by John Marshall

“ Nine of the enemy’s gun-vessels, perceiving her situation, endeavoured to annoy her, and kept up a heavy fire upon her for some time, but were silenced by the Charwell and Kite, sloops, and also by the fire from the Sulphur and Terror, bombs, and by the carronade launch of the Cerberus, under the orders of Lieutenant Mansell, assisted by the Eling, schooner, and Carteret, cutter, which obliged them to take shelter in their port.” He adds, “The steadiness and good conduct of all the officers and men in the Cerberus, during the time the ship was aground, do them infinite credit [5] .” ”

“ Mr. Mansell afterwards followed Sir James Saumarez into the Orion 74, of which ship he was master’s-mate in Lord Bridport’s action near l’Orient, June 23d, 1795; at the defeat of the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14th, 1797, on which occasion he was wounded; and at the ever-memorable battle of the Nile, Aug. 1st, 1798 [3] . For his uniform good conduct on those occasions, he was so strongly recommended by Sir James Saumarez, that, previous to his completing the usual period of service as a petty officer, the immortal Nelson was pleased to appoint him an acting lieutenant. ”

“ The situation of the Cerberus was rather more perilous than would be inferred from the above extract, the receding tide having left her nearly on her beam-ends. The boats of the squadron were placed under the direction of Lieutenant Mansell, who succeeded in distracting the attention of the French flotilla, and thus saved the ship from the serious consequences which at one time threatened her ”