by John Marshall

“ The military men that were placed under his command, he regulated and disciplined, and himself led them to battle; and he did and performed every thing faithfully as becoming a noble commander. For his trusty services, we were pleased to order him to be made a general. And now, having petitioned us to give him leave to return to his own country, we are pleased to command, that the said noble general, who is worthy of all honor, Thomas, the son of Thomas Dalyell, shall have leave to go into his own country. ”

“ In an official letter to Admiral Lord Keith, the commander of the Rattler had previously thus expressed himself:
“Among the missing from this ship is Lieutenant Dalyell, whose zeal, courage, and abilities have ever been eminently conspicuous: his premature death deprives his country of an officer who was an honor to the service.” ”

“ When the French military surgeons had dressed their wounded countrymen, they examined Lieutenant Dalyell, and considered his case so desperate that they were inclined to pass him over as one already dead:– his head seemed hacked asunder, having received no less than nine sabre cuts; his left foot was lacerated by a pistol ball; he had no less than three other severe, and two slight, wounds. ”

“ The strictest orders were given to prevent any of the disorganized Hanoverian army from escaping to England; whilst the most severe edicts were published relative to the clandestine enlistment of troops, or their embarkation for British ports. Mr. Brown, who was aware of the many dangers that might arise from the open and unsuspecting candour of young minds, had written to Mr. Hofhout, entreating him to warn Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne against talking of politics on their journey, praising our navy, or forming an intimate acquaintance with any one ”

“ Descending to more modern times, we find the name of General Thomas Dalyell (an immediate ancestor of the commander) , who distinguished himself by his attachment to the royal family during the civil wars. In the reign of Charles I. he commanded the town and garrison of Carrickfergus, where he was taken prisoner. He was again made captive, when major-general, at the battle of Worcester (A.D. 1651) , and committed to close confinement in the Tower: his estates were forfeited, and himself excepted from Cromwell’s general act of indemnity. ”

“ Dalyell and Bourne were arrested on a charge amounting to felony, if not to treason. From the vehement remonstrances made by France against arms or soldiers being embarked for England in the Prussian ports, new laws had then recently been enacted, ordaining the punishment of death for the actual enlisters, and the next severest punishment known in Prussia, to each of the inferior agents. A British officer, named Pringle, was at that moment confined in a subterranean cell under the Guildhall, and the police were on the watch for others. ”

“ Should a want of precedent be urged in support of the negative put upon his prayer, your memorialist would, with all deference, presume to suggest, that no precedent can be found of a wounded officer having remained nine years a prisoner in an enemy’s country ”

“ Dalyell and Bourne before the magistrates and senate of Bremen, who were assembled in full council, a considerable concourse of people had collected, and nothing was heard except execrations and denunciations of vengeance against the ‘soul sellers;’ but the moment they saw the fearless and smiling countenances of the British youths, the effect was honorable to their feelings ”

“ Dalyell, that shall demonstrate to England that Frenchmen yield nothing in point of generosity to their enemies, we unite ourselves in the honor of having recourse to your Excellency, entreating your Grace to take into consideration the essential services rendered by Mr. Dalyell to our countrymen, and in return allow him, upon the express application we have now the honor of making, to return to his native country, upon such conditions as it may please your Excellency to determine. ”

“ Universally respected, it is not too much to say, that every one who knew him rejoiced in his good fortune. On this happy occasion, the then senior British naval officer at Verdun supplied him with a testimonial thus worded:
“This is to certify, that Lieutenant Dalyell, R.N. has conducted himself, during his long captivity, in a regular gentleman-like manner; that by the late commandant, Baron de Beauchesne, he was apppointed one of the Council of Administration, in which situation he took care, as far as lay in his power, that justice was done to his countrymen ”

“ William Richards, a midshipman of the Rattler. Of the other gallant fellows who volunteered their services, twenty-seven sailors were selected, – eleven to go in the captured fishing-boat, with Lieutenant Dalyell and a Frenchman, who had agreed to act as a decoy to his countrymen; eight in the Folkestone’s boat, towed by the prize; and eight in the Rattler’s cutter, commanded by Mr. Bourne. ”

“ The combat was extremely sanguinary, but in the course of five minutes the enemy were all driven below ; from whence, however, they fired a destructive volley through the main-deck and gratings, just as their gallant assailants were in the act of hoisting the foresail, having already cut the cable, and placed a man at the helm. ”

“ If any thing can compensate his friends for his loss, it must be the knowledge of his having fallen, as he has ever lived, in the performance of gallant and glorious actions. In him I lose an officer I highly admired, and a friend I sincerely esteemed ”

“ Whilst deriving benefit from the care and skill of that benevolent man, he was no less kindly cherished by his other protector, and the females of both their families, who invariably treated him with as much tenderness as even his own mother and sisters could have done. ”

“ Valery-en-Caux, close under a four-gun battery. This vessel had long infested the British trade, and it was highly desirable that she should be destroyed, as her superior sailing had hitherto enabled her to escape our cruisers. Lieutenant Dalyell, ever anxious to signalize himself, and cut his way to farther promotion, earnestly requested permission to attack her. As the wind and weather were favorable for the enterprise. Captain Mason yielded to his solicitations. Mr. Bourne, who had been his inseparable comrade in battle and captivity, eagerly offered to accompany him ”

“ Hanchett, as was also Lieutenant Honeyman, of the marines, a volunteer on the occasion. The decks were soon cleared of the enemy, and the gun-vessel was carried. She was called the Schrik, and found perfectly prepared to resist such an attempt, which seems to have been expected.”
In the performance of this exploit, which was succeeded by several other affairs with the enemy, the British had about fifteen men killed, and many wounded. On the 13th of May following, Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne were discharged into the Rattler sloop. ”

“ This person pretended to our young officers, that he was a man of rank and consequence, and did them the honor to borrow nearly all the money they had in their possession.
“It was late in the evening when Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne arrived at Mr. Brown’s lodgings: their clothing was neither very good nor very fashionable; they had left their uniforms in Holland, and the latter gentleman wore a coat which was far from fitting him. When the first compliments were over, Mr. Brown wished to go to the principal inn, to bespeak beds ”

“ Marine. – 5th Division. – Prisoner of War.
“Paris, 24th Feb. 1806. “Sir,– I have received your letter of the 7th instant, relative to your exchange. I hasten to inform you, that his Excellency the Minister of Marine has transmitted your petition to the Minister of War, who is especially charged with the police and superintendence of prisoners of war, and who alone can decide whether the numerous wounds you have received have reduced you to a state that may render it proper to permit your return to England. ”

“ From the hold of the privateer, he was conveyed to a dark dungeon on shore, nearly surrounded by water, the floor of which was consequently in a very humid state, and, moreover, but scantily covered with straw. ”

“ That in Nov. 1810, the negociation for an exchange of prisoners having been broken off, and seeing no prospect of a termination to his captivity, your memorialist applied to H.R.H. the Prince Regent for a pension, which was immediately granted, liable to being confirmed or revoked upon a re-survey at home ”

“ The contest with fire-arms lasted three-quarters of an hour, without their being able to get on board, such was the obstinate resistance of the Dutchmen, favored by the form of the vessel and the strong tide. Lieutenant Hanchett, with his usual zeal and intrepidity, then took the Antelope’s cutter, and, with the other small boats, boarded on the broadside. Mr. Dalyell, of the Antelope, and Mr. ”