by John Marshall

“ On the 21st July, 1801, the boats of the Doris, Beaulieu, and Uranie, to which latter ship Captain Gage had been appointed in the preceding spring, cut out la Chevrette, a French corvette, of 20 guns and 300 men, from under the batteries of Camaret, near Brest, and in presence of the combined fleets of France and Spain. This daring exploit stands as high in point of credit to the British arms, and glory to the officers and men who so nobly achieved it, as any of the kind ever performed. ”

“ Captain Gage was subsequently employed in the blockade of Malta [7] , and on various other services, till Feb. 1799, in which month the King of Sardinia, finding it impossible any longer to endure the exactions of France, and the insults of the republican commissary, embarked on board a Danish frigate at Leghorn, and was escorted by the Terpsichore to Cagliari – that part of his dominions, which the maritime supremacy of England rendered a secure asylum. On the 23d June following, our officer captured the St. Antonio, a Spanish brig of war, mounting 14 guns, with a complement of 70 men. ”

“ The state of the islands of Malta and Gozo on that day, with an account of the revolution that had taken place, is given in an interesting report which was sent to his Lordship. The French force in Malta then consisted of about 3000 soldiers and sailors, and of 100 Maltese; the only part of the inhabitants who would take up arms for the republicans. About 10,000 of the Maltese were armed; they had 23 guns on the island, of which 12 were mounted ”