by John Marshall

“ Others, again, were admirably conducted; especially the Mediator, the largest and most efficient of the whole. This ship, from her great weight, and the strength of the wind and tide, broke the boom, and thus afforded a clear passage to the others. So determined was the Mediator’s gallant commander to see the service he had engaged in properly executed, that himself and the officers and men who had volunteered to accompany him nearly perished, along with their vessel. ”

“ The fortunate circumstance of the Mediator (formerly a 32-gun frigate) being fitted as a fire-ship, was the means of the success with which the British arms were so gloriously crowned, as all the other fire-vessels were so small and light, being mostly transport brigs, that none of them could possibly have forced the boom. She was not set on fire till long after the boom had been broken, many minutes after the vessel conducted by Lord Cochrane had exploded, nor until she was within the buoys of l’Océan 120, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Allemand. ”

“ Her gallant commander was immediately advanced to post rank, and presented by order of his sovereign with a gold chain and medal, and by the Patriotic Society at Lloyd’s with a sword value 100l. Lieutenant Clements was made a commander and received a sword value 60l. ”