by John Marshall

“ Finding them thus determined to support each other, and the small force of the Rosario not admitting my running the risk of being laid on hoard by several at once, I bore up to a brig we observed in the offing, which proved to be the Griffon, and made the signal for an enemy. The moment she had answered, we hauled to the wind; and at 40 minutes P.M. began to harass the enemy’s rear, who were then endeavouring to get into Dieppe under all sail: tucked and wore occasionally to close, receiving and returning the fire of the whole line each time. ”

“ So far the Rosario had acted alone, as the Griffon had not yet arrived within gun-shot: bore away with prize beyond range of the batteries, and hailed the Griffon (then passing under a press of sail) to chase the remaining brig; which service she performed in a very handsome manner, by running her on shore near St. Aubin, under a very heavy fire from the land: seeing no probability of the Griffon being able to destroy the brig, made the signal to attack the enemy in the S.E., then anchoring close in shore. ”

“ On the evening of Dec. 10, 1810, Captain Harvey, then commanding the Rosario a 10-gun brig, on the Dungeness station, fell in with two French lugger privateers, one of which came up close to leeward, hailed him in very opprobrious language, and threatened to sink him if he did not surrender. Suspecting that it was their intention to board, and knowing their superiority of sailing, he immediately put his helm up, ran right alongside the nearest, and soon obtained possession of her ”