Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/378

 He also bore a part in several boat affairs, and various other hazardous services.

About Dec. 1806, Mr. Cator was received on board the Ocean 98, bearing the flag of Lord Collingwood, who, in a short time afterwards, appointed him to act as lieutenant of the Delight brig, Captain Philip Cosby Handfield, which vessel was principally employed in carrying despatches to the Archipelago, Egypt, and England. Previous to her return home, she got embayed by night, at the west end of Malta, in a tremendous gale, and would have been lost with all on board but for the exertions of Mr. Cator and the boatswain, each of whom cut away a mast, and thus saved her from destruction. At this period, Captain Handfield was sick in bed, and the senior lieutenant became so alarmed that he never recovered from the effects of his panic.

Lieutenant Cator’s appointment to the Delight was confirmed by the Admiralty, Mar. 3, 1807. In the following month, he removed from her to the Foudroyant 80, then bearing the flag of his uncle, in the Channel fleet, and subsequently that of Sir W. Sidney Smith, off Lisbon. In May, 1808, we find him en board Rear-Admiral Bertie’s flag-ship, the Leopard 50, stationed at the Cape of Good Hope; and from Mar. 1809 until April 1810, acting commander of the Sapphire and Otter sloops, constantly employed in the blockade of the Isles of France and Bourbon. It will be seen, by reference, that he assisted at the capture of St. Rose, in the latter island, and had the direction of the parties subsequently landed to procure supplies, and bring off the enemy’s guns; also that his conduct on that occasion was highly commended by the senior officer.

On his return to the Cape, after an absence of 16 months (the whole time at sea), Lieutenant Cator was directed to hoist a pendant on board the Hanger transport, laden with stores and provisions for the squadron off the Mauritius. On his arrival near Port Louis, he had the misfortune to be captured by three French frigates under the orders of Commodore Hamelin. When chased by them, he consulted with the master and mates of the Ranger, intending, if her boats were considered capable of containing all the people on board, 