by John Marshall

“ The Boston’s damages, in addition to those I have mentioned, were as follow:– the cap of the bowsprit shot away; fore-top-mast, and fore and main-yards badly wounded; mizen-mast wounded and sprung; the whole of the mizen-rigging on both sides, and the standing and spring, stays shot away; only two main shrouds on one side, and one on the other left standing; the fore-rigging much injured; the main-spring-stay and both bob-stays cut in two; every brace and bowline gone; the ship hulled in many places, and two of the main-deck-guns dismounted. ”

“ Captain Kerr’s next appointment was to the Ganymede of 26 guns, but he does not appear to have ever sailed in that ship. The Unicorn 32, to which frigate he was removed in Aug. 1809, captured, whilst under his command, le Gascon French privateer, of 16 guns and 113 men; and l’Esperance (formerly H.M. 22-gun ship Laurel) armed en flute, with a valuable cargo of East India produce. ”

“ In April, 1811, Captain Kerr assumed the command of a most desirable frigate, the Acasta, mounting 48 guns, with a complement of 300 men. During his continuance in her he captured the American brig-privateer Curlew, of 16 guns (pierced for 20) and 172 men: Highflyer, schooner privateer, 5 guns and 172 men; Herald letter of marque, 10 guns (pierced for 18) and 60 men, from Bourdeaux, bound to Baltimore [10] ; and several unarmed merchantmen. He also assisted at the capture of the Snapper schooner privateer, of 10 guns and 90 men ”

“ Kerr was appointed senior Lieutenant of the Narcissus, then commanded by Captain Minchin, with whom he continued until paid off in Oct. following. Previous to the commencement of the French revolutionary war, we find him joining the Boston 32, Captain George W. A. Courtenay, in which ship he lost the sight of his right eye by splinters, and received a grape-shot wound in the shoulder, whilst engaged with l’Ambuscade, a republican frigate of superior force, near New York, Aug. ”

“ Sir,– I have been favoured with your letter of the 6th inst., and I shall feel much pleasure in giving publicity to the explanation therein contained; but I must confess that nothing less than such an avowal, coming from an officer of high reputation and indisputable veracity, could possibly have staggered my belief as to the state of the weather, and the position of the Acasta, on the unfortunate 11th Mar. ”

“ Mr. Hayes observed l’Ambuscade at anchor off the town of New York, with top-gallant-masts pointed, and her crew in the act of bending sails. On his nearer approach he clearly ascertained that she mounted 26 long guns on the main-deck, 8 on the quarter-deck, and 2 on the forecastle. ”

“ Hence Captain Cunningham was not so rewarded; but the Clyde’s first Lieutenant, Alexander Robert Kerr, was made a Commander [9] .” Our contemporary “must excuse us” for reminding him that la Vestale was captured on the 20th Aug. 1790, and that Lieutenant Kerr was not promoted until April 20, 1802. The manner in which the Clyde was employed during the six years that Mr. Kerr served under Captain Cunningham, and her well-managed escape from the mutinous fleet at the Nore, have been described in our memoir of the latter officer,Vol. ”

“ After being in action more than an hour, the Boston’s main-top-mast fell on the lee-quarter of the main-yard, and caused it to top an end; the enemy’s cross-jack-yard was also gone, and her fore-top-sail-yard was lying on the cap.
“About a quarter of an hour before the firing ceased, an unlucky shot struck the foremost hammock stauncheon on the quarter-deck, which occasioned the death of Captain Courtenay, and the marine officer, who were then walking together. At this time the first and second Lieutenants were below getting their wounds dressed [4] ; but the senior, Mr. ”