by John Marshall

“ On this occasion, the watch below rushed upon deck in their shirts, and those officers and men already there fell down motionless: amongst the latter number was Captain Evans, who had just before directed the top-gallant sails to be taken in, and a gun to be fired at the approaching black column, the suction of which, however, prevented the gunner’s mate from obeying the latter order.
The wind still continuing to blow with much violence, and it being impossible to procure a pilot under such circumstances. ”

“ During the very short period that elapsed between the Satellite’s departure from Port Royal and her arrival off Altavella, Captain Evans had to regret the loss of his first Lieutenant, Master, Purser, and several men, all of whom fell sick, and died, in consequence of the excessive fatigue and great exposure to which the emergency of the service had subjected them: the rest of his officers and crew were also very sickly. ”

“ After assisting at the capture of several large and powerfully armed smuggling vessels, one of which defended herself until several men were killed and wounded on both sides, Mr. Evans proceeded to Newfoundland, as a passenger on board the Merlin sloop, and from thence, in the Thisbe frigate, to Halifax, where he joined the Assistance 50, flag-ship of Sir Charles Douglas, then commanding on the American station. ”

“ He subsequently commanded a division of boats in an expedition up the Morbihan river, under the orders of Captain Albemarle Bertie, whose thanks he received for his gallant conduct in boarding, near Vannes, a 24-gun corvette, a cutter of 10 guns, and an armed lugger, the whole of which vessels were carried and destroyed.
Several merchantmen being captured on the same occasion. Lieutenant Evans took charge of a large brig, which he brought out under a tremendous fire of musketry, from at least 600 republican troops, then posted at every point of the river. ”

“ Having seen the Orpheus rebuilt with teak, prepared new rigging, and made every arrangement for speedily rendering her again effective, Captain Evans once more had the mortification to be superseded by an officer sent from England; but, although thus deprived of the command of a frigate, he was immediately appointed by Vice-Admiral Rainier to the Hobart sloop, then employed in the Eastern Seas. His commission as a commander, however, was not confirmed until April 29, 1802. ”

“ After encountering numerous difficulties, and escaping many dangers, in the execution of the services assigned to him in the Eastern Seas, the Hobart daily becoming more and more defective, and all his officers being sick, himself and the gunner keeping watch and watch. Captain Evans ran through the straits of Lumbuck, the adjacent seas, the straits of Banca and Drion, to Malacca, and from thence to Prince of Wales’s island, where the sloop was repaired, as well as circumstances would allow. From thence she sailed for Madras ”

“ As the first Lieutenant, Charles Apthorp, was mostly with me, I had an opportunity of observing the spirit of enterprise which pervaded his conduct; and am convinced also of the good conduct of Lieutenants Boys and Evans, who commanded on the main-deck. ”

“ This tedious operation occupied more than two hours: the anxiety felt by all on board, during that awful period of suspense, can only be conceived by those who have been in situations of equally imminent peril.
The passage through which Captain Evans thus skilfully conducted his vessel, was afterwards accurately surveyed by him, and hia chart lodged in the Hydrographical Office, for the benefit of his Majesty’s service: charts of many other surveys which he had made during a continuance of two years in the Eastern Seas, were at the same time deposited there. ”

“ In April, 1808, through the kind interference of Sir Arthur Wellesley, now Duke of Wellington, Captain Evans was appointed to the Leveret brig, employed on the Baltic station. Whilst in that sloop, he convoyed a fleet of nearly 300 sail to Carlscrona, and returned from thence with an equal number under his protection, passing through the Belt each time without losing a single vessel, although constantly watched and harassed by numerous Danish gun-boats. ”

“ Shortly after Lieutenant Evans joined la Concorde, he was sent with a boat’s crew to innpress men from the homeward bound Baltic fleet. The first ship he boarded was searched for a considerable time before any of the crew, who had concealed themselves, could be discovered ”

“ After this affair, la Virginie was sent to cruise between the Kentish Knock and the North Foreland, for the purpose of intercepting such of the delegates of the North Sea fleet as might attempt to escape from the Nore. We subsequently find Lieutenant Evans making a very judicious selection of persons to assist at the execution of several mutineers, by manning two boats with those who bad been in the habit of holding nightly consultations at Spithead ”

“ In another letter, dated Aug. 24, 1824, Captain Evans says:
“The monsoons are different to what you find iu the China seas and bay of Bengal. You have strong S. E. winds when the S.W. winds prevail in the bay, and N.W. winds when the N.E. monsoons blow in the China seas and bay. ”

“ On that and the ensuing day, the decks were caulked, the shipwrights’ and carpenters’ work completed, the new main-mast taken in, and three months’ provisions and stores, received and stowed away: on Sunday morning she went out of harbour, with her men on the yards bending sails; and on Wednesday following the enemy, seven in number, were discovered in their nest, between Beata and the main. ”

“ Previous to his final departure from that island. Captain Evans discovered that the Americans were carrying on a smuggling trade, by loading at Madras or Bengal, clearing out for America, and, instead of proceeding thither, disposing of their cargoes, under various fraudulent pretexts, at Pulo Penang, a settlement then in its infancy. Ever anxious to maintain the interests of his country. Captain Evans immediately resolved to put a stop to this illegal traffic, and he accordingly seized a brig named the Roebuck, commanded by Mr. ”

“ Company’s ships were directed to wait there for convoy, he agreed with his fellow passengers, Major-General Baird and seven others, to remove into a whaler, the master of which undertook to run them home for 1000l. sterling; each paying an equal proportion [10] . ”