Goliath74Captain Essington, as commodore
Captain74Captain C. Boyles
Elephant74Captain Thos. Foley
Brunswick74Captain Geo. Hopewell Stephens
Ganges74Captain Fremantle

We had a pleasant passage down the trades and made Deseada some time in November, and had a beautiful view of the West India Islands; and in about a week after making Deseada we arrived at Port Royal, Jamaica, and found lying there the following men of war:—

Sans Pareil84Rear-Admiral Montagu—Captain Jas. Katon
Carnatic74Captain H. W. Bayntun
Cumberland74Captain Penrose
America64A hulk
Admiral de Vries56A cooperage
Abergavenny54A guard-ship
Vengeance44A French frigate: a prize
Melampus36Captain Thos. Le M. Gosselin, etc.

We remained about ten weeks in sweet Port Royal harbour, until the arrival of Rear-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K.B., as commander-in-chief, who had his flag (red at the mizen) on board the Leviathan, 74, and then sailed with a small squadron to cruise off the Island of Navasa, Cape Tiburon, etc., for several weeks under Rear-Admiral Montagu. In 1802 (I don’t remember the month) Rear-Admiral George Campbell arrived with the fleet from England, which cut a very fine appearance.[[149]] The like had not been since the days of Rodney, viz.:—

Leviathan74{Rear-Admiral Duckworth, K.B.
{Captain Richard D. Dunn
Sans Pareil84{Rear-Admiral Montagu
{Captain Jas. Katon
Temeraire98{Rear-Admiral Geo. Campbell
{Captain [C. Eyles][[150]]
Princess Royal98Captain
Formidable98Captain [Rich. Grindall][[150]]
Carnatic74Captain
Cumberland74Captain Penrose
Goliath74Captain Essington (then Brisbane)
Spencer74Captain [Henry D’E. Darby][[150]]
Captain74Captain C. Boyles
Ganges74Captain Fremantle
Elephant74Captain T. Foley (then Dundas)
Brunswick74Captain Geo. H. Stephens
Vengeance74Captain Duff
Audacious74Captain S. Peard
Orion74Captain Oliver
Edgar74Captain Otway
Bellerophon74Captain Loring
Robust74Captain Hon. Alan H. Gardner
Resolution74Captain
Majestic74Captain D. Gould
Theseus74Captain John Bligh
Zealous74Captain S. H. Linzee
Warrior74Captain Chas. Tyler
Powerful74Captain Sir Francis Laforey, Bart.
Bellona74Captain Thos. Bertie
Vanguard74Captain Chas. Inglis
Defence74Captain Lord H. Paulett
Abergavenny54A guard-ship
America64A hulk
Admiral De Vries54A cooperage
Hindostan54A store-ship
Vengeance44A prize
Decade36Captain Rutherford
Melampus36Captain Gosselin
Trent36Captain Perkins
Naiad or Néréide36Captain Mends
Æolus32Captain Walker
Druid32Captain
Thisbe or Dido (?)28Captain

And other frigates I do not remember.

Pelican18Captain Geo. McKinlay
Calypso18Captain
Lark18Captain
Raven18Captain James Sanders

Came into Port Royal the Française, 36, French frigate, to purchase different articles for Madame Le Clerc, the wife of the commander-in-chief of the French army at St. Domingo, and sister of Napoleon (then first consul of France). A court martial was held on Captain Thomas New for the loss of his ship,[[151]] on which charge he was acquitted. During our cruise off St. Domingo we could observe the devastation occasioned by the war with the French and the blacks; several plantations and villages on fire. At this time sickness began to make its appearance in the fleet, and the Brunswick had 287 men on the sick list, and buried a great many. The Vengeance, 44, a prize, tailed on shore and many lost their lives in endeavouring to get her off, particularly the party of thirty-four from the Brunswick, the greater part of whom died; and this for an old French frigate not worth repair, being rotten and useless.

A short time before we arrived, the Topaze, 36, on a cruise, buried all hands except fifty-five; the captain (Church) and all the officers died, and the ship was brought in by the gunner. Eight sail of the line having been surveyed and ordered home, we were one of the lucky squadron. Each ship was directed to take on board four tons of iron hoops lying at a place called Greenwich; and our launch took several trips for this precious cargo; the thermometer generally 112,[[152]] and I have to remember many damnable roastings I got in grubbing for rusty hoops not worth their carriage. So much for the wisdom of Sir John. What could induce him to think of such a thing was only known to himself. Everyone at first thought it a hoax until they took the trip. I have heard many men say how dearly they liked the West Indies; the heat was so fine and conducive to health. Much good may it do them; and I, for one, shall never envy them taking up their quarters with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

The day before we left Port Royal happened to be sweet May Day and I shall never forget it. The squadron ordered home had to send as many of their stores as they could spare to the dockyard. I had to tow our spare topmasts and several spars, and with great fatigue got them landed and put into store; the heat beyond description; so much so that near thirty of the blacks belonging to the yard were taken ill and sent to the hospital. Captain Stephens was one of those who liked the West Indies, and coming into the yard at this time, when not a breath of air was stirring, I pointed out to him some fowls that had taken their station as well as myself under an archway, with their wings drooping and their bills open gasping for breath. ‘Sir,’ says I, ‘the fowls wax warm although indigenous, and don’t appear so comfortable in this fine climate as might be expected.’ ‘Let us be off,’ says he, ‘for there’s no standing this.’