by John Marshall

“ Douglas Cox’s godfather was Colonel William Douglas, brother to that most excellent officer and worthy man, the present Vice-Admiral John Erskine Douglas, under whose protection he first entered the navy, May 6th, 1800, as midshipman on board the Boston 32, which ship was very actively employed on the Halifax station, till towards the close of 1804, when she returned home and was put out of commission. ”

“ This was done by the carpenters of the ship, under the direction of the captain: the advantages soon became so apparent, that many captains followed the good example; and government, receiving into its counsels some of the most active and influential officers in the navy, adopted the mode of fitting store-rooms throughout the service, and great are the benefits derived from it. ”

“ Cox was engaged, I cannot at this length of time recollect, except one while he was serving under Lieutenant Robert Carr, in the Attentive. The boats of that vessel had cut out from a small port near Trinity, on the north side of Martinique, two drogers, on board one of which there was an English negro, who gave information that a sloop, loaded with sugar, was lying in a harbour a few miles to windward, and unprotected; at the same time offering to pilot the boats in. Mr. ”