by John Marshall

“ To the discipline and valour of British seamen is to be ascribed their great superiority over the enemy, who, although more than treble the force of the English squadron in number of guns and weight of metal, have been so singularly defeated. ”

“ He was made a Post-Captain, June 24, 1789; and in the following year we find him commanding the Southampton, of 32 guns, from which ship he removed at the period of the Russian armament, into the Niger, another frigate of the same force. Early in 1793, when the National Convention declared war against Great Britain, he was nominated to the command of the London, of 98 guns, fitting for the flag of his late royal pupil ”

“ A little after midnight, Captain Keats’s former opponent, the Real Carlos, blew up; but not until she had fallen on board of and set fire to the San Hermenegildo, of 112 guns; which also exploded soon after. The wind at this time blew extremely hard, and the situation of the hostile squadrons precluded all posibility of rendering the miserable people on board these vessels the least assistance; the whole of whom, with the exception of 84, were thus launched into eternity [8] .
In this action the Superb had not a man killed, and but 15, including Lieutenant E. Waller, wounded. ”