by John Marshall

“ In our memoir of Captain Frederick L. Maitland we have noticed the capture of le Braave, a French privateer on the Irish station, Mar. 16, 1804. This vessel was purchased by the merchants of Barbadoes, presented by them to Government, commissioned as a post-ship, and placed under the command of Captain Nourse, who on the fourth day of his first cruise, Oct. 17, 1804, after a chase of 13 hours, and an exchange of bow and stern-chasers, captured the Napoleon, French privateer, of 18 guns and 150 men. A few days afterwards l’Heureux, of 10 six-pounders and 80 men shared a similar fate ”

“ On the 29th Aug. 1800, Lieutenant Nourse volunteered to assist in cutting out an enemy’s ship from under the batteries in Vigo bay, which service was gallantly performed by the boats of a squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren, The enemy made a most desperate resistance, her commander having secured the hatchways to prevent his people from retreating, and cheered the British as they advanced to the attack, She proved to be la Guêpe, French privateer, of 300 tons, mounting 18 nine-pounders, with a complement of 161 men; 25 of whom were killed, and 40 wounded. ”

“ The Court was cleared for deliberation; and, on the opening, Captain Nourse was called and sworn; he fully corroborated the foregoing statement. The Court, therefore, without going further into the business, adjudged the prisoner to be acquitted.”
Captain Nourse was appointed to the Severn about July 1813, and in Nov. following he sailed from England with a fleet of transports and merchantmen under his protection, bound to Bermuda. We next find him employed under the orders of Rear -Admiral Cockburn during the expeditions against Washington and Baltimore, in Aug. and Sept. 1814 [2] . ”