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Rh prosecute his voyage with the remainder. The Dutch Admiral accepted the former part of the proposal, and saluted the British flag, but declined proceeding without the whole of the vessels, and sailed into Spithead. From the darkness of the night, many of the transports with stores escaped, and got safe into Brest.

Towards the end of the same year, the Swallow was ordered to the West Indies; and in Feb. 1781, Captain Bickerton was present at the capture of St. Eustatia, by the naval and military forces, under the respective commands of Sir George Rodney, and General Vaughan.

On the 8th of the same month, Captain Bickerton was posted into the Gibraltar, of 80 guns; and in the skirmish which took place between the British and French fleets under the respective commands of Sir Samuel Hood and the Count de Grasse, April 29th following, he commanded the Invincible, of 74 guns.

Captain Bickerton was subsequently appointed in succession to the Russel, and Terrible, both 74’s; but finding the latter unfit for service, he exchanged into the Amazon frigate, and was ordered to England. The Amazon was paid off in the month of February, 1782. In September following, he obtained the command of the Brune, another frigate; but in