by John Marshall

“ This “strong report,” we conclude, must have caused great disappointment to Captain Percy; for, on his arrival in Simon’s bay, he found nothing more than an absolute wreck on which to hoist his pendant; and as l’Espoir had sailed for England with the commodore’s despatches, he certainly would have had no other alternative than that of returning home as a passenger, or of serving as a volunteer during the subsequent expedition against Buenos Ayres, had not the very unexpected capture of a fine French frigate enabled Sir Home Popham to give him another command. ”

“ In 1808, Captain Percy was appointed to la Nymphe frigate, on the Lisbon station, from whence he conveyed General Junot to Rochelle, after the convention of Cintra [3] . In 1810, he commissioned the Hotspur of 42 guns ”

“ Captain Percy, who was serving with me as a volunteer, to take possession of her. She proved to be la Volontaire frigate, of nearly 1100 tons, and mounting 46 guns, with a complement of 360 men on board. ”