Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/337

 wrecked, in the night of Dec. 10th, 1808. On their return to Plymouth, Captain Baker, his officers, and ship’s company, were tried by a court-martial, when, it appearing that he had not endeavoured to get a pilot, or bring the ship to an anchor, the court adjudged him to be admonished to act with more precaution for the future. The officers and ship’s company were acquitted of all blame.

In Mar. 1809, Lieutenant Williams was appointed to the H elder 32, Captain John Serrell, fitting out for the Jamaica station; in which ship he continued till she was ordered home, about Aug. 1810, when he got removed into the Reindeer sloop. Previous to this, the Helder, in the course of six weeks, had lost one lieutenant, two masters, two pursers, five midshipmen, and about eighty sailors, &c., all by the yellow fever: the only officer who escaped an attack was a lieutenant of marines.

In April 1811, Lieutenant Williams obtained the command of the Decouverte brig, of 14 guns and 64 men; in which vessel he appears to have been for some time actively employed among the Bahamas, and in the gulfs of Florida and Mexico; where he captured a brig with a cargo of slaves; a schooner under Swedish colours, laden with dry goods, French prize property; and the American privateer Nonpareil, the master of which vessel intended to attack and burn the defenceless town of Harbour Island. Returning to Jamaica, he fell in with, and gave chase to, the Comet privateer, of 5 guns and 80 men, but was compelled reluctantly to abandon the pursuit, after being within long gun-shot for upwards of two hours, the Decouverte’s fore-top-gallant mast having gone over the side in a squall, and both her lower masts being sprung, the fore-mast badly.

On her arrival at Port Royal, the Decouverte was ordered to undergo a thorough repair, and nearly nine months elapsed before she was again ready for sea. In the mean time Lieutenant Williams, with his crew, in the Confiance schooner, lent by the merchants of Kingston, was employed in escorting several vessels to St. Jago de Cuba and 