by John Marshall

“ On Captain Dobbie’s arrival there, he was ordered by Sir Edward Pellew, the new Commander-in-chief, to superintend the repairs of that frigate, as also her subsequent equipment; and for the latter purpose 100 sailors, impressed from a fleet of Indiamen, were placed under his command. On the 26th Sept. she was hauled out of dock and commissioned by him, agreeable to an order sent by Sir Edward from Madras, directing him to act as captain of her. ”

“ On arriving within bail, about dusk, a fine breeze suddenly sprang up and enabled the stranger, hitherto becalmed, to distance the boats: Lieutenant Dobbie, however, continued the pursuit, and by great exertions kept pretty close to the brig, receiving her fire and returning it from his swivels, which served to direct the chasing ship and ultimately led to her capture, at 2 A.M., by the Orpheus frigate. She proved to be the Harlingen, Dutch national brig, of 14 guns and 45 men. ”

“ One of the above prizes, a brig pierced for 16 guns, and just launched, was immediately afterwards manned, armed, and equipped, by order of Captain Ball, the senior officer, who named her the Admiral Rainier, and placed her under the command of Lieutenant Dobbie, whose activity during the blockade gave great annoyance to the enemy. On one occasion he was sent up the Carawang river, with seven armed boats of the squadron, to destroy a depot of grain ”

“ The intelligence she brought proved of an unfavorable nature, the natives having risen in insurrection and committed many excesses. Under these circumstances the Commodore gave up his intention of sending the despatches direct to England, and Captain Newcombe carried them in the Orpheus to Sir George Keith Elphinstone, at Madras [6] .
Lieutenant Dobbie was subsequently ordered to convoy a ship with a valuable cargo of spices to China, and to procure there a supply of stores and provisions for the squadron and garrisons at the Moluccas. ”

“ On her arrival there, the Governor requested Vice-Admiral Rainier to send a force against the northern pirates on the Guzzurat coast, who had lately committed great depredations on the trade of that part of India. Captain James Giles Vashon, of the Fox frigate, was accordingly sent on that service, having under his orders the Teignmouth and Ternate brigs, each mounting 18 guns, anr one armed pattamar. The brigs belonged to the East India Company, but were manned from the Arrogant 74, and commanded, the former by the acting Captain of that ship, and the latter by Lieutenant Dobbie. ”

“ Mr. Dobbie continued in India until the arrival of Commodore Rainier, who had been appointed to the chief command on that station shortly after the declaration of war between Great Britain and the French republic. He then joined the Suffolk 74 bearing that officer’s broad pendant, and was employed in her boats, cutting off the communication between Fort Oostenburg and the main during the siege of Trincomalee, in Aug. 1795 [3] . Whilst thus engaged he assisted at the capture of a sloop, which was brought out from under the enemy’s guns ”

“ Linois, returned to the Isle of France, where they received official despatches from the First Consul, acquainting them that hostilities had recommenced, and containing instructions for their guidance. In conformity thereto, Rear-Admiral Linois immediately sailed for the Eastern Seas and made an attack on Bencoolen, in the island of Sumatra, where he burnt three store-houses filled with spice, rice, and opium, captured three valuable prizes, and caused the destruction of eight other merchant vessels. ”

“ Captain Cochrane, whom Sir Edward Pellew had appointed to command her, was there, and consequently superseded the subject of this memoir, who again returned to the Arrogant. In Sept. following, Captain Dobbie had the satisfaction to learn that the Admiralty had confirmed him in the command of the Fox, by a post commission, dated May 6, 1806 ”

“ The island of Baite at that time maintained about 2000 fighting men. ↑ See Captain Robert Meyrick Fowler. ↑ The Bellone was captured in July 1806, by the Powerful 74;– see Vol. I. p. 642. She was afterwards the Blanche, a 28-gun frigate, in H.M. navy. ↑ Dwarka, in which town the famous temple of Jigatt is situated, maintained about 1500 armed men. ↑ See Nav. Chron. Vol. XVI, pp. 143–149. ↑ The Court of Directors of the Hon.E.I. Company presented Captain Dobbie with 100 guineas for the purchase of a piece of plate, as an acknowledgment of their sense of his services in the above expedition. ”