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 that city from the islands of Amak and Saltholm. On the surrender of the Danish navy, he was directed to assist Lieutenant Boyd (second of the Brunswick) in fitting out and bringing to England a prize 74, the preservation of which from impending destruction may justly be attributed to his foresight and perseverance.

The ship in question, deeply laden with stores, and full of troops, was passing Huen island, between Copenhagen and Elsineur, when Lieutenant Canning, standing on the forecastle, observed another prize, the Neptunos 80, at no great distance on the lee-bow, sticking fast with all sail set. Having noticed the track of other large ships, and the wind blowing off the Swedish shore, he immediately called out “luff,” but was contradicted by the pilot, who desired the helm to be put up, for the purpose of passing to leeward of the ship aground. There was not a moment to be lost; it might have been fatal: he therefore promptly urged the necessity of keeping more to windward. Lieutenant Boyd, handsomely confiding in him, complied with his desire, and thereby succeeded in getting through the Sound without any accident. The Neptunos, notwithstanding every exertion, remained fast, and was ultimately destroyed.

In Sept. 1808, Lieutenant Canning was appointed first of the Centaur 74, bearing the flag of Sir Samuel Hood, then returning from the Baltic, and whom he subsequently followed into the Hibernia 110, on the Mediterranean station. On the 17th Feb. 1811, he addressed that officer as follows:

“Sir,– What I beg now to submit for your consideration is the destruction of the enemy’s fleet at Toulon; and as I have taken the liberty of stating the object I have in view, I presume it will be incumbent on me also to state the means by which I propose to effect that object. They are as follow, viz. by fire-vessels, of which I would employ a certain number, not less than twenty, about 250 tons burthen each, to swim as light as possible, and as taunt and square rigged as the hulls will admit, grappling-irons, &c. with two fast rowing boats, towed one on each side, so that, in case of any accident happening to one, the crew may find resource in the other; one commissioned officer, one petty officer, and seven seamen in each; the whole to be under the command of a captain, either in a line-of-battle ship or a frigate; to proceed (being previously in the day time kept out of sight of the enemy to avoid suspicion, and the enemy’s fleet in the