of Christ’s Hospital, London, under the tuition of the late Mr. William Wales.

Although we know that the subject of this memoir was borne on the books of one or two ships during the last three years and nine months of the American revolutionary war, and that he subsequently served as a midshipman and master’s mate, on the East and West India stations; it is not in our power to state with precision the names of the different commanders he sailed under, previous to his joining the renowned Nelson, at the commencement of hostilities against France, in 1793.

The Agamemnon 64, commanded by that heroic officer, formed part of Lord Hood’s fleet, at the occupation of Toulon; and was subsequently sent to cruise off Sardinia, where she appears to have fallen in with four French frigates and a brig, under the orders of Commodore Perrée. While pursuing one of the former, in hopes of cutting her off before the others could come to her assistance, the British ship had one man slain, six persons wounded, and her masts, sails, and rigging much damaged. Mr. Withers afterwards assisted at the reduction of Bastia and Calvi; and he also bore a part in Vice-Admiral Hotham’s partial actions with the republican fleet, off Genoa and the Hieres islands, in March and July, 1795.

In Aug. following. Captain Nelson was sent to co-operate with the allied armies in an attempt to expel the enemy from the Genoese territories; and whilst thus employed, Mr. Withers was engaged in numerous boat affairs, on one of which occasions he received a slight wound, and upon another was taken prisoner by the French, who sent him to Montpelier, from whence he was allowed to return to his ship after a detention of little more than three months. Napoleon Buonaparte consenting to exchange his captives, in consequence of Nelson having thought proper to restore to that General some personal property, which had been captured by the Agamemnon and her consorts.

In June 1796, Mr. Withers joined the Captain 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Nelson, under whom he had