by John Marshall

“ On the 9th of July, 1745, the Lion, of 60 guns and 400 men, commanded by Captain Peircy Brett, being on a cruise in lat. 47° 17' N., fell in with the Elizabeth, a French ship of war, of 64 guns and 600 men, and a small frigate, the latter having on board Prince Charles, son of the Pretender, and several officers of distinction, who were accompanying him, in order to support his efforts to land in Scotland. At 5 p.m., the Lion got within pistol-shot of the Elizabeth, when a most obstinate battle began, and continued with great fury till ten ”

“ Mr. Peircy Brett, junior, was born at Westbere, near Canterbury, Feb. 20th, 1785; and admitted at the Royal Academy, Portsmouth, May 29th, 1797. He first embarked on board the Royal Sovereign, flag-ship of Sir Henry Harvey, second in command of the Channel fleet. May 17th, 1801; served during the peace of Amiens, in the Bittern sloop. Captain Robert Corbett, on the Mediterranean station; and was appointed, by Sir Richard Bickerton, to act as lieutenant in the gun-boat service at Gibraltar, May 16th, 1805. ”

“ Malcolm; and, on the 23d of the same month, assisted at the capture of El Rayo, a Spanish first-rate, forming part of the division under Admiral Gravina, which, on its return to port after the battle of Trafalgar, had been immediately ordered to sea again, for the purpose of attempting the rescue of some of the disabled prizes. ”