214 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



accompanied his captain, first on board the Namur, and afterward* 

 into the Dorsetshire. In the former he served under Admiral 

 Hawke, during the expedition against Rochfort ; and, while on 

 board the latter, was present at the capture of the Raisonable, on 

 which occasion Captain Denis put in practice the plan now adopted 

 by the new school, of not firing a single ball till within a few 

 yards of the enemy's ship. He likewise bore a share in the ge- 

 neral engagement which took place off Belleisle in 1769, between 

 the British and French fleets, commanded by Sir Edward Hawke, 

 and the Marshal de Conflans. Mr. Gardner, having now been five 

 years in constant service, was appointed lieutenant on board of the 

 Bellona, after the customary examinations. In this station he 

 distinguished himself at the capture of the Le Courageux, where- 

 upon he was raised to the rank of master and commander, and ap- 

 pointed to the Raven of sixteen guns. After the lapse of four 

 years, he was made post in the Preston of fifty guns, which had 

 been fitted-out as the flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Parry, whom he 

 accompanied to Port Royal in Jamaica. During the whole time of 

 his being stationed here Great Britain was at peace with all the 

 nations of Europe, so that the only circumstance which occurred, 

 requiring notice in this sketch, was his marriage with Susannah 

 Hyde, only daughter of Francis Oale, Esq. a West India planter. 

 This lady having soon brought him a numerous family, and being 

 himself ambitious of rising in the service, he made every effort to 

 obtain an appointment as soon as the American contest began. 

 Accordingly he was nominated to the command of the Maidstone 

 frigate, in which he sailed for the West Indies early in 1778 ; and, 

 in the course of that year, was so fortunate as to make a rich cap- 

 ture on the coast of America. On the fourth of November he fell 

 in with the Lion, a French man of war, having on board fifteen 

 hundred hogsheads of tobacco, and after a severe action compelled 

 her to surrender. With this prize he sailed for Antigua ; and 

 was, soon after his arrival, promoted by Admiral Byron to the 

 command of the Sultan of 74 guns. In the drawn battle which 

 was fought some time subsequent with the French fleet under 

 Count de Estaing, off the island of Grenada, Captain Gardner led 

 the van, and greatly distinguished himself. His ship, however, suf- 

 fered so much, that he was ordered to Jamaica, from whence he 

 shortly after sailed for England, when the Sultan was discharged. 

 He did not, however, remain long out of commission, having been 

 appointed to the Duke in the course of a few months, with which 



