by John Marshall

“ Accompanied by another officer, Lieutenant Shordich, he went down the after hatchway, and made the men haul up the lower deck ports as he advanced forward to the berth a-breast of the main-mast, where this rascal was haranguing and cheering the men collected about him. Lieutenant Nowell placed a blow under his throat that knocked him backwards over a chest, then seized him, and declared he would run any man or men through who should attempt his rescue. A compromise now took place, on the ship’s company promising obedience if their leader was released ”

“ The Resolution, to which ship Lord Robert Manners had been appointed on Sir Chaloner Ogle hoisting a broad pendant, formed part of the squadron sent to England with the prizes, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Digby; and on the passage home captured the Prothée, of 64 guns and 700 men, after a close action of 27 minutes, in which the enemy had 97 men killed and wounded. ”

“ Firmin, of 16 guns, and six sail of transports, were taken possession of by Lieutenant Nowell.
In the action with the Spanish squadron, the Resolution got along-side of the Princessa, a 70-gun ship, and in 40 minutes compelled her to surrender [3] . The sea at this time ran so high that Lieutenant Nowell, who had been ordered by Sir Chaloner Ogle to take charge of the prize, was knocked down several times by the cut rigging, before he could get on board; and the weather continued so tempestuous as to prevent the possibility of removing the prisoners for three days. ”

“ Lieutenant Nowell had previously caused water to be thrown upon his rigging from the engine, and buckets in the tops, and stationed men with spars ready to bear her off. Fortunately the force with which she struck the Hercules caused her to rebound, and her sternway being increased by the assistance of the spars, she drifted a-stern, and crossing the hawse of the Namur went on shore between Fort Augusta and Salt Pan Bay [11] . ”

“ Martin’s, &c, our officer was appointed to the Swallow sloop, in which vessel he returned to England for the purpose of joining Sir Chaloner Ogle; but on his arrival, in the summer of 1781, finding that that officer was not likely soon to hoist his flag, he obtained an appointment as first Lieutenant of the Hercules, 74, in which ship he again visited the West Indies, and had the good fortune to contribute very materially towards the defeat of Count de Grasse, in the battles of April 9 and 12, 1782 [8] . ”

“ Weir, from whose mode of treatment he derived considerable benefit; but notwithstanding the skill of that celebrated oculist, every attempt to restore his sight to its original strength failed of success, and he was thus doomed to many years of painful inactivity, at a period, when, but for this misfortune, the talents and zeal which he had already displayed on so many occasions would, in the common course of events, have secured for him a participation in those honors which are enjoyed by his more fortunate compeers. ”

“ The high opinion entertained of Lieutenant Nowell’s conduct in the above action, may be inferred from the circumstance of his gallant commander declining to go to sick-quarters until assured by Sir George B. Rodney that no other person should be appointed to act for him during his absence. Whilst at Jamaica refitting, the Hercules narrowly escaped destruction ”

“ At their interview in London, Lord Rodney reminded Lieutenant Nowell of what his intentions had been towards him; adding, “You shortly afterwards would have been promoted; I am now in the opposition, and have no interest whatever; I cannot get my own son a ship.” ↑ In our memoir of Admiral Russell, p. 142, et seq., we have already mentioned the case of a British officer, named Perkins, who had been doomed to an ignominious death by the French, under the pretext of having supplied the blacks with arms. ”