As several of our men had to receive extra pay for work they had been doing, I had to stay a considerable time in consequence of some of the Jacks-in-office waiting to get change to settle with our men; and I had a hot dispute with one of them (a Mr. Bull), who felt much hurt at my saying ‘What a cow you are to keep us in this infernal oven until our faces are the colour of your own (he was a man of colour)—bad luck to you.’
A short time before we knew of our being ordered home I went to dine on board the Elephant with Lyford, the first lieutenant (my old messmate in the Blonde). They expected to be sent home, and were so sure, that Captain Peers of the marines, and Jones, the purser, said how happy they should be to take any letters I had to send to England, and would be certain to call on my friends as soon as the ship arrived. Poor fellows, little did they think that instead of going home their bones would be left at the Palisades. I am grieved to say that out of the whole mess only two or three returned. I was taken ill the day I dined with them, and I can truly say that I feel the effects of the wretched climate while I am stating this.
On the 2nd of May we left Port Royal and for two or three days were becalmed in sight of the accursed harbour. At last we joined Rear-Admiral Campbell off Cape Tiburon. On our sick list being shown to the admiral he seemed astonished at the number, and when he found it was so swelled with yellow fever patients he ordered our boat off immediately and would not suffer any communication with our ship. We remained cruising with the squadron for a short time, and then left the fleet for England with the following men of war:—
| Bellona | 74 | Captain Thos. Bertie, commodore |
| Powerful | 74 | Captain Sir Francis Laforey, Bart. |
| Defence | 74 | Captain Lord Harry Paulett |
| Zealous | 74 | Captain Samuel Hood Linzee |
| Brunswick | 74 | Captain Geo. Hopewell Stephens |
| Edgar | 74 | Captain Robert Waller Otway |
| Orion | 74 | Captain Oliver |
| Vengeance | 74 | Captain Duff |
Went through the Crooked Island passage and parted company with the commodore, who, with five sail of the line, stood to the eastward and left the Powerful, Brunswick, and Edgar or Orion (I forget which) to get home as they could, being bad sailers. But Sir Francis Laforey, in the Powerful, knew well what he was about and stood to the northward. We had dreadful weather near Bermuda for three days, but moderate after, and when on the Banks of Newfoundland altered our course for the Channel and got there a few hours before the flying squadron, who we joined, and soon after arrived at Spithead after a passage of nearly two months, and went into harbour, where the Brunswick was paid off in July 1802.
But before closing I must relate a few occurrences, beginning with the captain. This gentleman was first lieutenant of the Janus, 44 (upon two decks) commanded by Captain Glover in the American war, and was one of the small squadron under the late Admiral Cornwallis, who at this time was captain of the Lion, 64, in the action with the French under Lamotte-Picquet,[[153]] who had a much superior force. As the action commenced, Captain Glover (who had been ill some time) died, and Lieutenant Stephens fought the ship in a manner that will do eternal honour to his memory. He was opposed in the line to a French 74 and fairly beat her out of her station. When the battle was over he went on board the commodore and reported the death of Captain Glover, and that he had died below, as the surgeon had reported his being unable to be brought on deck. Now Captain Glover had been spoken of before as not having exerted himself so well as was expected; and Cornwallis (who was a friend of his) observed to Lieutenant Stephens that he ought to have let his captain die on the quarter deck, as he well knew what had been said of him on a former occasion; and notwithstanding the surgeon’s report that he could not be removed from his cot, he never forgot it. This account I had from Captain Stephens; and when we joined the grand fleet off Brest under Admiral Cornwallis, we had not been there two hours before he made to us the signal of disapprobation for what in fact the ship ahead of us was to blame for. Says Captain Stephens to me, ‘Gardner, did I not tell you that Billy Blue would hold me in his kind remembrance? See how he begins to compliment me before the whole fleet.’
Captain Stephens was a brave and meritorious officer, an excellent sailor, and a master in naval tactics. I found him, both on board and on shore, a sincere friend. He applied for me to go as his first lieutenant when he was appointed to command the Captain, 74, but from ill health I was unable to join. He died a rear-admiral of the white, lamented by numerous friends.
I shall never forget the morning before we took our departure from the grand fleet off the Black Rocks. The signal was made to put ourselves under the orders of the Goliath, 74, with the ships I have already mentioned, and we imagined it was to go into port as the first division to be paid off. I had the middle watch and had turned in, when about five our master thundered at my door and calling out, ‘Here’s news for you, you ragged-headed rascal; turn out and hurrah for the back of the Point and Capstan Square! paid off by the hokey, in a few days.’ He then began singing:—
Jolly tars, have you heard of the news?
There’s peace both by land and by sea;