by John Marshall

“ His “conspicuous gallantry” in bearing down upon the enemy, “entitled him,” says Mr. James, “to a better ship than the Alert, a better first lieutenant than Andrew Duncan, who gave him no support, and a better crew than his officers and men, who, except Johanson Clering, the master, and William Haggerty, the purser, went aft to request him to strike the colours. Captain Porter (of the Essex) disarmed his fine prize, and sent her, with the prisoners, as a cartel, to Newfoundland; where, on the 8th Oct., Commander Laugharne and his officers and men were tried for the loss of their ship. ”

“ Captain Rowley reported the capture of la Venus frigate commanded by Mons. Hamelin, senior officer of the French squadron in India; and the recapture of H.M. ship Ceylon, having on board Major-General the Hon. John Abercromby and his staff [3] . The following is an extract from the official letter addressed to Vice-Admiral Bertie on this occasion:– “To Lieutenant Laugharne I feel much indebted, for his able assistance in taking charge of and conducting into port the Africaine and la Venus ”

“ Rowley, by whom he was recommended to the “favorable notice” of Vice-Admiral Bertie, commander-in-chief on the Cape station, for “the steadiness and zeal he manifested” at the recapture of H.M. ship Africaine, in the presence of two French frigates, near Isle Bourbon, Sept. 13th, 1810 [2] . ”