xlviii INTRODUCTION. 
reading being directed to the perusal of voyages of disco- 
very, and nautical research, he quickly imbibed a_predi- 
lection for the naval profession; a predilection whose 
growth, fortunately for the British navy, when once it has 
taken root, is not easily checked. The period when Mr. 
Tuckey fixed his choice of a profession being that of pro- 
found peace, and no opportunity being afforded for enter- 
ing the navy, he was allowed by his friends to undertake 
a voyage, on trial, to the West-Indies in 1791; after which 
he ventured upon a second to the bay of Honduras, in 
which he caught a fever, that had nearly deprived him 
of life. 
On the breaking out of the revolutionary war, soon after 
his return, he was received on board the Suffolk, com- 
manded by Captain Rainier, at the recommendation of 
Captain, afterwards Sir Francis Hartwell, a relation by the 
father’s side. In that ship he proceeded to India, and 
was soon rated master’s mate; he was present at the cap- 
ture of Trincomallée from the Dutch, and received a 
slight wound in his left arm, from the splinter of a shell, 
while serving in the batteries ; he assisted at the surrender 
of Amboyna, ‘* famous,” as he observes in a letter to his 
friends,” for Dutch cruelty, and English forbearance.” On 
this occasion, a fate more general, though less horrible in 
its complexion, was about to be inflicted on the Dutch, 
by the native chiefs, had not the English undertaken their 
defence and protection. To assist in this humane pur- 
pose, Mr. Tuckey was stationed in a brig to cruise off the 
island ; and on firing a gun at a party in arms assembled 
on the beach, it burst, and a piece striking him on the 
wrist, broke his right arm. Having no surgeon on board, 
