Among other ceremonies, a squadron was detached into the Sound, for the purpose of exhibiting some naval evolutions before George III., who had embarked on board the Southampton to inspect them. On this occasion, while the ships were forming into two separate lines of battle, his Majesty expressed much satisfaction with the elegance of the Hebe's movements; and in the engagement which followed was observed to turn frequently from the line-of-battle ships towards the frigate.

In 1790, the Spaniards having sent an armed force to dispossess the British traders and settlers of their possessions at Nootka Sound, our government ordered a powerful fleet to be equipped, and to rendezvous under Lord Howe at Spithead, to await the effect of their remonstrance. This period is known to seamen under the name of the " Spanish disturbance;" and there can be little doubt that the celerity with which the fleet was manned and fitted brought the Spaniards to terms. On this occasion Captain Thornborough was appointed to the Scipio, of 64 guns, which ship was paid off, after the amicable adjustment of the dispute, and our officer retired to private life.

In February, 1793, the National Convention of France declared war against Great Britain and Holland, a step which was, of course, reciprocated; and a numerous fleet was consequently fitted out for sea with the utmost expedition. Capt. Thornborough was called into commission, and appointed to the Latona, a choice 38-gun frigate, on the home station. In the course of the summer he captured several French merchant-vessels, besides three mischievous privateers, called L'Amerique, Le Franklin, and L'Ambitieux, of 10 guns each. On the 18th of November, in the same year, being attached to Lord Howe's fleet, he descried a strange squadron to windward, which proved to be French, and consisted of six sail of the line, two frigates, a brig, and a schooner, under the command of Citoyen Vanstabel. This being communicated to the Admiral, the signal for chase was instantly abroad; the enemy in the mean time bearing down in hopes of snatching

up a convoy. When the hostile fleets had neared sufficiently to raise the hulls of each other, Vanstabel perceived his mistake, and made all the sail his ships could stagger under to a fresh gale, followed by the advance of the British fleet till at eleven A. M., the Russell having sprung her foretop-mast, and the Defence having carried away her fore and main topmasts, the frigates were ordered to lead the fleet and keep sight of the enemy. At noon a shift of wind enabled the chasing ships to tack with advantage; and the Latona, ahead of her companions, soon found herself so near the French frigates, that Captain Thornborough boldly resolved to cut off one of them, the afterwards well-known Sémillante. After firing for some time on both these ships, the Latona could have weathered the Sémillante at about four; but Vanstabel, seeing her danger, bore down in the Tigre, of 80 guns, with his second, to prevent the manœuvre from being effective. The two French line-of-battle ships saved their frigate by this timely intervention, passing so near to the Latona as to discharge their broadsides at her, but without other damage than two shots lodging in her hull. On receiving the fire of these heavy antagonists, their pigmy foe gallantly luffed up and returned it, evidently striking the hull of the Tigre, and cutting away her fore-stay and main-tack, and also (as was afterwards related by some prisoners taken on board a recaptured vessel) killing and wounding several of her crew, besides the damage she did to the frigates. No other British ship was able to approach the squalls became furious, and the advance was under more sail than they could well carry, whence the maintop-masts of the Vanguard and Montague went over the side. At night Lord Howe kept on a wind, to anticipate the probable motions of the French; in consequence of which Capt. Pasley, in the Bellerophon, 74, with the Latona and Phoenix, lost sight of the fleet, and found themselves on the following dawn well up with four of the enemy, all of the line: these being of such superior force compelled the reluctant Pasley to recall the chasers; and Commodore Vanstabel ultimately escaped.

The activity, spirit, and address of Captain Thornborough in this pursuit gave pleasure to the whole fleet; and the Admiralty complimented him with their special thanks.

The Latona and Phaeton were now ordered off Ushant, where, on the 27th of November, they captured the national ship Blonde, of 28 guns. A severe winter's work followed, in the necessary attendance upon Lord Howe; and the duty was of a nature to try both officers and men. Nothing, however, very important happened till the spring of 1794, when Lord Howe left Portsmouth, and on the morning of the 5th of May arrived off Ushant. The Latona and Phaeton were then ordered to reconnoitre Brest harbour, covered by the Orion, of 74 guns, which they promptly performed, and reported the French grand fleet to be at anchor in the outer roads. This induced his Lordship to imagine their object was to be in readiness to protect the homeward-bound convoy from America; he, therefore, stood to the westward, and for a fortnight kept crossing the Bay of Biscay in all directions, without seeing the expected vessels. On the 19th, having returned off Ushant, the Latona and Phaeton, covered this time by the Cæsar and Leviathan, were again ordered to look into Brest Water, when they found the port vacant. This was important intelligence: after strenuous endeavours to fall in with them, the enemy was met on the 28th, and the glorious battles which followed are too well known to need repetition. It is sufficient to say, that the Latona did important service in the conflict, and, with the Phaeton, was attached to the centre of the line. About noon she was signalised by the Bellerophon for assistance, that ship having been dreadfully cut up, and at the moment receiving the broadsides of two opponents. Captain Thornborough was not slow in answering the summons, and as he passed the two French line-of-battle ships gave them the contents of his guns.

This was Captain Thornborough's last achievement as a frigate captain, for he was shortly afterwards appointed to the Robust, of 74 guns, in which ship he still remained with

Lord Howe, and cruised with him during the winter of 1794. In the following spring, the Robust was one of the squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral Colpoys; after which she joined the broad pendant of Commodore Sir J. B. Warren, to co-operate with the French royalists in Quiberon Bay, in company with two other sail of the line, six frigates, several smaller vessels of war, and fifty transports.

The expedition for this object sailed in June, protected by Lord Bridport and the Channel fleet, who accompanied the Commodore off Belleisle, and there parted company to resume his station in the offing. Scarcely had he quitted, however, before the Brest fleet, under M. Vaillant, was discerned coming from under the land. Sir J. B. Warren immediately made the best dispositions for the safety of his charge, and despatched a fast-sailing vessel after Lord Bridport with the intelligence. On the following morning the Robust arrived within signal distance of his Lordship; but, in spite of all his endeavours to join, got up too late to have any share in the battle which ensued, and which left three sail of the line in the hands of the conquerors. The remainder of the French fleet being driven into L'Orient, the expedition to Quiberon proceeded to its destination, and the emigrant troops were landed on the 27th.

From this service the Robust joined Admiral Duncan's squadron off the Texel, and was variously employed on the Channel station, but without any affair of moment to signalise her Captain; for, he, being a favourite with Lord Bridport, had been summoned to join the fleet off Brest, and thus missed being in the action of the 11th of October, 1797. The same month, however, of the following year, afforded Captain Thornborough an opportunity of adding to his former professional character. In the autumn of 1798, the Robust had been again placed under Sir J. B. Warren's orders, that he might act against the expedition which had been fitted out at Brest for the invasion of Ireland. On the 11th the squadron of M. Bompart, consisting of a line-of-battle ship, eight frigates, and a schooner, were de

scried off Lough Swilly, and immediate chase was given by the Commodore, whose force consisted of three sail of the line and five frigates. Owing to the boisterous state of the weather, the enemy were not neared till the morning of the 12th; and the approach was favoured by the two-decker having lost her maintop-mast. Finding he could not escape, M. Bompart formed in close order, and brought-to for action. In the mean time our ships had become so much spread, that the signal to engage was not thrown out till seven a. M., when the Robust was directed to lead; a command obeyed with such alacrity, that in twenty minutes afterwards that ship was throwing her fire into two French frigates in her progress towards their Commodore. At fifty minutes past eight she got alongside her opponent; and a furious action commenced, in which she was ably seconded by the Magnanime, and some occasional shots from the other ships. Bompart made a gallant defence; but the steady broadsides of the Robust compelled him to strike his colours, after an action of two hours. The prize proved to be the Hoche, of 78 guns, one of the most superb ships of her class; having lost in killed and wounded 270 men. In the Robust there were 10 seamen slain, and 2 officers and 38 seamen and marines wounded.

Two

Seeing the fate of their Commodore, the French frigates made an effort to escape; but after a running action three of them were taken in the course of the day, and a fourth surrendered to Captain Graham Moore at midnight. others were captured shortly afterwards, and the remaining two, of which one was Thornborough's old friend the Sémillante, effected their escape, with the schooner. All the prizes were found full of troops, arms, stores, and necessaries for their designs upon Ireland; and the decisive success of the British squadron was deemed of such importance to the nation as to deserve the thanks of Parliament.

The Hoche did not strike till her gear was cut to pieces, her masts wounded, and her hull riddled, with five-feet water in her hold, and twenty-five of her guns dismounted. The