Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/428

 The Entreprenante, after having had the honor of attending on King George III., at Weymouth, in company with the Crescent and AEolus frigates, was employed in escorting supplies to the blockading squadrons off l’Orient and Havre, near which latter port she made several captures. In July 1805, she was attached to the Mediterranean station; and on the day previous to the ever memorable battle of Trafalgar, Lieutenant Young received directions to keep close to Nelson’s flag-ship, the heroic chief having resolved to send him home with the account of his justly anticipated victory. Towards the close of that celebrated engagement, a French 74, l’Achille, caught fire, and, in about an hour afterwards, exploded; but not before the Entreprenante, in conjunction with the Pickle schooner, and the boats of the Prince George and Swiftsure, had succeeded in rescuing about 200 of the unfortunate enemy. This, we should observe, was a most dangerous, and, to Lieutenant Young, an expensive service; l’Achille’s guns, when heated, discharging their contents; and humanity prompting him to distribute among the captives the whole of his linen, wine, and other necessaries, for which he never received the least remuneration. During the tremendous gale that immediately ensued,the Entreprenante, although crowded with prisoners, and in the greatest distress for want of water, was indefatigable in ascertaining, and correctly reporting the position of the prizes, one of which, the Bahama 74, would have been run into Cadiz but for her timely telegraphic intelligence. Instead, however, of being sent to England, according to the deceased hero’s intention, Lieutenant Young was ordered to convey the duplicate despatches to Faro; and, consequently, instead of obtaining preferment, and the usual handsome donation, all that he received was a sword, value one hundred guineas, presented to him by the Committee of the Patriotic Fund. In 1806 and 1807, he was almost incessantly employed in watching the enemy’s fleet at Brest, a service of the most arduous nature. In 1809, after having been indulged with a few months’ relaxation, for the recovery of his health, he was appointed first lieutenant of the Ulysses 44, Captain the Hon. Warwick Lake; and he appears to have been the senior 