by John Marshall

“ There was an evident necessity of doing something to relieve the ship; but I was unwilling to cut away the lower masts till the last extremity, and accordingly ordered the people to cut away the main-top-mast; my orders were attempted to be put into execution with the utmost alacrity; but before it could be accomplished, I found it necessary to call them down to cut away the main-mast. Whilst I was waiting for the men to come down, a sudden gust overset the ship; most of the officers, with myself, and a number of the ship’s company, got upon the side of the ship ”

“ During the time he commanded the former vessel, he captured the Vigilante, a national cutter, mounting 6 guns. In the spring of 1797, Captain Dacres was removed into the Astrea frigate, and soon after performed a most essential service by effecting his escape from the Nore during the height of the general mutiny, and convoying a valuable fleet in safety to the Baltic. Whilst in that ship he also captured several French and Dutch privateers. ”

“ Notwithstanding the ship was so far gone, upon the masts, bowsprit, &c. going away, she righted as far as to bring the lee gunwale even with the water’s edge. By the exertion of all the officers and men, we soon got the lee quarter-deck guns and carronades overboard, and soon after one of the forecastle guns and sheet anchor cut away; which had ao good an effect, that we were enabled to get at the pumps and lee guns on the main-deck; the throwing them overboard was, in our situation, a work of great difficulty; and I could perceive the ship was already going down by the stern. ”