Cape Francois, St. Domingo, in 1803.

He was at this period serving on board the Hercule, flag-ship to Sir
John Duckworth. According to the terms agreed upon, the French
men-of-war were to keep their colours hoisted until they got outside
of the harbour, when they were each to discharge a broadside in return
to a shot fired athwart their bows, by one of the British ships, and
then to make the usual signals of submission.

The Clorinde frigate, in going out of the harbour, grounded under Fort
St. Joseph, at the moment when the launch of the Hercule, commanded by
Mr. Willoughby, was entering the harbour. When Mr. Willoughby saw the
critical position of the Clorinde, and the danger which menaced all on
board of her (for he knew that even if they succeeded in gaining the
shore, which was doubtful, no quarter would be given them by the
blacks), he pulled towards the frigate, and when he came alongside, he
proposed terms to General La Poyne (who was on board of her) by which
the safety of the crew would be secured.

Mr. Willoughby promised, that if the frigate would hoist English
colours, he (Mr. Willoughby) would wait upon General Dessalines, and
demand that the British flag should be respected; and in the event of
the Clorinde going to pieces during the night, the crew and passengers
should be considered prisoners of war.

General La Poyne readily accepted the proposed terms, and
accordingly, Mr. Willoughby proceeded to negotiate with General
Dessalines, who promised compliance with his request.

The boats of the Hercule were sent to the assistance of the Clorinde,
and they succeeded in heaving her off.

Thus by the timely exertions of this zealous young officer, some
hundreds of lives were saved, and the British navy obtained a frigate
which, for many years, was one of the finest of the 38-gun class.

At the attack on Curacoa, in 1804, Mr. James relates, that for the
sake of encouraging his men, Mr. Willoughby used to take his meals
sitting in a chair upon the breast-work of a battery, while the earth
was ploughed up all around; and one man, we believe, was killed on the
spot; but still the table and chair, and the daring officer who sat
there, remained untouched.

In the following year, the Hercule had captured a merchant schooner,
and one of the prisoners gave notice that a Spanish corvette of twenty
guns, was lying in St. Martha, South America. Mr. Willoughby thereupon
volunteered to attack her; and on the 4th