HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 215 



ship he sailed to join the fleet in the West Indies, then under the 

 orders of Sir George Rodney, and was fortunate enough to arrive 

 in time to participate in the glorious victory of the twelfth of 

 April, 1782. On that memorable day, his ship was the first to 

 break through the enemy's line of battle, according to the new 

 plan of attack, suggested by Mr, Clerk, of Eldon, and then for the 

 first time put in practice. At one period of this action the Duke, 

 in conjunction with the Formidable and Namur, had to sustain 

 the fire of eleven of the enemy's ships. Soon after this triumph 

 the American war terminated, and peace continued for several 

 years to shed her benignant influence over the several nations of 

 Europe. During this period, Captain Gardner was employed in 

 different capacities. For some time he acted as Commodore on 

 the Jamaica station, and in 1790 was appointed a lord of the Ad- 

 miralty, when he likewise obtained a seat in Parliament. 



In the year 1793, having been raised to the rank of Rear- Ad- 

 miral of the blue, he hoisted his flag on board the Queen of 98 

 guns, in which he sailed as Commander-in-chief to the Leeward 

 Islands. Soon after this event, finding the disputes between the 

 republicans and royalists in the colony of Martinico to run very 

 high, and being earnestly pressed by the latter to effect a descent 

 on the island, accordingly Major-General Bruce landed with 3000 

 men ; but that officer judged it expedient to re-embark again, 

 almost immediately, being satisfied that the republican party was 

 too strong to afford just hopes of success in the royal cause. 

 Admiral Gardner now returned to England, and the following 

 year bore a part in the action of the 1st of June, under the gal- 

 lant Earl Howe. On this occasion his conduct was conspicuous 

 in the extreme, his ship having suffered more than any other in 

 the fleet, with the exception of the Brunswick. In consequence, 

 he not only was particularly thanked by the Commander-in-chief, 

 but was appointed Major-general of Marines, and created a Ba- 

 ronet of Great Britain. On the 22d June, 1795, Sir Alan was 

 present at the action off Port FOrient, when the French fleet only 

 saved itself from total destruction by a timely flight. Two years 

 after this event, when a dangerous mutiny had broken out at 

 Portsmouth, he manifested a degree of firmness and resolution, 

 during that trying period, worthy of his high character as a Bri- 

 tish naval officer. From this time he continued to serve in the 

 Channel fleet till the close of the year 1799, when he was sent 

 with sixteen sail of the line, to reinforce the fleet off Cadiz, and 



