Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/377

 Lord George Stuart was made a Lieutenant in 1800, a Commander in 1802; and confirmed in his post rank Mar. 3 1804. If we mistake not, he was in the East Indies at each of those periods.

About the 7th Jan. 1805, a hurricane commenced at Ceylon, during which the Sheerness 44, then commanded by the subject of this memoir, parted her cables, and drove on shore. Very little time had elapsed, before the water rose above the orlop-deck, the main-mast went by the board, and pumping proved ineffectual. At the commencement of the storm, Lord George, his first Lieutenant, and others, used every possible exertion to get on board, but their boat swamping, they with difficulty regained the shore. The launch, sent to their assistance, was also swamped, and two of her crew drowned.

His Lordship subsequently commanded the Duncan frigate, and on the 8th April, 1806, captured a French privateer of 8 guns and 71 nien. In the summer of 1807, he was appointed to l’Aimable 32, on the North Sea station, where he intercepted another marauder of the same description, mounting 16 guns, and having on board a number of British prisoners. In the summer of 1808, he appears to have assisted in escorting the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley, from Cork to Portugal, and it has been said that he was a spectator of the celebrated battle which led to the inglorious convention of Cintra.

On the 3d Feb. 1809, Lord George Stuart, having returned to his former station, captured, after a chase of 28 hours, and a short running fight, l’Iris, French national ship, pierced for 32 guns, but only mounting 22 24-pounder carronades and 2 long twelves, with a complement of 110 men, having on board 640 casks of flour for Martinique, victualled and stored for four months. L’Amiable, on this occasion, had 2 men wounded, and suffered materially in her masts, spars, sails, and rigging. The enemy sustained a loss of 2 killed and 8 wounded.

In July following, Lord George assumed the command of a light squadron employed at the mouth of the Elbe, and on the 26th of that month he performed an important service,