adside after broadside into her, and then approached to board. In the
confusion the yards of the two vessels became entangled together, and the
second ship also caught fire. Both ships burned until they blew up, nearly
all on board perishing, the few survivors being picked up by the boats of
the _Superb_, which was at the time engaged in taking possession of the
third Spanish ship-of-war, which had struck to her. The officers and men
of this ship were released in exchange for those of the _Hannibal_ and
_Speedy_. We were therefore free to serve again, but were all sent back to
England and put on half-pay, and peace having soon after been patched up I
remained without a chance of employment.

"Fortunately my parents at that time were alive, and I got on better than
some of my comrades. Poor Parker was especially badly treated by the
authorities. Cochrane in vain attacked the admiralty, but the hostility to
him extended to his officers. He himself had a serious grievance, for the
long delay before he had obtained his promotion caused several junior
officers to pass over his head, but annoying as this was it affected him
less than the cruel treatment of Parker. Some years passed before that
officer obtained his promotion. Despairing of getting it, he took a little
farm, married, and settled there with his family. Cochrane persevered so
strenuously on his behalf that at last he was made commander, and was
ordered to join the _Rainbow_ sloop in the West Indies. He sold off
everything, even his house and furniture, in order to enable him to obtain
his outfit, and proceeded to take up his command. On arriving at Barbadoes
he reported himself to the admiral, who knew nothing about the _Rainbow_,
but supposed that she might be some newly-purchased craft fitting out at
the Bermudas. Parker went there, but could hear nothing of her, and then
returned to Barbadoes, when it became evident that no such vessel was in
existence.

"He returned to England a ruined man. He had expended his whole capital,
amounting to upwards of a thousand pounds, in settling his family during
his absence, and in providing for his outfit and voyage. The first lord of
the admiralty expressed polite surprise that such a mistake should have
occurred, and promised compensation for his loss and another command on
the first opportunity. Neither promise was kept, and Parker's spirit and
health gave way under his misfortunes, and he sank into the grave.
Cochrane,