by John Marshall

“ At a little after 5 o’clock the ship alongside piped à la bordage! and the cry of Vive l’Empereur! à la bordage! rent the air; a light breeze which sprung up would have favored them in this design, had not Captain Otter called all the officers, and consulted with them; the result of which was, that as the Proserpine was almost a wreck, her rigging, masts, and sails cut to pieces, 41 hands short of complement, with no chance of being able to save the ship, and the two 74’s coming up fast, it was necessary to surrender, to save the lives of the crew. ”

“ He then attempted to sing “God save the King,” but could not, being faint from loss of blood and exertions; this gallant man was firm and collected to his last moments, and afforded a proof of that sterling and truly British heroism for which our seamen and marines have ever been noted. ”

“ The two ships that took us were the Penelope and Pauline, of 44 guns and 360 men each; the Proserpine had one seaman killed outright, one marine mortally, and eleven men slightly wounded. The French officers said they had none killed or wounded, but several of the crew secretly told us that they had several killed, and that many wounded men were sent at night to the hospital [5] .”
Captain Otter continued in France as a prisoner till the conclusion of the war. ”