by John Marshall

“ In the Spring of 1794, Captain Elphinstone returned to England with the trade from the Mediterranean, and three French men of war, under his protection. On the 12th April, in the same year, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and soon after hoisted his flag on board the Barfleur, of 98 guns, in the Channel Fleet. ”

“ The Commander-in-Chief being seriously indisposed, gave charge of the fleet off Cadiz to Lord Keith, and our officer remained employed on the blockade of the Spanish Fleet, consisting of twenty-two ships of the line, until the 4th May 1799, when he discovered the Brest Fleet, consisting of twenty-four sail of the line and nine smaller vessels, which had escaped the vigilance of Lord Bridport, at some distance to windward, steering in for the land. ”

“ The ancestor of this nobleman was a German of the name of Elvington, who settled in Scotland during the reign of Robert I., and married Margaret, daughter of Sir Christopher Seton, a lady related to the royal family, and who appears to have been an heiress, or to have obtained crown lands by way of dower, in the fertile shire of Lothian, which her husband called after his own name. ”

“ For this service the Vice-Admiral prepared a gunboat, and armed the launches of the fleet with heavy carronades, landed two battalions of seamen, about 1000 strong, in addition to 800 soldiers and marines, and sent ships frequently round the bay, to prevent suspicion of an attack, when any favourable opportunity might offer. ”

“ The regular troops taken in the garrison amounted to about 1000 men.
In his despatches to the Secretary of State, General Clarke made the following honourable mention of his naval coadjutor: “The general character of Sir George Keith Elphinstone, and his ardent desire to serve his country, are too well known to receive additional lustre from any thing I could say on that subject ”

“ On the 7th March following, he was raised to the dignity of a Baron of the kingdom of Ireland, by the title of Lord Keith. And in the month of May, the same year, he superintended the naval preparations against the mutineers, who at that time unhappily held the command of several ships of war at the Nore, and had committed various acts of insubordination and outrage [7] . This storm being dispelled, his Lordship for a short time commanded a detachment of the Channel Fleet. He afterwards proceeded to the Mediterranean station, as second in command, under the Earl of St. ”

“ On one occasion, a detachment of the republican army, about 750 strong, appearing on the heights near Toulon, he marched out with 300 British and the same number of Spaniards, routed the enemy, and took four pieces of cannon, together with their ammunition, horses, two stands of colours, &c. ”