of July, he took the command
of the prize, and parted company with his ship, accompanied by three
midshipmen and thirty volunteers. On the 6th, they entered the harbour
of St. Martha; Captain Samuel Roberts, then a midshipman, was at the
helm, with a check shirt on, his head covered with a French kerchief,
and his face blackened. The rest of the men were below, except a
black, and a mulatto.

The schooner being well known, the deception was perfectly successful,
and she passed the batteries without interruption; but, to the
disappointment of all on board, no corvette was to be found.

Mortified in the extreme, they put about, but not in time to escape
detection. The enemy had found out the trick that had been played upon
them; and the batteries from the island and harbour opened upon the
schooner a volley of no very gentle reproaches. However, she luckily
avoided the danger, and returned in safety to the Hercule, without
receiving a single shot.

In 1807, Mr. Willoughby was appointed to the Royal George. We have
already alluded to his humane exertions to save the crew of the Ajax,
while the squadron was off the Dardanelles. He soon afterwards
received a severe wound whilst he was taking more thought for others'
safety than for his own. Upon the return of the squadron from
Constantinople, an attack was made upon a large building on the island
of Prota.

Lieutenant Willoughby perceiving that three men were very much exposed
to the enemy's fire, called out to them, desiring them to stoop. At
that moment, he was himself struck by two pistol balls; one entered
his head, just above the right jaw, and took a slanting direction
upwards--and has never been extracted; the other shot cut his left
cheek in two; For some minutes he lay apparently lifeless, but
fortunately the movement of an arm indicated enough of life to awaken
hope in his companions; and they carried him on board the Royal
George.

In 1808, he was promoted to the rank of commander, and appointed to
the Otter sloop, then employed in cruizing off the Isle of France.
Here he distinguished himself in cutting out some vessels under the
protection of the batteries of the Black River; and for his services
at the capture of St. Paul, he was appointed to the Xereide.

In 1810, he made an attack upon Jacotel: he thought this a somewhat
dangerous enterprise; and, therefore, to inspire his men with more
than usual courage and ardour, he headed them himself, in full