by John Marshall

“ This appointment was confirmed in England, Feb. 24, 1808, previous to which he had assisted at the capture of a French letter of marque, of much superior force, after a severe action, and conducted her to the Cape of Good Hope, encountering in his passage thither a constant succession of heavy gales for 42 days, during which period the pumps were incessantly at work, and the prize crew reduced to half a pint of water each man per diem. ”

“ He was then considered, by medical men, past recovery; and many of his fellow sufferers were dying daily, of locked jaws, from want of proper nourishment, and the unfavorable climate. For four months he never left his bed; and he was obliged to make use of crutches for a long time afterwards.
On his return home, after the reduction of the Mauritius, Lieutenant Deacon was appointed to the Lavinia frigate, then in the Mediterranean. His commission as commander, appointing him to the Niobe 38, armed en flûte, bears date June 7, 1814. ”