by John Marshall

“ I named you for the Lieutenant I was allowed to promote, because you had merited the good opinion of your superiors, and that you were the son of an old officer and worthy man, in no great affluence; a steady perseverance in that conduct which has caused you to be thus distinguished, is the most likely means to carry you forward in the profession; for I trust other officers of my rank will observe the maxim I do – to prefer the sons of brother officers, when deserving, before any others. ”

“ Sir John Jervis having thus fortunately obtained his first object, now directed his whole attention to the enemy’s main body to windward; which was reduced at this time, by the separation of the ships to leeward, to eighteen sail of the line. At a little after twelve o’clock, the signal was made for the British fleet to tack in succession; and soon after, the signal for again passing the enemy’s line; while the Spanish Admiral’s design appeared to be, to join his ships to leeward, by wearing round the rear of the British squadron. ”

“ In the month of October, 1782, Sir John Jervis accompanied Earl Howe, who was sent with a powerful fleet to relieve the important fortress of Gibraltar, which was then closely pressed on the land side by a very numerous Spanish army, while at the same time the combined armaments of France and Spain, amounting to nearly fifty ships of the line, attempted to block it up by sea. In the skirmish that took place outside the Gut, after the object of the expedition had been accomplished, the Foudroyant had 4 men killed and 8 wounded. ”

“ A few days afterwards it experienced the tail of a gale of wind, that had it blown home, might have proved fatal to many; as from the badness of the ground, several of the ships, if not the whole squadron, would have been forced ashore [21] . On the 23rd, the squadron sailed from Lagos Bay, and arrived on the 28th at Lisbon, where 3,200 prisoners were landed from the four prizes, amidst the cheering shouts of the populace.
So important a victory, with so decisive a disparity of force, is perhaps unparalleled in our naval annals. ”

“ The loss of the British in this engagement, in killed and wounded, according to the official returns, was exactly 300 men [20] ; that of the Spaniards, in the captured ships alone, amounted to 603; and those which escaped must also have suffered considerably.
The day after the action, whilst the British ships were close under Cape St. Vincent, refitting and getting the prizes in a condition to carry sail, tweny-two sail of the Spanish fleet hove in sight and bore down in a regular line of battle, as if determined to engage the British, and endeavour to rescue their unfortunate companions ”

“ In the upper divisions were the words, “God save the King,” and “Long live Earl St. Vincent;” and in the lower, the following inscription; “This flag is presented to Earl St. Vincent, as an humble testimony of gratitude and respect, by the crew of his Majesty’s ship the Ville de Paris.”
During his Lordship’s presidency at the Admiralty, an expedition was sent to the Baltic for the purpose of counteracting the ill effects of the Northern Confederacy; it is needless to say, that this object was completely effected by the victory obtained over the Danes, at Copenhagen, April 2, 1801 [29] . ”

“ The enemy’s fleet consisted of eighteen sail, laden with provisions and ammunition, and containing a considerable number of troops for the supply of the French fleet and forces in the East Indies; being particularly destined to replace the convoy which had been taken by Admiral Kempenfelt in the preceding winter; they had sailed from Brest only the day before, and were escorted by the Protecteur and Pégase, of 74 guns each, l’Actionaire, a two-decker armed en flute, and a frigate. The Foudroyant gained so fast upon the chace, that it was evident they could not escape without an engagement ”

“ Sir John Jervis was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral, Sept. 24, 1787; and in the armament of 1790, had his flag flying on board the Prince, of 98 guns. His quarter-deck was full of young gentlemen, cadets of some of the first families in the kingdom, who made the greatest interest to place them as midshipmen with so distinguished a commander. On the reduction of the armament, each flag-officer then employed was indulged by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, with the permission to recommend a Lieutenant and Midshipman for promotion. ”

“ Independent of that superiority which the enemy possessed in respect to numbers, they had the additional advantage of being so near to their own ports, that even in case of discomfiture, they could retire without dreading the consequences of pursuit, and moor in safety under the cannon of their own fortresses, in a less space of time than would be required to refit the rigging of a frigate, after an hour’s contest with a vessel of equal force. ”

“ The internal commotions which had for some time pervaded Ireland, appeared to afford these confederated foes the greatest hopes of success, provided it were possible for them to put on shore a body of troops sufficiently numerous to countenance the rebellious insurgents in their open avowal of that treason, which, owing to the insidious representations of those among their own countrymen who possessed most influence, and were considered as the leaders of their party, had long been cherished by them. ”

“ Nothing of importance occurred until May llth, 1762, when the Gosport, in company with the Superb, of 74 guns, Danäe frigate, and a fleet of merchantmen bound to the colonies, fell in with a French squadron of superior force, under M. de Ternay, having on board 1500 troops, destined for the attack of Newfoundland. The English Commodore, Rowley, for the better protection of his charge, dropped into the rear, formed his line of battle, and brought to; but the enemy not choosing to risk an action, hauled his wind, and made off. ”

“ In the course of the ensuing summer, he detached the same gallant officer with a squadron to make an attack upon the town of Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe, which he had reason to believe was an assailable object. Of this expedition, the failure of which was occasioned by a variety of unlooked-for circumstances, an account will be found in our memoir of Sir Thomas B. Thompson [25] . ”

“ The evidence he gave was spirited, clear, consistent, and decidedly in favour of the accused. ↑ Captain Jervis was wounded by a splinter, which struck him on the temple. The engagement between the Foudroyant and the Pégase was admirably depicted by Serres, who devoted two pictures to the subject. ↑ May 29, 1782. ↑ The preliminary articles of peace between Great Britain, France, Spain, and America, were signed at Versailles, Jan. 20, 1783. ↑ On the execution of the unfortunate Louis XVI, the English ambassador was recalled, an embargo was laid on all corn vessels freighted for France ”