\ 
| 7809.]. Account of the late Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart. 
7 f 
the Irish station, and captain E}liot, as senior 
officer, commanded -the little British squa- 
dron, which: proceeded from the harbour of 
Kinsale in quest of the French, under Thu- 
rot, who had effected a landing in the north 
of Ireland. The event of the engagement 
which took p'ace is too well known to render 
a repetition necessary; but a circumstance 
which occarted during the encounter, reflects 
too much jionour..on the judgment of Mr. 
Pasley tobe omitted. The ASolus had falien 
‘on board the French commodore’s ship, the 
Belliste of 44 guns, the bowsprit hanging over 
that ship’s gquarter-deck, and was conse- 
quently not only left exposed to the whole 
weight of the enemy’s fire; without being 
able to. bring a single gun to bear on her an- 
tagonist, but also compelled to engage the 
Blonde, of $6, at the same time with her 
aftermost guns, that frigate having fallen en 
board the Solus. In this perilous situation 
Mr, Pasley called the men from the foremost 
guns, which he at that time cofnmanded; 
and having boarded the enemy at their head 
from the bowsprit, made himself master of 
the deck, and obtained entire possession of the 
ship. As soon as this conquest was achieved, 
he sent on board the €olus for an English 
jac--, which he immediately hoisted on board 
the prize, as her signal of surrender." Captain 
Elliot, soon after his arrival at Portsmouth 
with his prizes, was removed into another 
ship, but Mr. Pasley retained his station un- 
der captain, now lord Hetham, who was ap- 
pointed to succeed him, and with whom he 
Continued till the year 1762. In the £olus, 
Mr. Pasley returned to his former occupation 
of cruizing, but was not concerned in any 
advantage more material than the capture of 
five or six privateers of insignificant force, and 
of a valuable French ship outward bound, 
from Bourdeaux to St. Domingo, calied the 
Formidable. On the returniof the Aolus to 
England, Mr. Pasley had the satisfaction to 
fina that he had been promoted, during his ab- 
sence, to the rank of commander, and was 
appointed to the Albany sloop of war, a ves- 
sel employed in convoying ships to and from 
the port of Milférd. After some continu- 
ance in that sloop, he removed into the 
Weasel, in which he had before served as a 
midshipman, and proceeded to the coast of 
Guinea. From the Weasel he was appointed 
‘to the Pomona, of 18 guns, and was ordered 
to Greenock, on the impress service, in con-. 
sequence of the apprehended rupture with 
Spain respecting the Falkland Islands. In 
1771, le was promoted to the rank of post- 
cic Sali and being appointed to the Sealiorse, 
of 20 guns, he sailed to the West Indies, 
where he rendered material service during the 
' conrest with the Caribs. Having returned to 
England the ensuing year, and.the Seahorse 
being put out of commission, he continued 
unemployed tijl 1776. He was then ap- 
inted to the Glasgow, and sent out to the 
est Indies, to convoy thither a valuable 
© Montup+ Mac., No, 179. 
‘the British squadron by M. de ‘Suffrein, ia 
‘Porto Praya Road, the Jupiter was particu- 
595 ' 
‘ficet of merchantmen, consisting of 120 sail. 
‘This charge he executed so much to the sa- 
tisfaction of all concerned, that he received 
the thanks of the cities of London, Bristol, 
‘and other ports, and a handsome piece of 
plate was presented to him, as a more sub~ 
‘stantial proof af the approbation of the mer- 
ehants. On his return to England, captain 
Pasley performed a similar service ; and, with 
the exception of the present, he had the sa- 
tisfaction of receiVing similar honours. Seon 
after his arrival in England, he was appointed 
to the Sybil of 28 guns, and sent with admi- 
ral Edwards to the Newfoundland station. In 
1780 he was promoted to the Jupiter of 50 
guns, and at the commencement of the en- 
suing year, sailed with commodore Johnstoneon 
a secret expedition. In the attack made en 
larly distinguished for the power and force of 
her fire; and amidst the torrent of abuse 
which’ was undeservedly thrown on some pet= . 
Sons concerned in that encounter, the conduct 
of captain Pasley was very justly applauded 
by al! parties. The subsequent operations of 
the British squadron were, as it is well known, 
confined to the capture of a fleet of Dutch 
India ships, surprised in Saldanha Bay. On 
its return, the Jupiter was, in May 1782, or- 
dered to proceed to the West Indies with ad- 
miral Pigot, who was sent out to supersede 
lord Rodney, in the chief command of the 
fleet emoloyedin that quarter, The Jupiter, 
soon after her arrival, was ordered on a cruize 
off the Havannah, and Captain Pasley had the 
“good fortune to tale five out of thirteen ves- 
‘stis which he fell in with. 
The crew of one 
of these prizes, however, having risen on the, 
English that were put into her, succeeded in | 
their attempt, and carried her intothe Ha- 
vanngh, where they informed the Spanish Ad- 
miral of the situation of the Jupiter, which 
had struck upona shoal. He accordingly dise 
patched a ship of 84, and another of 64 gunsg. 
to take or destroy her. Captain Pasley had, 
meanwhile, succeeded in getting the Jupiter 
afloat; but almost immediately fell in witls 
the Tiger, the largest of the Spanish ships. 
The enemy immediately gave chace, and 
gained considerably on the Jupiter, which 
had sustained considerable injury. At the 
dawn of day, the Tiger, being within gun. 
shot, and Captain Pasley finding escape im- 
possible, called together his crew, to whom 
he addressed a short but spirited harangue. He 
declared his intention of attacking the enemyy 
which was warmly. approved by three hearty 
cheers. - The 
pared foraction. Theenemy, probably inti- 
midated by this appearance of resolution, im- 
mediately hauled their wind, and suiicred 
the Jupiter to continue her voyage unzo- 
Jested. Captain Pasley immediately sutled 
for Antigua, to refit; and hostilities ceasing 
soon after, the Jupiter procecded to Cunthar 
* eur 
‘where she was put out Of cyromassion. Ph 
five 
Jupiter brought-te, and pre-. , 
