by John Marshall

“ Early in 1794, Captain Durham, being off the Start, was chaced by six French frigates, one of which approached so near to the Hind as to exchange a few shot, which killed two men and wounded some others. Captain Durham, before the rest could come up, got close in shore, upon which the Frenchmen tacked and stood over to their own coast. Our officer was soon after appointed to the Anson, a cutdown 64, mounting 46 guns, 24-pounders on the main-deck, long twelves and 42-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck and forecastle. ”

“ In the summer of 1795, the Anson formed part of the armament sent against Quiberon, the proceedings of which will be found in our memoir of Viscount Exmouth [2] . On the 30th March, 1796, in company with la Pomone, Galatea, and Artois, she fell in with a fleet of seventy sail going for provisions for the French fleet in Brest, under the escort of five frigates, a ship of 22, and a brig of 20 guns. An engagement immediately ensued; but the enemy pushing through the Passage du Raz, the only ships taken were l’Etoile, of 30 guns, and four merchantmen. ”

“ By indefatigable exertions, the ship was got in a state fit for service, and joined in the latter part of the action, engaging five French frigates for a considerable period, and sustaining a loss of 4 officers and 11 men badly wounded, four of the latter mortally. On the 18th of the same month, Captain Durham, in company with the Kangaroo sloop, fell in with, and after a gallantly disputed action of an hour and a quarter, captured la Loire, pierced for 50 guns, mounting 46, with 664 seamen and soldiers, 48 of whom were killed, and 75 wounded. The Anson had 2 men killed and 14 wounded. ”