by John Marshall

“ Having transmitted to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty a copy of your letter of the 14th July last, stating the capture of a large polacre ship, by the boats of the Proserpine, under the command and direction of Lieutenant Price, I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that their Lordships very highly approve of the zeal and gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Price, the officers, seamen, and marines, employed on that service, and in consideration of Lieutenant Price’s meritorious conduct on this and former occasions, they have been pleased to promote him to the rank of commander. ”

“ They were both full of soldiers, and each armed with a gun in the bow; but Captain Duncan did not consider their capture of sufficient importance to risk the loss of men in attempting it.
On the 27th of the following month (Nov. 1807) , Lieutenant Price, in the Porcupine’s cutter, captured two small vessels from Ragusa, under a fire of musketry from the shore, by which he had one man wounded. ”

“ These vessels mounted two 4-pounders, with a complement of 25 men each; and had long daringly annoyed the commerce on the Spanish coast. On the following morning the Sabine, in company with the Papillon, captured another privateer, which persisted in her endeavours to escape, although under a heavy fire of grape and musquetry, until she was actually run on board by the latter brig. Among the prisoners taken in these vessels were 12 British deserters. ”