by John Marshall

“ At 6-20, the enemy laid us alongside, with three cheers, and from his superiority of men, there being, as near as we could judge, from seventy to eighty of them, attempted to carry us by boarding; but such was the brave and determined resistance of the few men I had under my command, that after lying five and forty minutes alongside of us, and after an action of one hour and ten minutes, he made sail, and sheered off. ”

“ The moment we could get the brig wore, we made all sail in chase of him; but finding it impossible to come up with him, and having the sails and rigging much cut, with a number of men wounded, and no surgeon or assistant on board, I bore up and made all sail for the Downs, which I hope will meet the approbation of the commander-in-chief and yourself. ”

“ I am sorry to say he is in the list of wounded, but not dangerously.
“Enclosed I have the honor to transmit a list of the wounded [1] , which, though great, cannot come near that of the enemy, numbers of whom were seen to fall in every direction. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) ⁠“W. J. Hughes, Lieut, and Com.” This gallant officer was promoted to the rank of commander on the 25th of the ensuing month; appointed agent for prisoners and transports, at Jamaica, in July 1807 ”