by John Marshall

“ Sir,– Before I quit this place, so different from the usual state of captivity and hardships we had to expect, I beg leave, as well on my own part as on that of my officers, who belonged to His B. Majesty’s ship the Romney, to return you our most sincere thanks, and to assure you, that the very humane attention which we unfortunate men experienced from you, shall never be effaced from our memories.
“We request you to assure Captain Verderoon, and the other captains and officers of the ships under your orders, that we are sensible of the great friendship which has been shown to us. ”

“ The sentence of the court was, that the pilots be mulcted of all their pay for the Romney, and rendered incapable of taking charge of any of his Majesty’s ships and vessels of war in future, and to be imprisoned in the Marshalsea, one for the space of six, and the other for twelve calendar months. Captain Colville, his officers, and crew, were honorably acquitted of all blame, it appearing to the court, that the utmost exertions were used by them to save the ship after she had struck, and to prevent the ship’s company from becoming prisoners to the enemy ”

“ Having learnt this morning that the crew of the Romney have not been treated according to my intention, I have sent two officers to make the necessary arrangements, and to give such orders as will insure that they shall be so treated henceforward as to prove that they are no longer considered as enemies ”