by John Marshall

“ The Alexander is a remarkably fine ship, four years old, and was considered the fastest sailing privateer out of the United States; she left Salem with a crew of 127 men, but had only about 70 remaining at the time of her capture, the greatest part of whom made their escape on her getting a-ground, and several were drowned in their attempt to swim from her. ”

“ The large frigate seen off the Sound, in tow of an armed ship, after beating off and on the whole day and night, this morning made some progress. At 11 a.m. she stood into the Sound and fired a gun. On being boarded, she proved to be a Spanish frigate mounting only 14 guns, from Peru and Mexico, bound to Corunna, deeply and richly laden. She was captured by the Polyphemus, but parted company in a violent gale of wind on the 16th ult., since which she has experienced very bad weather, carried away her main-mast, and had her rudder choked. ”

“ During the last five years of the French revolutionary war, Lieutenant Gordon served under the late Vice-Admiral Edward Oliver Osborn, in the Trident, 64, and Arrogant, 74, on the East India station; where he assisted at the capture of the Dutch Company’s armed ship Hartog von Brunswyk, mounting 28 guns, pierced for 50, with a complement of 320 men; the Mongoose brig, of 14 guns and 65 men; a brig, name unknown, of 6 guns; the Onderneming Indiaman; and l’Uni, French privateer, of 30 guns and 216 men. ”