by John Marshall

“ La Magicienne, in Careasse bay, April 24, 1797. “On Sunday the 23d instant, when doubling Cape Tiberoon, in company with the Regulus and Fortune, schooner, we discovered a 6-gun sloop and four schooners at anchor in this bay, which convinced me that the post of Irois was attacked. Soon after, the alarm gun was fired at the fort. As no time was to be lost in endeavouring to counteract the views of the enemy, we stood in and anchored; then commenced a heavy cannonade, and had the good fortune, in a short time, to drive them into the mountains. ”

“ I have to regret the loss of 4 men killed, and Mr. Morgan, master’s-mate, and 10 men wounded in la Magicienne’s boat, when endeavouring to tow out the sloop.”
That vessel was boarded and taken in tow, by Lieutenant Maples, under a tremendous fire of round shot, grape, and musketry. On the 28th Sept. following, he had 2 men badly wounded in an unsuccessful attack upon some small privateers at Porto Paix; and he also commanded the boats of la Magicienne at the capture of one, mounting 2 guns, near Cape Causedo, Dec. 22, in the same year. ”

“ Mr. Maples next joined the Europa 50, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Ford, at Cape Nichola Mole, where he appears to have been employed for several weeks, in a fort named after that officer, by whom he was appointed lieutenant of la Magicienne 32, a few days subsequent to the reduction of Port-au-Prince, which took place June 4, 1794 [3] . La Magicienne’s loss by yellow fever, while co-operating with the army under Brigadier-General Whyte, in the vain attempt to complete the subjugation of the French posts in St. Domingo, amounted to about 70 officers and men. ”

“ In Jan. and Feb. 1797, her boats, under the command of Lieutenant Maples, cut out two French privateers and a Spanish armed brig from different anchorages at the west end of Porto Rico; and on the 6th April following, in conjunction with those of the Regulus 44, they effected the destruction of eleven sail of merchantmen in the harbour of Cape Roxo, spiked 4 guns on shore, and brought out two vessels, without the loss of a man. At this period, Mr. Maples was first lieutenant of la Magicienne. ”