by John Marshall

“ On the 11th Dec. 1799, in the forenoon, the British 74 gunship Tremendous, Captain John Osborn, and 50 gun-ship Adamant, Captain William Hotham, cruising of Port Louis, in the Isle of France, discovered and chased the Preneuse; who, finding it impossible to escape from the Adamant, ran herself on shore on the west side of the river Tombeau, about 3 miles from Port Louis, and near to some batteries. At 3 P.M. the frigate cut away all her masts; and at 3-30, in conjunction with the batteries, opened a fire upon the Adamant, who was using every exertion to work up to her. ”

“ After a long series of approved, but unsuccessful service, and in no instance, perhaps, has he been more unfortunate, than in those active times, serving with an insignificant person like myself, who has no other way of making up for it, than by endeavouring to introduce him to that patronage which has ever been conspicuous for its disposition to reward real merit ”

“ Shortly afterwards, Lieutenant Grey and his party, under a heavy fire still kept up from the batteries, gallantly boarded the French frigate. Having removed Captain l’Hermite, 14 or 15 other officers, and a few men, all that remained in her, and, greatly to Lieutenant Grey’s credit, saved as much as possible of the private property belonging to them. Lieutenant Grey set fire to and destroyed the Preneuse, and returned to the Adamant without the loss of a man. ”