Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/446

  by a battery. In June 1795, she accompanied the fleet under Sir John Borlase Warren to Quiberon Bay, where she was employed to cover the landing of the French royalists, and in various skirmishes along the coast; in all which Lieutenant Tomlinson’s conduct was witnessed and highly approved by Captain Albemarle Bertie, of the Thunderer 74, who had the direction of the gun-vessels attached to the expedition.

The critical assistance rendered to the royalist army on the 21st of the ensuing month deserves particular notice. Unassisted by any other vessel, she went so near, and continued running along the coast so advantageously with the troops, as to be able to cover their retreat, and prevent the republicans from destroying the greatest part of them; and at length, when their situation became desperate, afforded both time and opportunity to conclude a capitulation. On this occasion, Lieutenant Tomlinson was honored with the thanks of Sir John B. Warren, on the quarter-deck of la Pomone, in the presence of many distinguished officers of the navy and army.

On the 10th Aug. in the same year, Lieutenant Tomlinson was ordered to attack a fleet of chasse marees, which he did with great promptitude, and took one of them, although she had anchored under a battery at the mouth of the river Crach, the fire of which was silenced by the Pelter. This exploit produced a flattering letter on the part of Sir John B. Warren, and a generous relinquishment of the prize to her captors alone by the officers and seamen of the squadron. The Pelter, in company with three other gun-vessels, had previously destroyed a corvette of 24 guns, and a national cutter, in the Morbihan river.

At length, in consequence of incessant fatigue, nearly 30 of the Pelter’s crew were confined to their hammocks ; and the rest, with Lieutenant Tomlinson at their head, in so reduced a state, that the vessel was obliged to be towed home by the Robust 74.

In Oct. 1795, the Pelter being paid off, the subject of this memoir joined the Glory, of 98 guns, as first Lieutenant, from