 He then took over the command of HMS "Neptune" and was appointed Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet and sent out with a large contingent of reinforcements in November 1741.Bad weather contrived to delay the sailing for several weeks, and he was unable to join Vice-Admiral Nicholas Haddock's fleet until the end of January 1742.By this time, the ships had been badly damaged by the weather, and many of the crew were ill or had died.