by John Marshall

“ The Fox was on this occasion opposed to the westernmost battery, mounting about 14 guns, from which the enemy returned a well-directed fire. Captain Malcolm at length perceiving that the ships, in persevering to silence the forts, must inevitably receive considerable damage, and knowing it was Captain Cooke’s intention that the small-arm men and marines should land under his directions, ordered the boats of the Fox to be manned, and being joined by those of the Sybille, pulled towards the shore for the purpose of storming the enemy’s works. ”

“ He went on board the Victory, and communicated to Lord Nelson his certain knowledge that the combined French and Spanish squadrons were bound for the West Indies. Hitherto all things had favoured the enemy. While the British commander was beating against contrary gales, they had had a fair wind from the N.E., and had done in nine days what he was a whole month in accomplishing. M. Villeneuve, finding the Spaniards at Carthagena were not in a state of equipment to join him, dared not wait, but hastened on to Cadiz. Sir John Orde necessarily retired at his approach. ”

“ On the Donegal being paid off in 1811, Captain Malcolm was appointed to the Royal Oak, a new 74, in which he continued off Cherbourgh until March 1, 1812, when he removed into the San Josef, 110 guns, as Captain of the Channel fleet under Lord Keith, which honorable post he held, occasionally commanding a detached squadron, until June 1, 1814, when he hoisted his flag [14] in the Royal Oak, and proceeded with a body of troops under Brigadier-General Ross, from Bourdeaux to North America. ”

“ They brought compliments of congratulation on the arrival of the frigates; and information that launches were getting ready, with anchors and cables, to assist them into port; these omcers were of course invited to join their countryman in Captain Malcolm’s cabin; and their astonishment at what they there learnt may readily be conceived.
The English seamen now exchanged clothes with the crews of the Spanish boats; in which, and in others belonging to their own ships, they proceeded to take possession of three gun-vessels, lying just without the river leading to the town ”

“ I beg leave to return you my best thanks for the cordial and useful assistance I have invariably received from you in all the situations in which we have been placed together, and to assure you that it will always give me the greatest satisfaction to be placed in a situation to be in communication on service with you. ”

“ All the Spanish prisoners who have been brought to this place, to the amount of upwards of 3,000, have been sent to Spain, except one wounded officer now in the Hospital, who earnestly requested to remain under the care of the English surgeons till his wound was cured. We have also the pleasure to learn that the Spaniards, since their return to Spain, have universally expressed the liveliest sense of gratitude for the generosity and humanity they universally experienced whilst they were prisoners onboard the different ships ”

“ The Donegal was subsequently attached to the Channel fleet, at that time commanded by Lord Gambier; and after the memorable discomfiture of the French ships in Aix Roads, April 11 and 12, 1809, Captain Malcolm was entrusted with the command of a squadron sent on a cruize, during which, however, nothing particular occurred [12] . We next find him commanding the blockade of Cherbourgh, on which station the ships under his orders captured a number of French privateers; and on one occasion drove two frigates on shore near Cape la Hogue ”

“ At 10 A.M. on the following day, the Fox being a-head of her consort, working up Manilla Bay towards the town, then distant nearly three miles, and the road of Cavita open, a boat came along-side with an officer, to enquire who the strangers were, and from whence they came. In answer to this interrogatory, Captain Malcolm, through the medium of his pilot, Mr. Bernard, who was conversant with the French and Spanish languages, informed him that the frigates belonged to Monsieur Serci’s [4] squadron ”

“ Admiral Gravina, with six Spanish ships of the line, and two French, came out to him, and they sailed without a moment’s loss of time. They had about 4,500 troops on board; 600 were under orders expecting them at Martinique, and 1000 at Guadaloupe. The combined fleets now consisted of eighteen sail of the line, seven large frigates, and four smaller vessels, to which two French line-of-battle ships, and one of 44 guns, were afterwards added. Nelson pursued them with the following vessels: Victory, 100 guns, bearing his Lordship’s flag, and commanded by Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy ”

“ That they were flying back to Europe he believed, and for Europe he steered in pursuit on the 13th, having disembarked the troops at Antigua, and taking with him the Spartiate, of 74 guns, the only addition to the squadron with which he was chasing so superior a foe. Five days afterwards a frigate brought intelligence, that she had spoke a schooner, which had seen them on the evening of the 15th steering to the northward. ”

“ The loss sustained by the Donegal on that occasion amounted to 12 men killed and 33 wounded. After the battle she proceeded with the prizes to Port Royal, Jamaica, and from thence to England. On the passage home the ships were dispersed in a heavy gale of wind. Captain Malcolm, however, knowing the defective state of one of the prizes, le Brave, of 74 guns, kept close to her, and fortunate it was he did so ”

“ We beg also to acknowledge our warm sense of the hospitality and kindness we have experienced from you and the officers of the Donegal, which with their unprecedented and humane exertions has made an impression that will ever be retained in lively remembrance. We have the honor to be, with the highest sentiments of esteem, &c. &c. &c.
(Signed) ⁠“H. Lyle Carmichael; J. Twigg; Jno. P. Nugent; Robt. Pringle; Wm. Ashley; Val. Ravenscroft.
“To Pulteney Malcolm, Esq. ”