by John Marshall

“ Shortly after we bore more up, let the reefs out of the top-sails, and set steering-sails. About 5 a.m., perceiving, by my night-glass, the strange ships to stand after us, we crowded all the sail we could possibly set, as did the Canada, and stood still more to the eastward. About day-break the Canada passed us, steering more to the northward than we did. Two ships of the line and two frigates pursued her, and three of the line and one frigate chased the Alexander. ”

“ At the period of her capture, the Alexander was returning to England from the coast of Spain, whither she had escorted a convoy, in company with the Canada 74, Captain Charles Powell Hamilton. The latter ship escaped through superior sailing, and her commander had the pleasure of witnessing the recapture of the Alexander, off l’Orient, June 23d, 1795 [1] . According to the French papers, two of their 74’s were very much disabled, and sustained between them a loss in killed and wounded amounting to 430 officers and men. ”

“ At 9 or shortly after, observing the ships in pursuit of the Canada draw up with her, I made the signal to form a-head for mutual support (being determined to defend H. M. ships to the last extremity) , which signal she instantly answered, and endeavoured to put in execution ”